How to remove burnt smell from food

Sometimes a small mistake while cooking can burn the bottom of a curry or vegetable dish.  The burnt smell can spread through the entire meal and affect its taste.

If the food is only slightly burnt you may not need to throw it away. A few simple kitchen ingredients can help reduce the burnt smell and improve the taste.

Move the food to a clean pot

As soon as you notice that the food has burned turn off the stove.  Do not stir the food as this can mix the burnt pieces from the bottom into the rest of the dish.

Carefully transfer the unburnt food from the top into a clean pot. Leave the burnt layer at the bottom of the original pot.

Add yogurt or cream

If a curry or gravy still has a slightly burnt taste adding one or two spoonfuls of yogurt may help balance the flavor.  The mild sourness of yogurt can reduce the strong taste.

For creamy dishes a small amount of cream can also help make the flavor smoother.

Try a little lemon juice

A few drops of lemon juice may help make the burnt smell and taste less noticeable. Start with a small amount taste the food, and add more only if needed.

Use potato and fresh coriander

You can add a few pieces of raw potato to the curry or gravy and cook it on low heat for about 10 to 15 minutes. Afterward remove the potato pieces if desired and add some fresh coriander.

Its fresh flavor can help make the dish taste and smell better.

Important tip

These methods may help with slightly burnt food but they cannot make badly burnt food safe or restore its original taste. If the food is heavily burnt or has a strong burnt smell throughout it is better to discard it.