If you’re also a fish lover like me, you can understand that keeping fish in the refrigerator can be quite challenging. Unless you take special care of your fridge and regularly clean it, chances are there will be an unbearable pungent odor emanating from it soon enough. Thankfully, we live in an era when information about anything and everything is just a click away. So if you’re someone who loves fish but struggles with the smell of it in your refrigerator, here are some useful tips on how to get the fishy smell out of your fridge.
How To Get Fishy Smell Out Fridge?
Change your fridge filter
Over time, food residue will build up and cause odors, especially in the fridge. This can be minimized by cleaning your fridge filter. A dirty filter can increase odors in your fridge by up to 50%, and cause food to rot faster. Over time, food residue will build up and cause odors, especially in the fridge. This can be minimized by cleaning your fridge filter. A dirty filter can increase odors in your fridge by up to 50%, and cause food to rot faster. To clean your filter, turn off the power to your fridge, remove the filter, and give it a thorough cleaning. You can use warm water and some vinegar to clean it, and let it air dry.
Add lemon and baking soda
Lemons are great for getting rid of fishy smells in your fridge. Just cut a lemon in half, and place it inside your fridge at the back. The citrus smell will dissipate the strong smell of fish, and make your fridge smell fresh. If you want to take it a step further, you can mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a teaspoon of lemon juice, and place it in a bowl. Baking soda is a great deodorizer and will help eliminate fishy smells in your refrigerator. It is also a great cleaning agent and will help clean up any stains or spills on your shelves.
Open the door frequently
While it might seem counterintuitive to keep the door of your fridge open, it will help get rid of the fishy smell quickly. Open the door of your fridge about once every hour or so for about 15 minutes, and let the smell escape. You can also place an open bowl of baking soda near the door, to help it eliminate the smell faster.
Utilize dry coffee grounds
You can either purchase coffee grounds from the store or use the coffee you have left from the morning. Coffee grounds are great for absorbing odors and will do an excellent job at getting rid of the fishy smell in your fridge. If you want to take it a step further, you can mix the coffee grounds with baking soda, to create a potent deodorizing agent. Place a few scoops of the mixture inside a bowl. You can leave it near the back of your fridge, and it will help control the smell for hours.
Utilize activated charcoal
Activated charcoal can be used to remove odors from your fridge, and can be used as a more permanent solution. One of the best things about activated charcoal is that it is odorless, and can be used to remove any smells from your fridge. To use activated charcoal, you can either place a scooper inside a bowl, or a piece of cloth. You can also place a few scoops of activated charcoal inside a filter, to help remove odors. You can leave activated charcoal inside your fridge for a few days, or weeks, depending on how strong the smell is.
What Causes The Fishy Smell In Your Fridge?
Your Food Has Gone Bad
This is the most obvious reason why your fridge might start smelling like rotten fish. It’s essential that you check the expiry dates on all your food. You can keep track of when your food needs to be used with a fridge magnet or writing on the packaging. If you are unsure about the freshness of your food, you can use a fridge thermometer to check the temperature inside your fridge. Next, check for any mold or rotting smells and dispose of anything that has gone bad. You may want to create a “bad food” bin to avoid contaminating other foods.
Lack of Storage Space
If your fridge is packed full of food, it’s going to be difficult for the fridge to get rid of the odors. It’s best to leave enough room in the fridge so that air can circulate around your food. Keep your fridge organized so that you know where everything is and have enough room for it. Wipe down any shelves or containers in the fridge where food might collect and cause odors. You may also want to install a filter in the back of your fridge to help remove odors and contaminants from the air.
Condensation
If your fridge isn’t cold enough, then it’s possible there is too much moisture inside the appliance. This can result in an unpleasant, fishy smell. If you find that your fridge is humid inside, you can try to reduce the amount of moisture in the fridge. It’s common for the back of the fridge to be more humid than the front. You can try propping a towel or a bowl of rice in the back to help remove moisture from the air. You can also try replacing the gaskets or seals on the doors of your fridge. If you notice mold growing on the walls of your fridge, you will need to clean them. You also need to make sure your fridge is cool enough to prevent mold from growing.
Fish is Stored in Your Fridge
Fish is one of the smelly foods that you don’t want to be stored in your fridge. If you keep your fish in the fridge, it can begin to smell and make your fridge smell. You can prevent this from happening by storing your fish in a sealed container at the bottom of your fridge. Fish should be consumed within a few days, so be sure to mark the container to indicate the latest date you can use the fish. You may also want to keep your fish in the freezer if you are not going to consume it within a day or two. The smell of fish will permeate all other foods in your fridge, so you should keep it in a separate container.
You Store Smelly Foods Together
Certain foods naturally have strong odors, which can be magnified if you store them together with other smelly items. Some examples of smelly foods include cheese, barbecued food, cabbage, fish, and onions. Keep these foods in their own containers if you want to keep your fridge smelling fresh. You could also try to prevent these foods from releasing odors by putting them in sealed bags or containers. This is particularly important for items with strong odors like onions and cabbage. You can also try to clean out your fridge periodically to remove odors.
Tips To Prevent A Fishy Smell In Your Fridge
- Keep the fish on the top shelf of your refrigerator. A higher temperature is better for storing fish. The warmest section of your fridge is usually above the vegetable crisper.
- Remember to clean the inside of your refrigerator regularly. All you have to do is wipe out the inside of your fridge with a sponge or cloth soaked in warm soapy water.
- Never store fish next to fruits or vegetables. Fish emit odors that can permeate nearby food.
- Thaw fish in a bowl in the microwave or by submerging the fish in water. Never thaw fish at room temperature because the fish can spoil easily.
- Vacuum your refrigerator’s coils regularly to prevent a build-up of debris that can cause odors.
- Use cedar wood or other natural materials to store your fish. These materials absorb the odor and can be easily replaced when they become smelly.
- Don’t keep the refrigerator door open too often. Every time you open the door, warm air enters the appliance and can cause food to spoil.
Conclusion
If you want to keep your fish fresh and your refrigerator clean, follow these tips on how to get the fishy smell out of your fridge. Remember that it’s not just about keeping your fish fresh. You also have to take care of the rest of your food to ensure that nothing goes bad. If you’re also a fish lover like me, you can understand that keeping fish in the refrigerator can be quite challenging. Fortunately, we live in an era when information about anything and everything is just a click away. Now that you know what causes the fishy smell in your fridge and how to get rid of it, you should have no trouble keeping your appliance clean.
