Have you ever been in your kitchen and got hit with a smell that won’t go away? It’s almost like your nose is on a rollercoaster ride you didn’t ask for. There are times when even the most thorough cleaning or scrubbing can’t seem to get rid of that lingering odor. You might be surprised to know, well, that a few everyday foods could be the culprits behind that unpleasant aroma. And the worst part? These foods like to hide and stink, hiding out in your trash, fridge, or even on your countertops.
While you can’t always control the smells, having some idea of which foods are the culprit might help you better manage the stink. If you’ve been wondering why your kitchen smells a little less than fresh, let’s get into the lineup of foods that are probably causing the stench.
Fish
No surprise here, fish is notorious for making your kitchen smell like you’ve been hanging out at the docks all day. Fish releases a strong odor whether you’re frying it, grilling it, or baking it, and it doesn’t go away after dinner. To prevent that ocean smell from lingering, cook fish with lemon or vinegar to help mellow the smell.
Garlic
Garlic is really the gift that keeps on giving, er, to your nose. It makes your food taste delicious, but it also leaves a strong, pungent odor in your kitchen. And it’s not just your breath either—chopping or cooking garlic can also spread its aroma throughout your space. Pro tip: On your skin, neutralize the scent by rubbing your hands with a stainless steel spoon under running water.
Onions
They are kitchen staples, but they can also make your kitchen smell factory. Onions have a strong odor, whether they are raw or cooked, and it can stick to your hands, cutting boards, and countertops. What happens when you toss them in the trash is something I wouldn’t even begin to get into. If you’ve cut onions, think about storing them in an airtight container to prevent the smell from taking over.
Cabbage
Okay, cabbage might be healthy, but cooking it is like setting off a stink bomb in your kitchen. Cabbage breaks down and, according to Proactive Health Labs, releases sulfur compounds that add a less-than-pleasant aroma to the air. The effect is intensified when you boil or steam cabbage, so if you’re going to be cooking it, be sure to open a window or two.
Broccoli
Like its cousin cabbage, broccoli can smell a little funky in your kitchen when you cook it. As it heats up, that same sulfuric smell tends to fill the room. Fresh broccoli has less of an odor, but you will still find it on your kitchen’s air quality.
Eggs
While eggs themselves may seem harmless, once they do go bad, they tend to have an unmistakable rotten smell. Cooking eggs, especially boiled eggs, can make your kitchen reek of that sulfurous smell. And leftover eggshells in the trash don’t help the situation any, so take them out as soon as you can to avoid the lingering stench.
Cheese
There are some nice cheeses, but others can be a little fragrant. Earthly, musty-smelling cheeses like blue cheese, Limburger, or even brie can fill your kitchen quickly. If you have cheese just hanging out in your fridge, make sure it is in a tightly sealed container to contain these smells.
Trash
This one’s not technically a food, but it’s the food leftovers that will create the stink. Scraps of meat, old veggies, and greasy packaging can make your trash bin the stinkiest science experiment in the house if not tended to. It helps keep the odors in check if you take it out regularly and use a deodorizing trash bag.
Potatoes
Potatoes can be secret stink bombs. If they go bad, they give off a horrible, rotten smell and can quickly overpower your kitchen. While it may not be easy to tell a bad potato from a good one, if you smell something off in your pantry, it’s worth taking a look at your spuds for signs of hidden rot.
Bananas
While bananas may smell delicious when they’re fresh, things change when they start to over-ripen. That sweet smell quickly becomes an unpleasant smell of fermentation. If you leave peels in the trash for too long, you’ll notice the smell ramp up even more. Composting those peels is a way to keep things fresh in the kitchen.
