Shivee Chauhan, an Indian-origin content creator based in the United States of America, shared her method for avoiding the lingering scent of spices on clothes, especially after cooking curries, in a now-viral Instagram video. While she expressed her love for Indian food, she admitted to disliking how the pungent smell of onion, garlic, and spices tends to cling to her attire. Captioned “How to avoid the smell of Indian food,” the video shows Chauhan recommending "cooking clothes" to tackle this issue. "The smell of the onion, garlic, and spices really sticks to the clothes that you are wearing. So, it’s worth it to have the clothes that you cook in and always, always change out of office clothes as soon as you come back home. I also change my clothes before going out so that the lingering smell of cooking," she said. This sparked discussion online, with many questioning if this practice is necessary. And we turned to an expert to get clarity on this. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shivee Chauhan | Indian in USA | Desi Lifestyle (@shiveetalks) Minimising odours in kitchen Usha Mathew, a Malayalam YouTuber and culinary content creator, advocates wearing gloves and aprons in the kitchen—not just for hygiene but also to minimise unwanted odour. “After handling strong-smelling ingredients like onions, garlic, or meat, washing hands with lemon juice can help curb the odour. Daily washing of kitchen clothes, like aprons, is also important,” Mathew said.For those sensitive to strong odours, Mathew recommended alternatives such as shallots or leeks, which offer similar flavours with less pungency. "Green garlic is an excellent substitute for those who dislike the lingering smell of regular garlic,” she said. "Having indoor plants like snake plants and money plants or herbs such as mint and tulsi placed around the cooking area also helps in keeping the odour away. These plants can absorb odors while enhancing the cooking space,” Mathew said. Keeping the kitchen fresh For curries and dishes heavy on spices, Mathew advised diluting powdered spices in water before adding them to the pot. Cooking on a low flame in a covered pot also helps contain aromas. For non-vegetarian dishes, she suggested cleaning meat and fish with lemon juice or soaking them in water mixed with vinegar or lemon juice for at least an hour before cooking. While changing clothes after cooking is a personal preference, maintaining kitchen hygiene and adopting simple techniques can reduce odours and enhance your culinary experience. Whether you’re team “cooking clothes” or not, these expert tips are sure to keep your kitchen fresh.
