A few years ago, preparing basic dishes required a lot of housewives’ time and effort. The appearance in household appliance stores of a kitchen appliance that can cook, fry, stew, bake, heat and maintain the temperature of a ready-made dish practically without human control could not go unnoticed.
And the name spoke for itself: “multi-cooker.”
A skeptical attitude quickly gave way to trust in the new device, and soon an irreplaceable assistant appeared in many apartments, significantly simplifying the procedure for preparing dishes, regardless of their degree of complexity.
On top of that, the miracle device turned out to be easy to use and affordable.
If not for one BUT. And this BUT is an unpleasant odor that could manifest itself not only after preparing a fragrant dish, but was also sharply revealed in a completely new, just purchased, appliance.
Where does the stench come from?
Let's try to figure out where the unpleasant smell in the multicooker comes from. For new devices that have not yet worked, the reason may be the use of low-quality materials in the manufacture of the device, as well as non-compliance with the temperature conditions during transportation and storage.
The manufacturer itself does not consider the smell in the new device to be a disadvantage and usually offers ways to combat it in the instructions.
At the same time, neither the brand, nor especially the price, can serve as a guarantee of the absence of odor.
The only sure way to avoid an unpleasant surprise is to smell the multicookers that match the characteristics and price right in the store, without paying attention to the sellers and other buyers, and choose the only one, your own, without the smell of rubber and mustiness.
The appearance of a smell after cooking does not frighten you, especially since cleaning the non-stick bowl, lid, silicone seal and valve takes very little time. But sometimes regular washing is not enough, the smell remains. We have to look for radical measures to combat it, we will talk about this a little later.
Another reason why a foreign aroma may persist is insufficient care of the multicooker..
Having washed all the above parts, the housewife forgets about the plastic container for collecting excess fat and condensation, which is located on the back of the multicooker, and it reminds of itself as much as possible. Or, after washing the silicone seal, he does not wipe it dry.
Or he dries the bowl by turning it over and placing it on a flat table surface. But you never know what we might miss in the hustle and bustle of modern life! Therefore, let’s call our mistakes “insufficient care” and move on.
The smell can also arise from improper installation and improper storage of the multicooker in the kitchen.
This usually happens if the device is in a closed cabinet, not far from heating radiators, in direct sunlight, or is simply stored with the lid tightly closed.
And finally, the smell is inevitable if you keep cooked food in a slow cooker for a long time, repeatedly heating it . No comments here: the aroma of food will permeate the silicone seal, and it will take some time to get rid of it.
How to remove an unpleasant odor from a multicooker? — 10 effective ways
Each housewife has her own ways to quickly eliminate various odors. There are a lot of them, so everyone can find the most suitable option.
Method number 1 - bide your time
Almost all instructions contain a warning in which multicooker manufacturers report that during the first cooking, the kitchen appliance will have a subtle smell of new plastic or heated plastic.
After purchasing a multicooker, you need to wait some time. After 3-4 days of using the kitchen appliance, the unpleasant aroma disappears, and the multicooker stops emitting the smell of heated plastic.
Method number 2 - boiling
If you don’t like the smell emanating from the purchased kitchen appliance, you can boil ordinary water in a multicooker bowl. If the smell of hot plastic does not disappear during the first boiling, then this procedure is suggested to be repeated several times. As a rule, this method irrevocably and forever eliminates the unpleasant aroma of the purchased “device”.
Method number 3 - lemon
After preparing culinary delights, the ceramic bowl of the multicooker, even after a thorough and conscientious washing procedure, slightly gives off the aromas of spicy oriental herbs and spices that were previously used by the hostess. In this case, you can use the help of ripe lemon.
How to remove odor in a slow cooker using lemon:
- Fill the multicooker bowl with a liter of water.
- Add ripe citrus fruit cut into several pieces.
- Put the kitchen appliance into steam mode and set the temperature interval for 30 minutes.
- After this procedure, the ceramic bowl should be washed with ordinary water, and the unpleasant smell will no longer bother you.
Method number 4 - citric acid
If for some reason you don’t have a ripe lemon on hand, you can use regular citric acid, which is successfully used in preparing various delicacies:
- In a liter of water you need to dissolve half a teaspoon of citric acid.
- Pour this solution into the multicooker bowl.
- After turning on the steamer mode for 30 minutes, the ceramic bowl must be thoroughly rinsed and dried.
As in the previous case, the unpleasant smell of rubber and plastic, as well as previously prepared dishes, disappears.
Method number 5 - wiping the bowl with vinegar
Using vinegar can also help eliminate various unpleasant odors. The specific smell disappears on its own after the procedure.
