Freshen Up Your Kitchen: Top Tips to Eliminate Fish Smell from the Oven

You cooked a perfect salmon. Dinner was a triumph. But now, the kitchen smells like a small seafood market. And the oven? It’s holding onto that fishy odour like it’s some sort of trophy.

Fish smells are stubborn in ways you wouldn’t believe. They cling, they linger, and somehow they embed themselves on every surface.

The good news? The fix is usually simple, and yes, it’s probably already sitting in your pantry. You don’t need harsh, expensive cleaners to chase it out for good.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through practical, no-fuss ways to tackle it. So, ready to get that fish smell out of your oven? Let’s dive in.

Why does fish smell linger in the oven?

When fish hits the heat, it immediately starts releasing its oils and proteins. And mixed in there are the sulphur bits and that trimethylamine tang. They cling, worming into corners you didn’t even know existed.

Every surface becomes a trap. Trays catch the drips. And the racks? They wear the splatters like war medals, each crusted badge telling stories of salmon past, of mackerel midnight, and of tuna Tuesday.

Then there’s the burnt-on residue. Juices splash onto hot metal, caramelise, and form that crusty coating that hoards odours like a collection.

Fire up the oven again, and the smell comes roaring right back. The whole heat–cool–heat cycle just keeps feeding it.

Oily fish crank the whole situation up. Salmon, mackerel, and other high-fat varieties release stronger odour compounds that cling stubbornly, reappearing long after you think you’ve won the battle.

And the problem isn’t just the smell itself. It drifts into whatever you make next. Whether it is cookies or roast, nothing is really safe. One bite and there’s this faint, unwelcome hint of seafood lurking in the background. No one wants that.

And when Christmas or any other holiday is basically on the doorstep, your oven is about to clock some serious hours as you prepare turkey, pavlova, and glazed ham.

Those meals deserve an oven that isn’t still giving wafts of yesterday’s barramundi. So yes, getting rid of fish smell quickly isn’t just helpful; it’s essential before the festive chaos kicks in.

How to successfully remove the fish smell from your oven

The approaches below cover the full spectrum, from quick, get-it-done fixes to deeper ‘roll up your sleeves’ methods.

Pick one based on how strong the smell is, or honestly, how patient you feel today. Most rely on things you already have sitting around the house anyway.

Start with a quick oven cleaning

Begin with the basic, obvious steps. Pull out all the racks and trays. Just haul them straight to the sink without inspecting them too closely. You’ll deal with that in a minute.

Have a proper look in the oven, something always pops out once you start paying attention. Wipe away any spills, crumbs, or greasy little splatters.

Now, clean the racks and trays. Hot water, dish soap, and a good scrub are all you need.

Remember, racks harbour the most stubborn fishy notes. So let them dry properly before sliding them back in, even if you’re tempted to rush.

This first sweep won’t banish every odour, but it’s the essential first step when you’re trying to get fish smell out of your oven.

Steam cleaning method – freshen with lemon or vinegar

This trick looks almost too basic to bother with, but oddly, it works. The steam softens the grime and lifts the smells up to a point that makes it a lot less stressful.

Pop a bowl of water mixed with vinegar or water and lemon slices on the middle rack, crank the heat to 120°C, and let the steam reach every corner for 30–45 minutes.

Let it cool until it’s just warm, then wipe the walls, door, and sneaky corners. One note, though: removing the hot bowl requires focus. So use proper oven mitts and don’t rush.

The whole process is simple and satisfying. And it leaves behind a light citrus smell, which is perfect for keeping the oven fresh between bigger cleaning sessions.

Deep cleaning method – baking soda paste

When wiping surfaces isn’t enough, bicarb comes in to get the fish smell out of your oven once and for all.

Scoop out about half a cup and splash in just enough water to turn it into a thick, spreadable paste—somewhere between icing and toothpaste.

Gently spread that mixture over any rough patches, burned spots, shiny buildup, or areas that just look tired. Try to avoid the heating elements… then let it sit for about 12 hours, or simply leave it overnight.

