Reduce Smoke Indoors When Cooking
Decreasing Smoke While Cooking
Cooking is all fun and games until the house starts filling up with smoke. Before you know it, your smoke alarm is telling you to evacuate and your yummy food is ruined in an instant.
Does this nightmare sound all too familiar?
While smoke can be unavoidable with some forms of cooking, there are many ways to reduce smoke indoors when cooking to ensure better air quality and better food. Within this guide, we will be taking you through everything you need to know about smoke which comes from cooking – including how to reduce it.
What Causes Smoke When Cooking?
There are many reasons as to why smoke occurs when cooking, but more times than not, it’s simply a reaction caused when the oven is too hot or the food you’re cooking is high in fat. Smoke may also be a result of a failed extractor fan on your indoor grill.
The Dangers Of Smoke When Cooking
Whatever the reason is for causing smoke, the dangers remain the same. While coming into contact with small amounts of smoke is unlikely to damage your health, large amounts can affect your lungs over time. As a result, you may develop breathing problems or – in the worst-case scenario – cancer. If the smoke contains harmful toxins, then you will need to evacuate your house immediately and call in professionals to remove it.
The build-up of smoke may also cause a fire if you’re not careful, which as we all know is an issue that will damage both your health and your home.
Speaking of causing damage to your home, constant smoke in the kitchen may result in your decor losing it’s vibrant look. Your tiles or paintwork are likely to fade and get stained, which will only end in a very expensive redecorating job. Is the hassle really worth it when you can simply reduce smoke indoors for once and for all?
How To Reduce Smoke Indoors When Cooking
It’s safe to say that large amounts of smoke from cooking are an issue we all need to avoid. Whether you notice large amounts of smoke every time you use frying pans & deep fryers or a wok, or your oven keeps causing problems, the following points will help you to reduce smoke indoors when cooking.
Oven Hood Extractors – An oven hood extractor will help to extract any smoke created when using a toaster oven or grill. This helps to control the amount of condensation and smoke caused by cooking, resulting in a pleasant experience that keeps you away from any danger.
Air Purifier – Air purifiers are a must-have in kitchens that produce a lot of smoke. The air purifier will consume the smoke and surrounding air, extracting any nasty toxins that may be in it. The air purifier will then generate cleaner air that is safe to be around.
For the best results, we highly recommend purchasing a HEPA air purifier. HEPA stands for ‘high-efficiency particulate air’ – these purifiers are specially designed to deal with smoke toxins and they are a great addition to have in your kitchen.
Change Oil – Believe it or not, the type of oil you use when cooking can play a huge part in the amount of smoke produced. As a general rule of thumb, olive oil is known to have the lowest smoke point, whereas canola oil has a high one. Take this into consideration the next time you use oil and you may notice the world of difference.
Open Windows – Although your extractor will do most of the work, there’s no harm in opening some windows so that the smoke has a quick exit route. The last thing you want to do is trigger your smoke alarm, so if the smoke swiftly leaves the window, the alarm will stay silent. Opening a window will also help to circulate some fresh air into the room, removing the risks which come from harmful toxins and mass amounts of smoke.
Opt For Low-Fat Foods – Greasy foods that are high in fat will always be far smokier than foods that are not. So, when possible, opt for low-fat foods to save the hassle of producing lots of smoke in the kitchen! Switching for low-fat foods will bring lots of health benefits to the table too, meaning it’s a win-win all around. You may even start to realize that they taste better than fatty foods!
Fall Back In Love With Cooking
Cooking can seem like a right chore, especially when your kitchen ends up in a smoky mess every single time. However, with all of the tips from this guide in mind, you’ll be well on your way to falling back in love with cooking and creating dishes you love. You’ll even start to notice that the air in your home feels fresher and the decor in your kitchen remains vibrant.