There are few things less appealing to a home chef than a smelly kitchen. The smell of rancid oil is at the top of the list when it comes to hard to get rid of odors. If, after a thorough cleaning of your appliances, you still notice that rancid oil smell then it might be your deep fryer. It’s time to clean your deep fryer the right way. Join At Least We Fried as go through the steps of getting rid of that rancid oil smell.
Rancid Oil Smell Causes
Cooking oil isn’t special; it can go bad like any organic substance. Oil goes back faster than many substances, however. Oil is an excellent environment for bacteria to grow due to the food debris floating in the oil. Cooking oil begins to decay as soon as it is exposed to air; if the oil is left in your deep fryer long enough it will inevitably become rancid. That’s not to say you can’t reuse oil, but you should always try to clean your fryer well before oil goes rancid. Rancid oil is especially frustrating given how the smell can linger even after cleaning.
What You Will Need
When it comes to a cleaning agent, we suggest Borax. It is a powerful cleaning agent that will wipe out rancid odor in one go. You will also need standard cleaning equipment like a scouring pad, paper towels, and a bowl.
Skeptical of Borax? It is understandable given that Borax is a detergent, but it is perfectly safe. You can use it to clean other small appliances as well so long as you rinse thoroughly. Borax is a strong cleaner that can wipe out that rancid oil smell.
Steps
Following these steps are easy but can be somewhat time consuming. In the end, having a clean smelling kitchen will be worth it.
- Mix the Boraxpowder with water as directed on the package. The Borax will form into a paste. Apply the paste around the entire deep fryer vat. Cover the basket as well. Use liberally if the smell is strong. Allow the paste to rest for at least five minutes, but don’t let it dry.
- Begin to scrub the fryer with the scouring pad. Begin at the bottom of the vat, scrubbing up the sides until every inch is scrubbed. Scrub the basket as well. After you have scrubbed every surface, rinse the vat and basket thoroughly with water until every trace of Borax is gone. After rinsing, dry with paper towels. Leave no water in the fryer as oil and water don’t mix.
- If the smell lingers after taking these steps, repeat the process until the smell is gone. If the odor persists, you can pour the dry Borax powder into the fryer and let it sit for at least 24 hours. After this step, any odor remaining is likely from other parts of the deep fryer. Carefully clean the exterior of the deep fryer with soapy water. If you identify the parts that smell, you can apply dry Borax there as well.
Conclusion
You’re going to be much happier with a kitchen that doesn’t smell like rancid oil. If you found this guide to removing that rancid oil smell helpful, tell us in the comments. And don’t forget to check out our other deep fryer content like our Best Deep Fryer Guide.
