How to remove fish smell from a microwave
To remove fish smell from a microwave, wipe the inside with white vinegar and water, then steam it with lemon: heat 2 cups of water with lemon juice on high for about 5 minutes, leave the door closed 10 to 30 minutes, and wipe again. Fishy smell is trimethylamine, a base, and fish oil spatter. The acid in vinegar and lemon turns trimethylamine into a salt that doesn't evaporate, and the wiping removes the oil.
- Best method
- Vinegar-water wipe, then lemon-water steam and a final wipe
- Time
- 20 to 40 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
You will need
- White vinegar
- Lemon or lemon juice
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Soft cloths
- Mild dish soap, for the turntable
Step by step
- 1
Wipe out the spatter
Once the microwave is cool, take out the turntable and wash it in warm soapy water. Wipe the walls, ceiling, door and floor of the cavity with a cloth dampened in white vinegar and water.
Why: Fish oil spatter carries the smell. Vinegar helps cut it and starts neutralizing trimethylamine on the surfaces.
- 2
Steam with lemon water
Heat 2 cups of water with the juice of a lemon, or a few lemon slices, on high for about 5 minutes or until it boils. Keep the door closed for 10 to 30 minutes.
Why: The acidic steam reaches every surface, loosens remaining residue and keeps neutralizing the fishy amine.
- 3
Wipe again and air out
Carefully remove the hot bowl, wipe the cavity with a clean damp cloth, and leave the door open for a while.
Why: This removes what the steam loosened and lets the cavity dry and air.
- 4
Repeat if any smell remains
If you still smell fish, repeat the lemon steam. Check the ceiling and door seal for spatter you missed.
Why: Some residue usually hides on the ceiling or around the door.
Why lemon and vinegar work on fish smell
The fishy smell is trimethylamine (TMA), which forms from trimethylamine oxide in ocean fish after they die. TMA is a base and evaporates easily, which is why reheated fish fills a room. An acid such as lemon juice or vinegar binds TMA into a salt that stays dissolved in water instead of drifting into the air, so the smell drops. Wiping then carries it away.
Fish also spatters oil, which clings to the cavity walls and keeps releasing odor every time the oven heats. That's why the method combines acid with wiping. The fish smell page has the full chemistry.
Eliminating other microwave odors
The same routine works for most microwave smells: wipe spills promptly, steam to loosen residue, and deodorize with lemon water. LG's care guide heats water with lemon slices for 2 to 4 minutes and lets it stand 2 minutes before wiping. Samsung's suggests lemon juice or tea bags in water. For burnt food, see burnt smell in a microwave; for routine care, see cleaning a microwave.
By situation
You reheated fish and the whole kitchen smells
Clean the microwave as above, then run the range hood or open a window. Wipe nearby counters with diluted vinegar or lemon (not on marble or limestone).
Stubborn smell after one round
Repeat the vinegar wipe and lemon steam. Tea bags in the water are another manufacturer-listed option for deodorizing.
Other foods now taste of fish
Residue is still in the cavity. Repeat the full clean, paying attention to the ceiling, the door and the turntable support.
Stainless steel or coated interiors
Use only soft cloths and mild cleaners, and check your manual for anything it says to avoid on the interior finish.
What not to do
- Don't use chemical cleaners or sprays inside the cavity. Steam can pick up the residue and taint food.
- Don't heat plain water for a long time in a smooth, clean cup. It can superheat and erupt when disturbed. Follow the manual's heating times.
- Don't use abrasive pads. They can scratch the interior and exterior finish.
- Don't mix vinegar with chlorine bleach products. Acid plus bleach releases chlorine gas.
Other methods that work
Tea bags
Heat 2 cups of water with a couple of tea bags on high for about 5 minutes and leave the door closed 10 to 30 minutes, then wipe.
Caution: This deodorizes but doesn't neutralize trimethylamine the way acid does.
Stain still there?
The microwave smells fishy every time it heats
Oil spatter remains, often on the ceiling. Wipe it with vinegar and water, then repeat the lemon steam.
The lemon smell is too strong
Wipe the cavity with plain water and leave the door open for an hour.
Safety
- Bowls of steaming water get very hot. Use oven mitts and open the door slowly.
- FDA notes that water heated alone can superheat and erupt; adding a substance before heating greatly reduces the risk.
Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.
Questions
How do I get fish smell out of my microwave?
Wipe the inside with vinegar and water, steam 2 cups of water with lemon on high for about 5 minutes, leave the door closed 10 to 30 minutes, then wipe again.
How do you eliminate microwave odor?
Wipe out spills, steam with water to loosen residue, then deodorize with lemon water and a final wipe. Leave the door open to air.
Does vinegar or lemon work better on fish smell?
Both are acids and both neutralize trimethylamine. Vinegar is handy for the wipe; lemon steam is the manufacturer-listed deodorizing step.
Can I use baking soda in the microwave for fish smell?
Baking soda isn't acidic, so it doesn't neutralize trimethylamine the way lemon or vinegar does. Stick with the acid steam.
Fish smell elsewhere
Other smells in a microwave
Sources
- Eliminating odors from the Samsung Microwave Oven, Samsung (manufacturer support, India site)
- LG Microwave Cleaning, LG Electronics USA (manufacturer care guide)
- Is Fish Smelly?, American Society for Nutrition (citing McGee, On Food and Cooking)
- Microwave Ovens, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Learn About Cleaning Products for Natural Stone, Natural Stone Institute
Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.