For this:
- It is necessary to moisten a napkin with ordinary 9% table vinegar and wipe the inner surface of the multicooker bowl.
- In addition to the bowl, you also need to wipe the silicone seal that covers the lid. In most cases, it is the source of a specific unpleasant odor, as it becomes a trap for foreign odors.
Method number 6 - coffee
If the housewife does not plan to prepare culinary delights in the near future, then to treat the multi-cooker bowl from foreign odors that have settled, you can use a quite accessible recipe.
For the whole night, place a saucer with freshly ground natural coffee in the multicooker bowl. Coffee perfectly absorbs extraneous odors, and by the morning there is no trace of unpleasant aromas.
Method number 7 - boiling table vinegar
You can use another proven method of combating unpleasant odors in a multicooker, based on the use of vinegar essence. How to remove an unpleasant odor from a Redmond multicooker using vinegar:
- One tablespoon of 9% vinegar is added to a liter of water and poured into the multicooker bowl.
- After this, operate the kitchen appliance in double boiler mode for 30 minutes.
- Then thoroughly wash and dry the multicooker bowl.
Method number 8 - celery roots
You can use a natural method to eliminate unpleasant odors in the multicooker:
Finely chop the celery roots and add one liter of water.
Method number 9 - ginger
Chopped ginger root will help eliminate the specific smell of the multicooker:
For 30 minutes in double boiler mode, you need to boil water with added ginger.
How to eliminate the stench in a new appliance?
A new multicooker, just like any new electrical appliance, when first used, in most cases has a foreign plastic smell.
- Firstly, the technical lubricant burns out.
- Secondly, the bowl itself, the seal, the valve, and other materials from which it is made smell.
This is a natural process, which in a quality item will not cause any trouble to the owner - the grease will burn naturally, and the multicooker itself, after washing with warm water and detergent and subsequent rinsing, will no longer smell like plastic and who knows what.
But this is ideal, but in practice it happens that the foreign smell is not eliminated even after the second and third wash, spoils the taste of the prepared food and makes you think about returning the purchase . True, a return is not always possible, so I suggest that you first enter into an unequal battle with an unpleasant smell and see what comes of it. Moreover, there are plenty of ways to eliminate it.
We repeatedly wash our assistant, paying special attention to the silicone seal and valve, using a soft rag or paper towel to carefully wipe other parts and the body from the inside, drying the bowl and valve separately. Store the assembled multicooker in a cool place, making sure it is not exposed to sunlight.
Do not close the lid tightly. We leave substances that absorb odors in it. Does not help? We boil water in it with the addition of various means.
How to eliminate unpleasant food odor in a multicooker
If the appliance is actively used and improperly maintained, it will not be possible to avoid the accumulation of food aromas. Forgotten food leaves a characteristic smell for a long time.
Constant storage of food is fraught with consequences for the device such as mold and fungal formations.
There are a number of effective ways to remove the smell from a multicooker after cooking.
Will chemicals help?
Degreasing gels for dishes with fruity fresh aromas can overcome the smell of food that has permeated the multicooker. The effect does not last long. It is difficult to get rid of the pungent aromas of fish and garlic; the aromas return after washing off the product.
It is necessary to take into account the material from which the bowl is made. Ceramics are resistant to the mechanical effects of cleaning powders, but if such a substance contains soda - an alkali by nature, it is better not to use it: you can get rid of the protective layer. The Teflon coating will deteriorate from exposure to abrasives.
A bowl made of cheap material, after cleaning with dishwashing detergent, will begin to emit a characteristic chemical aroma when it is heated.
You need to carefully choose household chemicals for caring for your multicooker. This will avoid damage to the cooking vessel and the financial costs of replacing it.
Traditional methods
To eliminate the smell from the multicooker and get rid of dried food residues, the following tools available in any kitchen will help:
- Lemon juice effectively removes unpleasant odors. The fruit is divided into slices with a knife and placed on the bottom of the container. Pour a liter of water into the bowl and set the cooking mode to steam. After half an hour, wash and dry thoroughly;
- Instead of sour fruit, you can use citric acid. The method of its use is similar to using regular citrus. You will need half a teaspoon of granules of the substance;
- Vinegar will help get rid of the smell of food in the bowl of a regular multicooker. After wetting a napkin with it, you should wipe the cooking container, the lid of the device and the rubber seal with it. Do not allow vinegar to come into contact with the heating elements - this may cause damage. A twelve percent solution can be boiled in a preparation container: add a spoonful of vinegar per liter of water and turn on the “steam” mode for thirty minutes;
- Celery root is effective for stale aromas. It is put into a slow cooker in crushed form, filled with water (a liter is enough) and boiled for forty minutes;
- ginger powder has the same effect as the previous ingredient. To get rid of food odor, the device is treated for half an hour;
- The ground coffee beans should be poured into a saucer and placed on the bottom. The powder displaces unpleasant food aromas. This trick can be done every day when the housewife stops cooking with the appliance;
- Tea brewing will help remove odors from the multicooker. To prepare the solution, it is better to use loose leaf tea. The device is washed with infusion after each use, then rinsed with plain water.
