Tips to cook fish with minimal odor

ez

<font color=green>Yoshi Lover<br><font color=deepp
Joined
Jun 11, 2000
Messages
1,864
I really want to start eating salmon once a week cause I know its good for me, and I also love it when it's cooked right. My husband doesnt like it and can't stand the smell so thats why I never make it. Trying to get past that though, how do you all cook fish without stinking up your house? We have a very open floor plan, where the kitchen pretty much opens into the rest of the house so closing doors isnt an option. Grilling either, has to be done indoors, thanks!!!
 
I really want to start eating salmon once a week cause I know its good for me, and I also love it when it's cooked right. My husband doesnt like it and can't stand the smell so thats why I never make it. Trying to get past that though, how do you all cook fish without stinking up your house? We have a very open floor plan, where the kitchen pretty much opens into the rest of the house so closing doors isnt an option. Grilling either, has to be done indoors, thanks!!!

I burn a candle during and after cooking. If possible, I will also open a window.
 
You could buy it already baked from a grocery or deli. Red Coho in a can is wild caught salmon and really good for you. You could make salmon patties. We bake salmon filets in our oven with pesto on them. I'm really sensitive to smells and we don't seem to have a problem with it. Fried in a skillet would produce really bad odor.
 
I really want to start eating salmon once a week cause I know its good for me, and I also love it when it's cooked right. My husband doesnt like it and can't stand the smell so thats why I never make it. Trying to get past that though, how do you all cook fish without stinking up your house? We have a very open floor plan, where the kitchen pretty much opens into the rest of the house so closing doors isnt an option. Grilling either, has to be done indoors, thanks!!!

My parents soak in MILK. Yes, you read that right. They swear it cuts down on the fishy taste and smell. Soak for about 20 minutes to a couple of hours. Pat dry before cooking.
 

Do you have a grill? outside cooking!
You could cook inside foil packets in the oven, that might keep some of the smell down
 
My parents soak in MILK. Yes, you read that right. They swear it cuts down on the fishy taste and smell. Soak for about 20 minutes to a couple of hours. Pat dry before cooking.

I know that's supposed to work & not change the flavor of the fish either, I just can't work up the nerve to actually break down and try it.
 
My parents soak in MILK. Yes, you read that right. They swear it cuts down on the fishy taste and smell. Soak for about 20 minutes to a couple of hours. Pat dry before cooking.

I know that's supposed to work & not change the flavor of the fish either, I just can't work up the nerve to actually break down and try it.

My dad used to take a trip to Alaska every year to go salmon-fishing w/ his buddies.

He'd bring tons of salmon fillets home. Someone that went to church w/ my parents told them about the milk trick, & they tried it. It really does work.

Salmon isn't a very "fishy" fish anyway - to me, at least. I don't really notice a fishy smell at all w/ salmon.
 
Sorry, no tips except: Don't ever do what I did!

One day in my early 20s, I made the stupid social faux pas of packing a salmon patty for lunch. Probably wouldn't have been much of a problem if I liked it cold, but ignorant me chose to heat it in the microwave. I was in the teachers' lounge eating with a bunch of teachers, and none of them said a word to me about it; however, it wasn't long before the voice of the principal came over the intercom demanding to know who was eating fish!:blush::blush::blush:
 
I love fish too but do not want to smell like it, or the house to stink.

I use the side burner on our gas grill, I put my pan right on it with some olive oil in it and sear or pan fry tilapia or scallops.

You could grill it right on the grill though using tin foil or the special grilling pans they make to veggies, it has lots of tiny holes in it so the heat cooks the fish but the fish will never touch the surface. You could always steam fish in tin foil packets on the grill too.
 
I know that's supposed to work & not change the flavor of the fish either, I just can't work up the nerve to actually break down and try it.

DH is the designated fish cooker in our house. He always soaks the fish in milk, whether it is going to be sauteed, fried or roasted in the oven.
 
I've never experienced salmon fillets stinking up the house while I cook them - I usually marinate them in something or another, wrap in foil, and bake. I use the frozen kind that come in a bag at the supermarket, if that matters.
 
I've never experienced salmon fillets stinking up the house while I cook them - I usually marinate them in something or another, wrap in foil, and bake. I use the frozen kind that come in a bag at the supermarket, if that matters.

Same here. We eat salmon at least once a week, and I've never been aware of a fishy smell. If DH doesn't do it up on the grill, I'll either bake it in foil if I'm doing a whole fish, or poach fillets or steaks on the stove top. I never fry it though- that might raise a stink.

I suppose if you were really worried, you could just use the exhaust fan over your stove and open a window.
 
Most fish doesn't really have a "fishy" smell unless it's decomposing. If it's properly refrigerated for a few days or frozen for longer periods, it shouldn't stink up the place.

I remember seeing a news piece on state health inspectors whose job was to check fish sold at retail. The tool they used was the nose.
 
I have cooked salmon fillets on a George Foreman grill inside the house. I just put the grill on top of the stove and turned on the exhaust fan. I never even noticed the smell.
 
We catch and cook a lOT of fish
Freshwater usually dosent small

However, salmon and Speckled trout does....DH just got me a camp stove to cook those outside on the covered area:)

I also have a small gas grill-heats immediately-I could cook atop thick foil
 
I broil salmon in my convection oven and never notice an odor :confused3. I only get stinky fish smell in my house if I bake fish sticks or breaded fillets. I will pan fry tilapia and it never stinks. I do think I remember canned salmon being stinky. My mom used to make salmon patties (gag me).
 
I cook all our fish outside -- even January in Connecticut. I can't stand the smell either.

Grill baby grill.
 
My dh has a great sense of smell and he hates the smell of Salmon

Lots of times I buy smoked salmon when I crave it
 



New Posts










Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE













DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top