Does anything stop fish making the house smell for days after cooking?

[GoldilocksZone]

I want to eat more of it but can't bear the way it hangs around the house for so long. I've tried a chefs candle, vinegar, window opening etc. mostly I oven bake fish. Help!

Fish shouldn't really smell if it's fresh. Cook it on the day you buy it. Extractor fan on

Following with interest. I've lost count of the number of times I've had to apologise to visitors for the smell after cooking fish the day before their visit.

Buy one of those cheap single induction jobs from Amazon and cook in the garage or on a balcony. Obviously not possible if you are in a flat. Sorry no other ideas. I hate the smell hanging around for days after too.

Burn some toast just after cooking the fish. The carbon absorbs the smell - just like carbon filters in commercial kitchens but on a much much smaller scale.

@ThreeLeggedCat genius! I will try this.

Boil some white vinegar in a pan on the hob for 5/10 mins. Takes away any smell

We’ve had smoked mackerel and salad tonight.

I’ve opened the window a crack but also lit a couple of rose scented incense sticks (proper ones, nag champa brand) they do really purify the air and not just mask smells.

@alisonsattic

Fish shouldn't really smell if it's fresh. Cook it on the day you buy it. Extractor fan on

Even the freshest fish smells when it cooks

Make sure any leftovers and especially fish skins are disposed of immediately in an outside bin. If they are left in the kitchen in the food caddy etc, then the smell just does not go.

I have no advice for the actual cooking smell itself other than close the door to the kitchen at all times and open windows wide until you think it has gone. We didn't have a door on our kitchen in a previous house and cooking smells got everywhere despite windows open and extractor fans being on.

Light a candle from when you start cooking until you've washed up. It doesn't have to be a scented candle.

BBQ. Same for lamb.

start the extractor before you start cooking

cooking en papillote helps, or if poaching, keep below boiling.

all wrapping bagged and binned. and take the bin bag out, especially if it has skins or trimmings

rinse immediately, and wash up cooking pans at the earliest opportunity

Wipe round cooker and worksurfaces in case of drips or splashes

p.s.
extractors work better with the door and window closed. This creates suction in the kitchen and prevents odours drifting into the rest of the house.

@alisonsattic

Fish shouldn't really smell if it's fresh. Cook it on the day you buy it. Extractor fan on

Exactly

Covid

My children love pan fried mackerel and salmon, the smelliest of all fish 😷. I pan fry with a lid on (skin obviously doesn't crisp up as well but it's fine), extractor fan on and avoid lifting the lid until cooking is finished. Lift the pan closer to the extracter as I take the lid off, let the steam pass into it.

As soon as we've eaten all worktops/wall/cupboard doors/surfaces within a 2 meter radius of the cooker get wiped down with degreaser. The steam from the cooking attaches the oils to surfaces and unless this is cleaned off immediately you won't remove the smell. By the following morning, smell is gone 👍.

Oh and put the removable filter from the extractor fan into the dishwasher

Goodness. I cook fish all the time, and can never smell it the next day.

I suppose I might open a window or light a candle.

I can’t stand the smell. I mean I really can’t stand the smell. I start gagging uncontrollably. It’s embarrassing and ridiculous. In my defense, I am on the autism spectrum, but I am still an adult so I really wish I could get over it.

My DH who loves fish set himself up a simple outdoor kitchen using some camping equipment so that he can cook his food without contaminating the house.

He also does some cooking via sous vide which does not generate any smell at all. though you may want to do a quick pan sear at the end.

Are you open plan OP?

I’ve never had an issue with the house smelling the next day but I’m not open plan so wondering if that’s the difference?

Window open, extractor on, waste bagged and taken straight out to food recycling bin & outside black bin for packaging, incense stick lit if it smells a bit strong in the kitchen but it never smells the rest of the house as we keep the kitchen doors closed when cooking.

I feel your pain OP - I tend to open windows keep doors closed and when cooked wipe down the oven or hob immediately. I have recently been using an oil diffuser left on overnight which seems to work well.

Veganism

Hth

Open the windows and clean up straight afterwards.

I burn lemongrass, it takes the smell away.

I just close the kitchen door and open the back door or put extractor fan on if it's really cold.

I cook my fish on the bbq.

Occasionally I fry haddock on the stovetop with butter. I put the extraction fan on a good while before I cook and close the windows. It’s not too bad.