The next morning, spray the dried paste with white or apple cider vinegar. It’ll fizz instantly, which is just the mixture doing its job. Wipe away the mixture with a damp cloth, rinsing it as needed because the residue will cling to it.

Finish things off with a plain water wipe to clear away anything left behind. Baking soda’s ability to scrub and absorb odours at the same time is exactly what makes this such a reliable deep-clean method.

If time is not on your side, professional oven cleaning can help deep clean and remove any fish smell from your oven.

When to use self-cleaning cycles

Many ovens come with a self-clean cycle, though most people avoid it because it sounds like a gamble. Should you use it to clean the oven after cooking fish? The answer is yes.

It’s a solid option if all the other techniques have failed. This function heats the oven to extreme temperatures, about 480°C, reducing food residue to fine ash. Everything, smells included, gets obliterated.

Remove the racks and trays first and ventilate the kitchen, because smoke and strong smells may appear at the beginning. And never leave the house while the cycle is running.

It’s effective, but not something to lean on for everyday smells. The cycle chews through energy and gives the oven’s parts a real workout, so keep it in your back pocket for the jobs that genuinely warrant it.

Once it cools, all that’s left is wiping away the ash with a damp cloth.

Use odour absorbers overnight

Sometimes the simplest things quietly do the heavy lifting. Just set an open container of baking soda on the oven rack and let it sit there, quietly pulling odours out of the air while you do absolutely nothing.

Activated charcoal works beautifully, too, and dry coffee grounds have a certain charm if you don’t mind the smell. These materials quietly draw in odour molecules from the air.

Shut the oven door and let everything sit overnight. Next morning, pull out the container and give the inside a quick wipe to wrap things up.

It won’t replace proper cleaning, not by a long shot. But it’s the perfect follow-up—an insurance policy against any sneaky remnants of fishy aromas.

Prevent fish smell in your oven next time

Prevention wins every time. Just a few small tweaks before you start cooking can stop that fishy smell from ever settling in.

• Wrap or cover the fish. Always cover it. Try foil packets, covered dishes, or parchment paper pouches if you’re feeling a bit fancy. Anything that captures the steam before it sneaks into the oven works. Your fish will come out juicy, and your oven is going to stay cleaner.
• Use a lined tray. Foil or baking paper works. It stops drips from fusing to the metal and creating a stubborn smell you’ll regret ignoring later.
• Ventilation. Flip on the rangehood or crack a window and just let it deal with the chaos for you. The smells are going to drift out instead of settling into every tiny nook.
• Neutralise odours while you cook. Pop a little oven-safe dish of water on the bottom rack, chuck in a few lemon slices, and just let it do the heavy lifting. The steam is going to drift through whatever you’ve got cooking and take the edge off those aggressive smells.

How to get rid of fish smells in the microwave

Microwaves are small, enclosed, and perfect at intensifying fish odours. Steam condenses everywhere, corners catch smells like little sponges, and reheating leftovers can suddenly feel like stepping into the seafood aisle.

It’s strange how fast it happens. Luckily, it doesn’t have to stay that way. These steps explain how to get the fish smell out of the microwave oven in no time:

• Steam clean with lemon or vinegar. In a microwave-safe bowl, add equal parts vinegar and water or just water with a few lemon slices. Slide it in and set the device to high for 3–5 minutes. While the steam drifts around, let it sit another 5 minutes. Finally, pull out the bowl, then wipe down the walls, ceiling, and all the corners to clean the microwave.
• Clean the turntable and seals. Take out the glass plate and wash it thoroughly. Don’t forget the roller ring underneath. Wipe the rubber door gasket and every little crevice with warm, soapy water.
• Prevent smells during use. Cover the fish with a microwave-safe lid, plate, or reusable cover, heat it in shorter bursts so it doesn’t overcook, and add a squeeze of lemon beforehand to help keep the smell down.

Takeaways