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You should pay special attention to the condition of the lid and seal of the multicooker. If you take special care of the bowl, the elements retain unpleasant odors of food and seasonings after cooking, which are not easy to get rid of.
An effective means for cleaning individual parts is soda: wipe the desired areas with its solution.
How to clean after cooked foods?
It is necessary to care for the multicooker after each use..
Wash, dry, do not be lazy to disassemble the valve and wipe the non-removable parts dry. And don’t forget - any disaster is easier to prevent. Therefore, you should think carefully about whether you should cook strong and persistently smelling foods in a slow cooker, or take your favorite saucepan to cook fish soup.
If the multicooker is used quite actively, you need to purchase another bowl, as well as professional cleaning products (Bright MultiCare, Top House).
Do you trust folk recipes?
Not really
Eliminating odor in a new multicooker
After purchasing a modern device, many are faced with a foreign smell of rubber or plastic in the multicooker.
With some devices it is so faint that a short airing is enough to get rid of the smell.
But it happens that ventilation alone is not enough. Here simple means available to any housewife come to the rescue.
- Lemon is widely used in the fight against unpleasant odors. It must be cut into large slices and placed in a bowl along with 1 liter of water. On the multicooker, you need to set the “steamer” program and boil for 30-40 minutes. At the end of the program, the bowl and other parts must be washed in the usual way.
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This method is suitable not only for combating foreign odors after purchase, but will also help get rid of the aromas of previously prepared dishes.
- 9% vinegar will also help get rid of plastic smell. Use a cloth soaked in vinegar to wipe the bowl, as well as the silicone valve. Vinegar, just like lemon, can be used for boiling in the “double boiler” mode. The method is suitable for getting rid of all odors.
- Dish soap also helps get rid of plastic smells. All parts should be treated with detergent, rinsed thoroughly with water and dried.
- Chopped celery root will help get rid of foreign odors. Add 1 liter of water to it and boil for 40 minutes. To enhance the effect, you can combine celery with vinegar.
- Ground ginger is also effective against unpleasant odors. It is necessary to boil the multicooker with its particles for 30 minutes, and then rinse in the usual way and dry. For better results, you can add ground black pepper to the ginger.
Cleaning products
All of the following means and methods are suitable for eliminating odors in both a new and working multicooker. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the concentration of the solutions used .
Although multicooker parts are designed to withstand high temperatures and long-term use, it is unlikely that a high concentration of, for example, vinegar essence will benefit them.
Lemon
This method is recommended by the manufacturer and is outlined in the instructions for many models of multicookers.
- Pour about one-third of the water into the bowl.
- Add chopped lemon or a little citric acid there.
- Turn on the “steam” mode for 15-20 minutes.
- Without opening the lid, wait until the water cools down and repeat heating.
- Again we wait until the water becomes warm, after which we wash the bowl, the multicooker lid, the silicone seal and the removable valve with the same water.
- Then rinse with clean water, gently wipe with a soft rag or paper towel and leave the multicooker with the lid open until completely dry.
There is another, more labor-intensive way to eliminate odor using lemon. To do this, you need to cut the lemon and thoroughly wipe all surfaces of the multicooker with half, except the heating elements .
Citric acid can also help in cleaning the microwave from carbon deposits and grease.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a universal folk remedy for eliminating any odors. Works great. We wash all the parts of the multicooker with a weak solution of vinegar or acetic acid in warm water. Make sure that the sponge or rag is soft and does not scratch the surface . Next, as usual, rinse, wipe, and dry.
Most likely, after washing, a faint smell of vinegar will remain, but it will dissipate within a few hours.
You can read about how to use vinegar to clean the grease inside an electric oven here.
Coffee
Another universal odor absorber. It’s not for nothing that its grains can be found in perfume departments of stores, where they successfully combat mixed odors of cosmetics.
You shouldn’t expect an immediate effect from using coffee, but if you pour a few beans onto a plate and place it in the multicooker bowl overnight, the smell from the previously prepared dish will disappear without a trace.
Welding
You can try to eliminate the unpleasant odor using tea leaves . To do this, after preparing food, the multicooker bowl needs to be rinsed and then treated with dried tea leaves.
