Burning food in your microwave is not as uncommon as you’d think. We’ve all been through it and had to deal with the smell of the aftermath.
It can happen for several reasons. Maybe you read the instructions of your popcorn bag wrong. Maybe you left a teenager in charge of dinner.
Maybe you live with an elderly person and you do not have a microwave for elderly people, so they have used it badly.
Whatever the reason, the result is always the same: your microwave now stinks of burnt food. The trick to how to get burnt smell out of a microwave is simpler than you think.
Let’s start with the basics first. There is a vital difference in the source of the burnt smell coming from your microwave.
If the smell comes from burnt, leftover food within the appliance then it is still safe to use. Try to avoid accumulating debris or postponing cleaning.
Food residue buildup is one of the most frequent sources of odor in microwaves.
On the other hand, should you find that the microwave itself is burned or damaged, you might want to invest in a new one.
There are a few different ways to get the smell off a microwave, but they all start with cleaning it.
Maintenance is important for any kitchen appliance. Oftentimes leftover debris from burnt food is the source of the smell.
Even grease that has stuck to the inside walls might be causing it. This is because microwaves heat up food in a way that eliminates moisture.
That’s why dryer foods like popcorn get burnt easily. By cleaning it, you avoid re-burning anything that might be causing the burnt smell in the first place.
If you happen to have debris stuck inside, you might want to steam it first. Heat up a microwave-safe container with water in it.
That way, all of the debris will soften with the vapor and be easier to remove. Now, let’s get down to business: how to get rid of the burnt smell.
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One of the ways you can do this is by cleaning the microwave with vinegar. As we all know some smells are more prominent than others.
Burnt fish might need a little extra help in that regard. All you need to do is mix one cup of water with one tablespoon of vinegar.
Make sure you do it in a microwave-safe container before heating it up for two to five minutes.
You can also clean the microwave with lemon juice if you don’t like the smell of vinegar.
Again, using a microwave-safe container squeeze the lemon in half a cup of water and place it into the microwave for two minutes.
The results will be the same and you can make sure none of those smells stay on your microwave.
Remember to let the steam sit inside the microwave for about five minutes. That way, it can soften any debris properly before you clean it.
Another way to do this is to mix half a cup of water with four teaspoons of vanilla extract.
Once again, it has to be a microwave-safe container. Heat it up until it is boiling and let the stem sit inside the microwave for thirty minutes.
You might have noticed that many of these items we all have in our kitchen and have used other than cooking.
Another example of this is coffee grounds. If the burnt popcorn smell is more persistent than you thought, fret not.
All you need to do is mix two tablespoons of coffee grounds with half a cup of water. Microwave it in a safe container for 10 minutes.
Make sure the mixture doesn’t spill everywhere every few minutes. The smell of coffee will neutralize any strong odors.
And you can repeat this process with new coffee grounds as many times as needed.
If you find that the burnt smell is now testing your patience because it won’t come out, there is another method.
You can deodorize your microwave overnight. This means you need to place a newly opened box of baking soda inside the microwave and leave it overnight.
Please do warn other members of your family not to use it during that time. The baking soda will absorb any unpleasant odors.
If you don’t have baking soda, then you can use one cup of activated charcoal or dried coffee grounds.
Once you remove the baking soda, you should not use it to cook, but you can reuse it as a cleaning component. Another option is to reuse it to deodorize cabinets.
After using any or all of these methods to get rid of the smell, you must clean the appliance. Make sure to use something soft so as not to scratch any of the surfaces.
Remove the tray and wash it separately or put it in the dishwasher. Make sure not to use a metal sponge.
Not only will it scratch the inside of your microwave but metal residue inside a microwave is a fire hazard.
A soft sponge or a cloth with soapy water should do the trick. Make sure it is cleaned properly before using it again.
In order to avoid unpleasant smells in the future, keep up with maintenance.
Getting the burnt smell out of your microwave isn’t a difficult or expensive process by any means. Maintenance of every kitchen appliance is important.
All you need to do is clean your microwave and read instructions carefully. Make sure you read the users’ manual and follow the instructions.
And in the event that you do end up with a strong smell in your microwave, you’ll know what to do.
We have gone over several different options. Another thing to consider is who uses the microwave.
For safety reasons, do not let children operate your microwave and teach those who are of age how to operate it.
If you live with an elder, make sure you buy a microwave that is safe for them too. We can all prevent unpleasant odors and awful accidents if we are cautious enough.
