How to Have a Smoke-Free Kitchen

Find out how to eradicate kitchen smoke, which is a major source of indoor air pollution

Pooja Khanna Tyagi29 January 2019

Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner, and love Writing Poetry and Creative Stories on Building Design. Have been practicing since the year 2000 with specialization in the field of Corporate Interiors with projects extensively published in journals of national repute. Recently honoured with the reputed A3 Foundation award for Journalism for the year 2016 an for architectural poetry in the year 2018. Currently practicing and residing in Delhi and Noida. Website: www.khannaenterprise.com, Email: poojakhanna224@gmail.com, M:9891993392

You will be surprised to know that the air inside our kitchen can become contaminated and even toxic due to the presence of elements such as smoke, harmful gases, unwanted odours, steam and grease, which are produced within it. Thus, the indoor air of a poorly ventilated kitchen can become unhealthy to breathe and may result in respiratory health problems. Since a lot of our time is spent cooking in the kitchen and some kitchens also function as a dining space, it is essential to maintain the overall hygiene of the space and keep it smoke-free. Here are the answers to commonly asked questions about smoke in the kitchen.

MELD design Studio

How does cooking create indoor air pollution?

The heating and combustion from gas burners produces harmful gases such as nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.
Fine particulate matter (PM) is also released while cooking. These are tiny particles of pollutants that can get directly inhaled and affect one’s health and overall well-being.

Studio Lotus

How to ventilate the kitchen and get rid of smoke?
It is essential to ventilate the kitchen properly so that there is least exposure to harmful air pollutants.

Open the windows regularly (especially while cooking) so that there is adequate ventilation and the foul indoor kitchen air is replaced with fresh air.
Install an exhaust fan within the kitchen. Make a note that an exhaust fan just extracts smoke and stale air from the kitchen but cannot capture the fine grease particles that are produced while cooking.
A kitchen chimney is a must for every kitchen. It helps to eliminate smoke, steam, harmful gases, heat and airborne droplets of grease that are the byproducts of cooking. It is advisable to go for ductable chimneys that extract the indoor air from the kitchen and throw it into the outdoors. Note that ductless chimneys only recirculate the indoor air and offer little protection against indoor pollutants.

Prashant Bhat Photography

What are the different types of chimneys and chimney filters available?

There are basically three types of chimneys: wall-mounted chimney, built-in chimneys (suitable for L-shaped, U-shaped or parallel kitchens) and island chimneys (suitable for where the cooktop is positioned on the kitchen island).
These chimneys come with different types of filters, such as baffle and cassette filters, which are most suitable for the Indian style of cooking.
One may even opt for a ductless chimney which comes with charcoal filters. It comprises charcoal granules that absorb the cooking smoke and odours, and needs to be replaced every six months.

Which kind of exhaust fan should one go for?

One can op for wall-mounted exhaust fans or exterior exhaust fans, which can draw out the indoor air and release it outdoors.
Wall-mounted exhaust fans create a lot of noise, so exterior exhaust fans are best for homeowners who do not want a noisy kitchen, as all the noise is limited to the outdoors.

Find a kitchen designer to help you design your kitchen

Shubham Photography

How to prevent build up of smoke during cooking?
Frying, boiling and cooking at high temperatures generally produces a lot of indoor pollutants. One can reduce the quantity of smoke and steam in the following ways:

Make it a point to switch on the kitchen chimney while cooking. It works as the first line of defence that captures maximum pollutants that are created while cooking.
Cover all the pans with a lid while cooking so that less steam and smoke is produced and spread in the kitchen.

Note: The chimney should be exactly above the cooktop and should be at least six inches wider than the cooktop so that kitchen fumes do not escape and pollute the kitchen.

Kumar Moorthy & Associates

How to remove kitchen odours?
Everyday cooking may leave behind unpleasant kitchen odours. Here are some simple kitchen ingredients that can eliminate these odours from the kitchen

Slice a few lemons into some water in a medium-sized pan and let it simmer for around 30 minutes. It will release natural oils that are capable of masking kitchen odours. One can replace the lemons with cloves or cinnamon.
The onion is a very powerful absorber. Simply cut slices of onion and place in a bowl of water. Keep these bowls in the kitchen overnight so that the onions can absorb the lingering pungent odours.
Baking soda also works to absorb odours. Place a few inches of baking soda in a bowl and place it in the kitchen to absorb foul odours.

Read more:
Which Chimney Is Right for Your Kitchen?
Kitchen Cleaning Tips: 7 Ways to a Spotless & Fresh Cooking Space

Tell us:
Do you have any other suggestions about how to create a smoke-free kitchen? Share in the Comments section below.