This method has its pitfalls: firstly, the bowl may change its color due to interaction with the tea leaves, and, secondly, grains of tea may fall to the bottom of the multicooker body, and removing them from there will be inconvenient.
Salt or soda
They can be used separately or together. But in the case of a multicooker, a soda solution is more versatile, suitable for both washing the device and boiling. Let's look at how this works.
To wash the multicooker, dilute baking soda with heated water and make sure that the substance is completely dissolved . Then again, I wash everything that can be washed, rinse, and dry.
The soda solution is not toxic, it will not cause unpleasant sensations to your hands, does not have any foreign odor, and can cope not only with residual aroma, but also with grease stains.
Baking soda is also great for other purposes, for example, using baking soda you can quickly clean grease from your microwave.
The same solution can be brought to a boil, provided that there is enough water in the multicooker and it does not evaporate. Otherwise, soda crystals will remain in the multicooker, and you will have to remove them. Sometimes soda is mixed with table salt, approximately 1:1, and used for washing dishes . Baking soda can also be used to clean grease from a gas stove.
Celery or ginger root
Removing unpleasant odors is also possible with the help of celery and ginger.
These plants themselves have a sharp, fresh smell with light notes of citrus, which has long become familiar to us.
Therefore, if you have celery root or ginger in the refrigerator, you can use them to boil in a slow cooker to eliminate extraneous odors.
This is quite simple to do: chop the root, add enough water (about one third of the multicooker bowl) and boil for about 30 minutes. During this time, the water should not boil away.
To enhance the effect, you can add a few drops of vinegar to the celery, and a pinch of black pepper to the ginger . Leave the solution in the closed multicooker until it cools.
Boiling
Boiling is one of the best ways to combat odors. The result will be even if you use only clean water. In some cases, it is enough to boil it once, in others it will require repeated processing.
Adding lemon, soda, salt, and vinegar to the water will only enhance the expected effect. But if lemon, soda and salt do not give off any strong odors when boiling, then you need to be extremely careful when using vinegar.
Remedies
If you react very quickly (immediately after cooking), you can usually remove the unpleasant odor from the multicooker by long-term ventilation (for example, for 1-2 days). But sometimes the scent is persistent and lasts for a long time. There are several options to remove it effectively and quickly. The choice of the appropriate method depends on personal preference. In most cases, home remedies can help remove the smell from your slow cooker.
Lemon
Dried dirt in the pan (bowl) of the multicooker is well cleaned with lemon. Place the sliced lemon in a bowl, add 1-2 glasses of water, and turn on the device for 30 minutes. The remaining dirt is removed faster and better than with regular cleaning, in addition, you will get rid of the unpleasant odor inside the device (lemon perfectly removes fishy odors).
You can try another cleaning option.
Mix water with lemon juice and peel and cook in a slow cooker for a few minutes. Then wipe the inside of the device with a clean damp cloth and then dry it.
Lemon acid
A similar method for cleaning a multicooker that smells unpleasant after cooking is to boil water with citric acid in a bowl. The steam will not only loosen dirt, but also eliminate odors. Remove any remaining dried food with a sponge.
Vinegar
This assistant is able to eliminate odors in a new multicooker and get rid of the musty smell.
Mix vinegar and water (1:1). Heat the solution in the bowl of the device until it boils. Cook for a few minutes. Pour out the liquid and wipe the device with a cloth.
Most housewives consider vinegar to be a truly excellent odor absorber! They also recommend trying another method - washing the slow cooker with warm water mixed with baking powder.
Coffee
If your multicooker stinks after not being cleaned for a long time, try putting ground coffee in it overnight (instant coffee won't help). In the morning, not the slightest trace will remain of the unpleasant odor.
Tea brewing
A proven way to remove odors from a multicooker, which can ruin even the most delicious dish, is to use tea leaves.
Place a few tea leaves (large leaf tea is most effective) into the bowl of the appliance. You can add a few slices of lemon. Fill with water. Turn on the device for 30 minutes. The effect of such cleaning will not only be quick, but also long-lasting.
Ginger
You can get rid of the unpleasant odor by boiling chopped ginger in a slow cooker for 30 minutes. After boiling, wash and dry the device.
Salt and soda
If the multicooker is rotten due to food residues and lack of cleaning, baking soda will help. It will also remove deposits on the inner walls well. One option for cleansing with soda is making a paste by mixing it with vinegar. Apply the paste to the inner surface for 15 minutes. Then remove the dirt with a damp cloth. Together with deposits and food residues, soda neutralizes rottenness.
