Keep your kitchen clean: 6 hacks to stop frying oil splatters
Ways to prevent grease splatters in the kitchen (photo: Freepik)
During cooking, grease doesn’t just stay in the pan; it also settles on kitchen surfaces. Simple life hacks can help prevent buildup and keep your kitchen clean, according to Real Simple.
Cover flat surfaces
To make cleaning easier next time, use wax paper, parchment, aluminum foil, or plastic wrap to cover flat surfaces.
Clear self-adhesive films (PVC) work well for walls near the stove and cabinets. Silicone or glass panels can withstand heat and are easy to clean.
Wax or polymer treatments for countertops (especially laminate and wood) create a thin layer that repels grease.
Always use the range hood
A kitchen hood removes cooking odors and draws grease particles from the air.
Many models have washable filters that can be cleaned in a dishwasher. For best results, keep filters clean and deep-clean the hood at least once per season.
Use lids
When frying foods like bacon or patties, which tend to splatter, keep a lid handy. A lid blocks most splashes, making the stove easier to clean.
However, if the pan is covered all the time, the food steams more than it fries.
Optimal approach:
- Cover at the beginning or when grease starts splattering heavily
- Remove the lid at the end to brown the food
Lower the heat
High heat causes more splattering and smoke, which contains tiny grease particles that settle on kitchen surfaces.
Try reducing the cooking temperature and using oils with a higher smoke point to keep your kitchen cleaner.
Alternative cooking methods
Air fryers use very little oil and don’t splatter it around the kitchen. Multicookers, pressure cookers, or ovens also prevent grease from spreading, as the oil stays inside the appliance.
Of course, ovens still need cleaning, but it’s a smaller area compared to the whole kitchen.
Clean after every meal
Take a few minutes to wipe the stove and countertops after cooking. Removing grease immediately makes deep cleaning much faster.
