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The Best Way To Cook Fish So It Doesn't Stink Up Your Entire House

Sarah Weinberg
Updated
Photo credit: Ethan Calabrese
Photo credit: Ethan Calabrese

From Delish

There's a reason Yankee Candle has yet to release a Salmon Supper candle: Fish stinks - especially when you're cooking it in a confined space. (Cough, small apartment kitchen, cough.) You're probably well-versed in the things you can do to remedy the stank post-dinner, but if you cook the fish a certain way, you'll be left over with less of stench.

In a Bag

Photo credit: Jonathan Boulton
Photo credit: Jonathan Boulton

This one's obvious: When you wrap a fish nice and tight in parchment paper, you're keeping the smell under wraps, too. It doesn't permeate as much during the cooking process, and you can dump the paper (foil also works) as soon as you're ready to eat.

Poached

Photo credit: Judy Kim
Photo credit: Judy Kim

When you use this cooking method - simmering fish in boiling water or broth - the smell gets trapped in the liquid. Now, here us out on this next part: Some people swear by poaching filets in milk. There's the fact that it gets super flaky and creamy, but it can also take the scent away. Casein, a protein in milk, binds to a compound called trimethylamine that's found in fish and is responsible for the stink. When you drain the milk, the trimethylamine goes with it, and you're left with a less-offensive smelling dinner.

Grilled

Photo credit: Judy Kim
Photo credit: Judy Kim

There's no scientific reason why grilling eliminates the smell; it's just common sense. Cook your filets in the great outdoors and the stench will dissolve into thin air.

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