One of the environmentally friendly methods for cleaning and eliminating odors from a multicooker is a mixture of soda and salt. Pour them into a bowl and leave overnight. In the morning, after pouring out the mixture, you will see how fresh the device has become.
The next way to use soda and salt to get rid of plastic odor is to dissolve them in water (1:1) directly in the bowl. Leave it overnight. In the morning, rinse with clean water.
Natural acids
Acids used to remove odors (rotten, fishy odor) include the substances discussed above:
- vinegar (helps get rid of mold smell);
- citric acid (suitable for getting rid of odors remaining after cooking from smelly foods);
- lemon juice (most often used to get rid of the smell in the Redmond multicooker).
The advantage of all the tips described is that they are effective. Traditional methods will effectively help refresh your multicooker itself and the entire apartment. Substances needed for cleaning are often used in every household. They are almost always at hand in the kitchen, therefore, their use does not require any extraordinary expenses. In addition, they are organic and do not have a negative impact on the environment.
Prevention
How to prevent unpleasant odors from appearing in a multicooker? The rules are quite simple :
- after each use, the multicooker should be thoroughly washed, especially contaminated areas (valve, container for collecting fat and condensation), to avoid a musty smell, wipe the seal and the inside of the body, dry thoroughly;
- after preparing strong-smelling dishes, leave substances that absorb odors (coffee, soda, activated carbon, dry citrus peels) in the multicooker bowl;
- store in a dry, ventilated place, avoiding external heating of the device;
- do not close the lid tightly;
- do not allow food particles or fat to come into contact with the heating elements;
- Avoid cooking strong-smelling dishes in a slow cooker.
Cleaning and eliminating odors in a multicooker
Expert opinion
Natalya Osadchaya
Cleaning company employee
When cleaning the multicooker, follow one fundamental rule: never use cleaning powders or other abrasives or sponges with a rough surface. They can scratch and damage the surface of the device. Use a soft cloth or sponge soaked in a non-aggressive detergent, such as dishwashing gel.
How to get rid of the smell in a slow cooker by thorough cleaning:
- Turn off the device.
- Wash all parts with dishwashing gel. Do not clean the device when hot, immediately after use.
- Wash the interior walls with a soft cloth or sponge and a special multi-cooker and microwave cleaner or other suitable substance. If there are dried or burnt food residues in the bowl, you can remove them with a special cleaning spray. For stubborn stains, boil water in a slow cooker (for a few minutes) - this will help soften the odor-emitting stains.
- Now we remove greasy deposits or food debris around the door with a sealing gasket. This can be done with a sponge.
- Wipe the outside of the device with a damp cloth and a suitable cleaning agent. Be careful not to get the rag too wet. Do not allow water to enter the ventilation openings. Do not get the control panel wet.
- Glass surfaces can be polished with lemon juice or vinegar diluted in water.
- Wipe the multicooker dry.
Double the power of lemon and orange
and Redmond recommend eliminating the smell with lemon and orange.
Cut citrus fruits into the multicooker bowl, add water, and turn on the device for 30 minutes. The orange traps fat, the lemon gets rid of odors, and the emanating steam softens dirt (later they can be easily removed with a sponge).
Universal cleaner
A homemade universal cleaner is a practical product that is valued by many housewives for its ability to get rid of the smell of fish and remove the smell of plastic from a new multicooker. The process of its preparation is very simple.
To obtain the solution you will need:
- 1 liter of warm water;
- 1 tbsp. l. soda;
- 1 tbsp. l. vinegar;
- a few drops of essential oil (you can use citrus, pine, cinnamon, lavender).
How to clean a steamer?
To descale the steamer you need to:
- Pour 1 glass of vinegar into the tank, fill the rest of the space with water.
- Turn on the steamer for 10-15 minutes, then turn it off and wait until it cools down.
- Drain the liquid and remove excess water.
You can use Antiscale. This product was created specifically to fight scale. Before use, you should read the instructions and act according to them.
Citric acid will help remove traces of lime:
- You need to mix acid (1 tbsp) and water (full tank).
- Turn on the steamer.
- After 25-30 minutes, turn off.
- Wash and dry.
Preventing the appearance of bad odors in the device
If the multicooker has been in use for a long time and it smells unpleasant, the appliance may not be properly cared for. So, after cooking, the bowl should be emptied immediately and the appliance should be washed.
Such equipment should only be stored open and not in a closet, but in an open place. If you have prepared a dish with a strong aroma, you need to rinse the bowl with salt or soda to eliminate the smell. If necessary, rinse the bowl with a weak solution of table vinegar and dry with a towel.
It is best to buy several bowls so that you can cook fish in one, porridge and first courses in another, and meat in the third. This way the device will never have an unpleasant odor.
