Garlic is a popular ingredient in many savory dishes, but its strong odor can linger and leave an unpleasant smell in your kitchen and on your hands.

Despite its many health benefits, people are often deterred from consuming garlic because of the odor that follows. In this article, we will highlight some simple tips to eliminate garlic odor, leaving your kitchen and hands smelling fresh and clean.

Cooking with Garlic

The first step in reducing garlic odor is to start with good cooking practices. When cooking with garlic, ensure that you are not overcooking it.

Overcooking garlic can cause it to release bitter compounds, which lead to more severe odor, affecting the taste of your dish. Garlic also releases its aroma when it is cut, so it is crucial to chop or crush garlic just before you add it to your dish. This process ensures that the garlic retains its fresh aroma, enhancing the flavor of your food and reducing garlic odor.

Lemon Juice and Salt

One simple and effective way to remove garlic odor from your hands is to mix lemon juice and salt. Salt acts as an abrasive, while the acid in lemon juice neutralizes the odor-causing compounds in garlic.

Rub your hands with the mixture, rinse them off with soap and water, and dry them. The lemon juice and salt mixture not only removes garlic odor but also exfoliates your skin, leaving it soft and smooth.

Baking Soda

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, contains alkaline properties that can neutralize the strong odor caused by garlic. All you need to do is add a tablespoon of baking soda to a bowl of warm water and soak your hands in the mixture for about 10 minutes.

Rinse your hands with soap and dry them afterward. Baking soda not only eliminates garlic odor but also removes dead skin cells and softens your hands.

Stainless Steel

Using stainless steel is an excellent way to remove garlic odor from your hands. Rubbing your hands on a stainless steel surface under running water can help remove the odor-causing compounds from garlic.

You can use any stainless steel item, including a spoon, a knife, or even a sink. After rubbing your hands on the stainless steel surface, wash them with soap and water and dry them.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are another way to reduce garlic odor in the kitchen. After cooking with garlic, keep a bowl of coffee grounds on the counter. The coffee will absorb the garlic smell, leaving your kitchen smelling fresh.

You can also use coffee grounds to remove garlic odor from your hands. Simply rub some coffee grounds on your hands and rinse them off with soap and water.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a potent odor eliminator that can neutralize the odor-causing compounds in garlic. To reduce garlic odor in the kitchen, mix some vinegar with water and boil it in a pot.

The acidic properties of vinegar will absorb the garlic smell, leaving your kitchen smelling fresh and clean. You can also use vinegar to remove garlic odor from your hands by rubbing them with a mixture of water and vinegar. Rinse your hands with soap and water and dry them afterward.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons contain natural acids that can neutralize the strong odor of garlic. After cooking with garlic, cut an orange or a lemon in half and rub it on your hands.

The acids in citrus fruits will help remove the garlic smell from your hands, leaving them smelling fresh. You can also place a few citrus peels near the garlic when you store it to absorb the odor.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a natural compound that can neutralize bad odors. To reduce garlic odor in the kitchen, add some chlorophyll drops to a pot of boiling water and simmer it for a few minutes.

The chlorophyll will absorb the garlic smell, leaving your kitchen smelling fresh. You can also use chlorophyll drops to combat garlic odor in your mouth by adding them to water and gargling with the mixture.

Milk

Milk is another natural odor eliminator that can reduce garlic odor. After cooking with garlic, drink a glass of milk or rinse your mouth with milk to reduce garlic odor in your breath.

You can also dip a cloth in milk and wipe down surfaces to reduce garlic odor in your kitchen.

Conclusion

Garlic is a versatile and healthy ingredient that can add flavor to your meals, but it also comes with an unpleasant odor that can linger. Fortunately, there are many simple tips to reduce or eliminate garlic odor in your kitchen and on your hands.

From lemon juice to chlorophyll, there are plenty of natural odor-neutralizing agents that can help you enjoy the benefits of garlic without the lingering smell. Use these tips to experiment with garlic, and infuse it into your everyday meals without worrying about the smell it leaves behind.