Cooks and supporters of the culinary art, attention! This post was made for you. That's because today we're going to teach ourselves how to get the smell of garlic (and onion) out of our hands.
Because, let's face it, cooking is really cool, but you don't have to go around exhaling the ingredients you used to prepare lunch.
So check the tips?
Why do garlic and onion smell in my hands?
The characteristic smell of these two ingredients has its own name, you know? Yes, it is called alliaceous odor and it is not exclusive to garlic and onion, other vegetables of the subfamily of the allioideaes also have it.
These odors are produced thanks to sulfur compounds and thiopropanal oxide molecules.
That is, there is no way to escape this gift of chemistry. And since this smell will not cease to exist, nor will you stop using garlic and onions to season your food, there is no alternative but to gather an arsenal of homemade tips to eliminate these unpleasant odors. So let's move on to the next topic:
Homemade recipes to get the smell of garlic out of your hand
Running water
Believe it or not, but the simple fact of leaving your hands under running water already helps – a lot – to remove the smell of garlic. But for this simple technique to work you need to leave your hands for at least a minute in running water, without rubbing. Just remember to put a basin or other container capable of collecting this water, so you avoid waste and can reuse it for other household tasks.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits, especially orange and lemon, are excellent options for removing the smell of garlic and onion from your hands. To do this you should just rub a lemon or an orange on your hands, remembering to include the nails and the inner parts of the fingers when cleaning.
At the end, rinse well and dry your hands. Remember that the lemon is photosensitive, that is, it can stain your skin if it comes in contact with the sun, so don't forget to wash your hands well after using the fruit juice.
Coarse salt
Who said that coarse salt only serves to season the meat of the barbecue? This super popular ingredient can also be used to remove the smell of garlic from your hands. As well? Just place a handful of coarse salt on dry hands and rub until you feel the smell is gone. Very easy isn't it?
Stainless steel
It may seem a little strange, but it's true: stainless steel utensils are capable of removing the smell of garlic and onion. There is even scientific evidence for this.
The reason this technique works is simple: stainless steel is able to neutralize the sulfur molecules present in these two vegetables.
And how to use stainless steel to remove odors? Is easy. Take a utensil made with the material (spoon, colander or even a pan, avoid knives to avoid the risk of injury) and rub your hands under running water.
Today there are even stainless steel bars manufactured for the sole purpose of removing odors from your hands.
Parsley (and other herbs)
Parsley, basil, mint and celery are other good options to remove the smell of garlic and onion from your hands.
To do this, rub leaves of these herbs in your hands and you're done. The bad smell will go away.
It is worth using these herbs too, especially the parsley, to remove that unpleasant breath that appears after consuming foods with garlic and onions. Just chew some parsley leaves and you will have a clean and fresh breath again.
Vinegar
Vinegar could not be left out of that list. Known and recognized worldwide for its thousand and one uses, vinegar is a potent neutralizer of odors.
Here, the tip is as follows: dip your hands in a container with water and white vinegar (preferably) and wait for a while. Then just rinse.
Coffee grounds
Do you know those coffee pots in perfumery stores? They are there for a single reason: to neutralize odors. And it is not for nothing that this magic dust ended up here too. Coffee grounds or powder are great for neutralizing the smell of garlic and onion from your hands.
Just rub some coffee grounds or dry coffee grounds on your hands and rinse. In addition to gently exfoliating your skin, you can also eliminate unpleasant odors from garlic and onions.
Grass
Our next tip will require you to have a garden or a green area. That's because grass is a great ally in removing odors. Just rub your hands in a little grass to remove the stench of garlic and onion. Do the test!
Toothpaste
This one you've probably heard of! Yes, passing toothpaste on your hands helps to remove the smell of garlic and onion. It is not legend! Wash your hands thoroughly with the product and then rinse. That simple!
Smell of garlic in hair and clothes? No!
Unfortunately it is not only in the hands that the smell of garlic and onion permeates. The clothes and hair also denounce who prepared the meal. So, we separated some more tips on how to remove the smell of garlic, only this time from hair and clothes, look:
Alcohol
You can remove the smell of garlic and onion from your clothes by betting on a simple mixture of alcohol and water in the same proportion. Put this mixture in a spray bottle and apply it on the clothes, then just let them dry and you're done. No more bad smells to accompany you.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits help to remove the smell from hands and hair. When washing the locks try putting a spoon of lemon juice together with the shampoo. Massage this mixture into the scalp and across the hair. Leave on for a few minutes and then rinse. Your hair will be clean and perfumed again!
Sodium bicarbonate
Don't you want to use lemon to remove the garlic smell from your hair? Then try using baking soda.
This wildcard ingredient that is indispensable in every home can be used together with the shampoo. To do this, mix the amount of shampoo you usually use with a teaspoon of baking soda. Then just wash your hair as usual.
Better than taking away the smell is preventing it
The saying went: better to be safe than sorry. And when it comes to the smell of garlic and onion, this popular wisdom pill makes a lot of sense.
So, even before you start peeling garlic or onion, keep the following tips in mind:
Wash with vinegar
The first tip is to wash your hands with vinegar before you start preparing the meal. Pour some of the liquid on your hands, rub and then rinse. Do this also with the knife, board and other utensils you want to see free of the smell of garlic.
Garlic and onion sauce
Soaking the garlic and onion in a bowl of water helps to remove the strong smell of these ingredients, as well as preventing you from shedding tears when cutting the onion. Another advantage is that this technique allows the shells to be removed much more easily. Try it!
In the microwave
Here, the idea is simple and has the same objective as the previous topic: remove odors and peel ingredients more easily.
To do this, place the garlic or onion with the skin in the microwave for just 30 seconds. Heating helps to prevent the smell from permeating your hands.
Processor, friend of all hours
The processor can also help you keep your hands smelling. Just put the garlic and onion in the equipment and grind.
There is only one problem: you will still need to peel the ingredients. However, the contact is much less, which facilitates the removal of odors later.
Seasoning for the whole month
Finally, what do you think about leaving the seasoning ready in the fridge? That way you will only be concerned with removing the garlic smell from your hands just once.
The recipe here is very easy and simple. Place the required amount of garlic and onion for the entire month in a bowl of water (a good measure is ½ kg of garlic for 4 whole onions).
After that, peel everything and put it in the processor to grind. At the end you will get a paste. If you want larger pieces of garlic and onion, grind less.
Put this mixture in a pot, filling it up to just over half. Then, top up with oil of your choice (soy, sunflower, corn, etc.). The oil is responsible for keeping the seasoning preserved and fresh.
When making the food just put this mixture in the pan, sauté and go!
Did you like the tips? Now just go back to the kitchen and make that mouthwatering dish without having to worry about how to get the garlic smell out of your hand.
