Food almost always smells great when it is being cooked. However, occasionally accidents happen – the food gets burnt, or a pungent onion smell spreads all over the house – and that’s when we become particularly annoyed, especially if we have guests coming over.
Using the cooker hood, opening the window, and similar methods are not always very effective, especially if you are cooking foods that smell very strongly, such as fish or onions. I have tried dozens of kitchen air purifiers to determine whether they can neutralize cooking odors and whether it is worth buying an air purifier for the kitchen.
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To be honest, I am positively surprised by the results and the performance that an air purifier can deliver, especially when used in combination with a cooker hood. Combined, a cooker hood and an air purifier almost immediately neutralize the smell of fish during frying.
In this article, I will present the five best air purifiers you can buy for your kitchen, which I’m sure will banish odors after preparing almost any dish. In addition, I will touch on what you should look out for when buying an air purifier and answer any questions you may have on the subject.
In a Hurry? Here Are the Best Air Purifiers For Kitchen Odors!
- Alen BreatheSmart Flex – is the best air purifier for the kitchen you can buy. It covers rooms up to 300 sq. ft. and uses high-quality filters, among which I would highlight the True HEPA filter and the pellet-based carbon filter. On top of all that, it comes with the option to activate a lifetime warranty.
- Levoit Core 300 – is the best budget air purifier for cooking odors. It is designed for rooms up to 219 sq. ft., uses 3-stage filtration technology, is practical, and fits ideally in almost any small kitchen.
- Levoit Core 600S – is designed for large kitchens, up to 635 sq. ft., making it ideal for open and huge kitchens. It uses a high-quality filter to easily fight cooking odors with its extremely powerful airflow.
- Rabbit Air MinusA2 – air purifier uses up to 6-stage filtration technology, has many advanced options, and covers spaces up to 815 sq. ft. It’s ideal if you have the area to hang it somewhere on the wall in your kitchen.
- Hathaspace HSP001 – is a small air purifier with many advanced options and high-quality filtration. It uses 5-stage filtration technology, covers rooms up to 350 sq. ft., and has a highly accurate air quality sensor.
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Top 5 Air Purifiers For Cooking Odors
My wife prepares delicious meals every day, providing me with ideal moments to test various air purifiers in kitchen conditions.
After trying dozens of air purifiers in my kitchen, I must admit that not all of them perform as expected. Some lack efficiency in removing cooking smells, likely due to their poor quality carbon filters.
Below, you will find the five best air purifiers among all I have tested in the kitchen, which, I’m sure will do an excellent job in your kitchen and effectively eliminate cooking odors.
Alen FLEX – Extremely Effective for the Kitchen
Alen FLEX Highlights
- This air purifier covers rooms up to 300 sq. ft., making it ideal for a medium-sized kitchen.
- The Alen FLEX is the ideal air purifier for cooking odors, largely thanks to its high-quality True HEPA and carbon pellet-based filters.
- In performance tests, it has shown fantastic results, improving air quality by around 94% in just 60 minutes.
- Alen offers the option to activate a lifetime warranty on this model.
Alen FLEX is modern, efficient, and the best kitchen choice. This air purifier easily tackles cooking odors thanks to its high-quality filtration technology. It neutralizes any unpleasant smells you may detect in the kitchen. This air purifier uses a 3-stage filtration technology consisting of a pre-filter, a True HEPA filter, and a pellet-based carbon filter. What I like about the Alen is that it offers the option to purchase as many as three different filters, which vary in the number of carbon pellets that can be put in the filter, ranging up to 2+ lbs.
As already mentioned, Alen FLEX is a modern device that fits best into modern kitchens. However, suppose you want to hide it in the kitchen. In that case, that is also possible since this air purifier is not that big and will fit into any decent spot.
When it comes to advanced options, the Alen FLEX doesn’t boast a lot of advanced options, but it has everything you need for optimal everyday use. What’s missing, in my opinion, is an air quality sensor that would take this air purifier to an even higher level. Apart from being an excellent choice for the kitchen and because it is very quiet during operation, the Alen FLEX is on the list of the best air purifiers for the bedroom.
