Removing Garlic Odor: Tips For A Fresh-Smelling Pan

Garlic is a great ingredient to add flavour to your dish, but the smell can linger on your hands and in your kitchen long after you've finished cooking. Here are some tips to help you get rid of the garlic smell from your pans and kitchen.

Use toothpaste and mouthwash

If you're looking to remove the smell of garlic from your breath, toothpaste and mouthwash can be a great option! Here are some detailed, direct, and instructive steps to guide you through the process:

Using Toothpaste:

• Choose a toothpaste with a strong minty flavour. The strong scent of mint will help cover up the garlic odour and leave your breath smelling fresh.
• Brush your teeth thoroughly, paying special attention to your tongue, as garlic odours can linger there as well. Be sure to brush for at least two minutes.
• Don't forget to floss! Flossing will help remove any garlic particles that may be stuck between your teeth.
• Rinse your mouth with water to get rid of any remaining toothpaste and garlic particles.

Using Mouthwash:

• Opt for a strong-smelling mouthwash, preferably one containing peppermint or chlorine dioxide. These mouthwashes can effectively mask the smell of garlic and eliminate odour-causing bacteria.
• Swish the mouthwash around your mouth vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Try to coat all surfaces of your mouth, including your tongue and the insides of your cheeks.
• Spit out the mouthwash. If instructed by the product, dilute it with water and gargle to reach the back of your throat, where odour-causing bacteria may be present.
• Repeat this process as needed throughout the day to keep your breath fresh.

Additional Tips:

• While toothpaste and mouthwash can be effective, they may only provide temporary relief. The garlic smell may return as the mouthwash or toothpaste wears off, or as your body continues to expel the food.
• For longer-lasting results, combine the use of toothpaste and mouthwash with other methods, such as eating fresh produce (e.g., apples, spinach, or mint), drinking green tea or lemon water, or chewing sugar-free gum.
• If you're looking to remove garlic odours from your hands, try rubbing your hands on something made of stainless steel, like a spoon or your sink. You can also use lemon juice or baking soda to neutralise the smell.

Try lemon juice

Lemon juice is one of the most effective ways to eliminate the smell of garlic from your hands. You can either rub or spray your hands with lemon juice, or make your own citrus spray by adding the grated rind of a citrus fruit to hot water. Allow the mixture to cool, then strain the water into a spray bottle.

Lemon juice can also be used to remove the smell of garlic from wooden cutting boards. Sprinkle salt or baking soda on the board, then use half a lemon to rub the salt or soda into the board. Rinse the board and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Lemon can also be used to remove garlic smells from your breath. Drink lemonade or eat a lemon, especially Meyer lemons, which are sweet enough to be eaten like fruit. Store-bought lemonades tend to have very little lemon juice in them, so homemade lemonade is best.

Lemon juice can also be used to remove garlic smells from your home. Place a small bowl or saucer of lemon juice in the affected room, or in your fridge or cupboard.

Use stainless steel

Stainless steel is a popular choice for cookware, but it can be tricky to manage when cooking ingredients like garlic that burn easily. Here are some tips to help you manage your stainless steel pans and avoid burning your garlic:

Preheat Your Pan and Oil Together

Allow your stainless steel pan to heat up gradually by adding oil and heating them together. This will prevent the garlic from burning and sticking to the pan.

Control the Heat

Cook your garlic over low to medium heat. Stainless steel is an excellent conductor of heat, so it's important to control the temperature to avoid burning.

Cook Garlic Separately

Consider cooking your garlic separately from other ingredients. This way, you can control the heat and cooking time more effectively. Simply infuse your oil with garlic first, and then remove the garlic before adding other ingredients to the pan.

Slice Garlic into Larger Pieces

When using stainless steel, slice your garlic into larger pieces. Smaller pieces will cook faster and are more likely to burn. By increasing the size, you give yourself a larger margin of error in terms of cooking time.

Remove Garlic Once It Starts to Brown

Keep a close eye on your garlic, and as soon as it starts to brown, remove it from the pan. Garlic can go from golden brown to burnt very quickly, so it's crucial to be vigilant.

After handling garlic, you can use a stainless steel "soap" bar or simply your stainless steel knife to help neutralise the strong odor. Rub your hands on the stainless steel item under running water, and the sulfur compounds causing the odor will be attracted to the steel and washed away.

Remember, when cooking with stainless steel, it's important to be mindful of temperature control and cooking times, especially when working with delicate ingredients like garlic.

Exfoliate with coffee grounds

Coffee grounds are a known odour absorber and can be used as a scrub to exfoliate your skin.

To use coffee grounds as a scrub, pour a scoop of grounds into the palm of your hand, add a few drops of water, and rub your hands together for 30 seconds. Follow this with soap and cold water.

Coffee grounds are an excellent skin exfoliating agent thanks to their coarse particles that remove dirt and dead cells from the skin surface. They can also be mixed with a small amount of honey and used as an exfoliating lip scrub.

Coffee grounds can also be used as a hair mask. Before shampooing, massage the coffee grounds into your scalp and hair for a few minutes, then rinse, shampoo, and condition as usual. This should only be done once or twice a week, as too much exposure to acidity can imbalance the scalp's pH.

If you're looking for a more luxurious body treatment, you can elevate your scrub by adding herbs and essential oils. For example, rosemary stimulates blood flow and circulation, sage is purifying and cleansing, while mandarin is uplifting and enlivening to the body and mind.

However, it's important to note that some people may develop allergic dermatitis from coffee grounds, so it's recommended to do a patch test on your arm before using it on your face or body.

Make a salt and baking soda scrub

To make a salt and baking soda scrub to remove garlic from a pan, follow these steps:

Firstly, remove as much of the burnt garlic and debris from the pan as possible. Then, cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of water. Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over the water to create a thin paste. Leave the pan to sit for several hours, then rinse and wash.

If there are any stubborn stains remaining, you can try a more intensive method. Remove as much of the burnt garlic as possible, then make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Apply this paste liberally to the burnt areas of the pan. Leave the paste to sit for a few hours or overnight, then scrub the pan with a nylon brush or scouring sponge.

If you are in a hurry, you can add 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of water to the paste to thin it out, then place the pan on the stove and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat once it has boiled, and leave to cool. Finally, wipe or scrub the pan to remove the burnt garlic.

For an even more heavy-duty method, try adding vinegar to the baking soda. First, remove as much of the burnt garlic as you can. Then, add enough vinegar to the pan to cover the bottom with at least 1/2 inch of liquid. Bring the vinegar to a boil in the pan, then remove from the heat and add 1 cup of baking soda. This will cause a fizzing reaction. Once the fizzing has stopped, discard the liquid and scrub the pan with a nylon brush or scouring sponge, adding more baking soda if necessary. Finally, rinse and dry the pan.

Frequently asked questions