Trust the experts and rub your fingers on the classic steel spoon. What is it for? Nobody believes it, but once you try it, you won’t be able to do without it. Let’s find out everything there is to know together?
Rub your fingers on the spoon – what is it for?
When cooking with garlic and onions , it’s common for your hands to pick up and retain unpleasant odors. This can be annoying, especially if you want to get rid of such smells after handling these aromatic ingredients. Luckily, there’s a simple trick that can help get rid of these smells: rub your fingers on a stainless steel spoon or surface.
The science behind this method is based on a phenomenon called “catalytic oxidation.” The unpleasant smell of garlic and onions comes from sulfur compounds that bind to the skin when the ingredients are handled . Rubbing your fingers against a steel surface encourages the oxidation of these compounds, breaking the chemical bonds responsible for persistent odors.
To use this method properly, it’s best to use a stainless steel spoon or a steel surface, such as a sink or faucet. After handling garlic or onions, it is first important to rinse your hands under running water to remove any residue. Then you have to take a steel spoon or rub your fingers on the steel surface for about 30 seconds , concentrating the action on the area of the fingers and nails, where odors accumulate more.
While scrubbing, you may notice a metallic smell , but it’s nothing to worry about. This smell is temporary and disappears along with the unpleasant smells of garlic and onions. It is important to remember that the spoon or steel surface must be clean and free of food contaminants for this method to be effective.
Competent advice and methods
After scrubbing, we recommend rinsing your hands again under running water and removing any residual odors with soap. Finally, you can dry your hands and check the result: the smell of garlic and onions should be gone or significantly reduced.
It is important to note that while scrubbing with the steel spoon can be effective, other methods may be necessary. This will remove lingering odors from other items or surfaces such as cutting boards or kitchen utensils. In these cases, it’s a good idea to use a combination of warm water, soap, and baking soda to clean and neutralize any remaining odors.
Rubbing your fingers against a steel spoon or surface can be an effective way to remove unpleasant garlic and onion odors from your hands. This simple trick based on catalytic oxidation offers a quick and convenient solution to eliminate those lingering odors. Trying this method in the kitchen can make the cooking experience more enjoyable and leave your hands fresh and free of unwanted odors .