The Alen FLEX is ideal for a medium-sized kitchen, as it is the easiest one to place on the floor. The high-quality filters, particularly the high-quality pellet-based charcoal filter, make it an excellent choice for combating cooking odors and my absolute recommendation for purchase.
| Filters | Pre-filter, True HEPA Filter, and Carbon Filter |
| Room Coverage (4.8 ACH) | 300 sq. ft. |
| Power Consumption | 50W |
| Warranty | Lifetime (with replacing filter subscription) |
Levoit Core 300 – Best Budget Option
Levoit Core 300 Highlights
- The Levoit Core 300 is a small air purifier designed for rooms up to 219 sq. ft.
- This air purifier uses a three-stage filtration technology consisting of a pre-filter, a True HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter.
- In performance tests, it improved air quality by approximately 93%.
- The Core 300 needs little electricity, is very quiet during operation, and is suitable for annual maintenance.
- Levoit provides a 2-year warranty on this model.
This small air purifier also fits perfectly in the kitchen, especially on the worktop or somewhere close to where you cook. The Levoit Core 300 is a compact, efficient, affordable, and highly reliable air purifier that drastically improves the air quality in your kitchen in a very short time.
The Core 300 uses a 3-stage filtration technology consisting of a pre-filter, a True HEPA filter, and a pellet-based carbon filter. Levoit filters are known to be very reliable and efficient, and they are very inexpensive to replace. The filters on this model last 6-8 months, or slightly less if exposed to many pollutants (which is the case in the kitchen).
What I don’t like about the Core 300, however, is the lack of smart options seen in all the newer Levoit models, making this model an even better option to buy than it is now. Remember that this is a very small air purifier and that it is designed for small rooms.
A part of the kitchen, this air purifier is perfect if you have pets. It is tested as one of the better air purifiers for combating pet hair. Thanks to its small size and quiet work, this air purifier is also a dedicated candidate for the kitchen.
The Levoit Core 300, apart from being the best affordable air purifier for the kitchen, can easily be placed anywhere in your kitchen. All the while, you won’t be disappointed by the excellent performance and efficient filtering technology. This makes the Core 300 another air purifier I recommend buying for the kitchen.
| Filters | Pre-filter, True HEPA Filter, and Activated Carbon Filter |
| Room Coverage (4.8 ACH) | 219 sq. ft. |
| Power Consumption | 45W |
| Warranty | 2-year |
Levoit Core 600S – Best for Large Kitchens
Levoit Core 600S Highlights
- The Levoit Core 600S is a large air purifier designed for rooms up to 635 sq. ft.
- It uses a 3-stage filtration technology consisting of a pre-filter, True HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter.
- It is an affordable air purifier of exceptional quality and the perfect choice to combat cooking odors.
- Levoit provides a 2-year warranty on the Core 600S model.
The Levoit Core 600S covers spaces up to 635 sq. ft., which is equivalent to a huge kitchen, so it would be a good idea to keep this in mind before buying. This air purifier is best placed somewhere on the floor, but make sure it’s not near a stove or source of pollution.
The Core 600S uses a 3-stage filtration technology consisting of a nylon mesh pre-filter, a True HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter. The filter is huge, cylindrical, and hollow in the center. This air purifier has strong airflow that allows for pulling air from all corners of the kitchen. Strong airflow is what makes this air purifier great in huge rooms.
What I like about this model is that it has a high-quality, long-lasting, affordable filter. In addition, I can’t get past the many advanced options, such as the air quality sensor, auto mode, and smart app, which make the Levoit Core 600S air purifier easy to use in the kitchen.
The Levoit Core 600S is a large air purifier I would recommend for giant kitchens, as this air purifier requires a lot of space. It uses high-quality filtration technology, has True HEPA and a pellet-based carbon filter, and will easily tackle unpleasant cooking odors in any kitchen.
| Filters | Pre-filter, True HEPA Filter, and Activated Carbon Filter |
| Room Coverage (4.8 ACH) | 635 sq. ft. |
| Power Consumption | 49W |
| Warranty | 2-year |
Rabbit Air MinusA2 – Perfect for the Modern Kitchen
Rabbit Air MinusA2 Highlights
- The Rabbit Air MinusA2 is another large air purifier that covers rooms up to 815 sq. ft.
- It uses a 6-stage filtration technology that is among the most complex on the market.
- The Rabbit Air MinusA2 is easy to hang on the wall, so it will easily find its place in almost any kitchen.
- This air purifier comes with a generous 5-year warranty.
The Rabbit Air MinusA2 is a stylish, modern, and premium air purifier that covers spaces up to 815 sq. ft. and is the ideal choice for the more modern kitchen. This air purifier will not only brighten up your kitchen but also provide significantly better air quality.
I like that the Rabbit Air MinusA2 can be wall mounted, making it easier to set up and find the best location for the device. In addition, this model can be placed on the floor or any other hard surface. This very modern device that looks like some hi-tech tool can also be used in other rooms. It is well known as an excellent choice to fight airborne particles and pet odors.
The Rabbit Air MinusA2 uses a 6-stage filtration technology consisting of a pre-filter, a medium filter, a BioGS HEPA filter, a customized filter, a carbon filter, and a negative ion generator.
What I like about the Rabbit Air MinusA2 is that it can be hung on the wall, so this large air purifier will easily find its place even in a slightly smaller kitchen. It’s the ideal air purifier for the kitchen because of the different mounting options and the extremely high-quality filtration technology.
| Filters | Pre-filter, Medium Filter, BioGS HEPA Filter, Customized Filter, Activated Carbon Filter and Negative Ion Generator |
| Room Coverage | 815 sq. ft. |
| Power Consumption | 61W |
| Warranty | 5-year |
Hathaspace HSP001 – Amazing Filtration Technology
Hathaspace HSP001 Highlights
- The Hathaspace HSP001 is a medium-sized air purifier designed for rooms up to 350 sq. ft.
- This air purifier uses a highly efficient 5-stage filtration technology.
- It is extremely quiet during operation and needs very little electricity.
- It is ideal for cooking odors, mainly due to its high-quality filtration system. It efficiently neutralizes cooking odors.
- Hathaspace gives a warranty of 2 to 5 years for this model.
The Hathaspace HSP001 is another air purifier that has made the list of the best air purifiers for the kitchen. This model is designed for rooms up to 350 sq. ft. and uses 5-stage filtration technology. This model uses an optional ionizer; you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to. In addition, the Hathaspace HSP001 is CARB certified, which means it does not produce illegal amounts of ozone and is safe to use.
I like that the Hathaspace has a lot of advanced options, among which I would definitely highlight the air quality sensor and the automatic mode.
As for the design, I have to say that it is modern and will fit into almost any kitchen. If you don’t need it in the kitchen, you can quickly move it to the living room. Thanks to its modern design it will fit any room without any problem.
The Hathaspace HSP001 ranks high as the best air purifier for cooking odors, mainly thanks to its many advanced options and high-quality 5-stage filtration technology. This air purifier is medium-sized, so it will easily find its place in small and medium-sized kitchens.
| Filters | Cold Catalyst Filter, Cellular-Activated Carbon, Antibacterial and True HEPA Filter |
| Room Coverage (4.8 ACH) | 350 sq. ft. |
| Power Consumption | 45W |
| Warranty | 2-5 years |
What to Look for When Choosing a Kitchen Air Purifier?
When choosing an air purifier for the kitchen, it is imperative to pay attention to two things, namely the filtration technology and the CADR that the air purifier has.
All the devices I have listed have their own characteristics. Some are designed for larger rooms, others for smaller rooms, but all have extremely high-quality filters. This is one of the reasons why they are on the list of the best air purifiers for cooking odors.
When it comes to filtration, it is important that the air purifier has a good quality True HEPA filter or something similar that is equally or almost equally effective and that it has a good quality carbon filter. In this case, all the devices presented have pellet-based carbon filters, which means that they contain a certain amount of activated carbon that can absorb odors, especially cooking odors.
If we are talking about space coverage, you need to pay attention to the size of your kitchen and choose an appliance that can cover that space accordingly. For example, if you have a small kitchen and want to place the device closest to the source of pollution (on the kitchen counter), then the Levoit Core 300 is the best choice. However, suppose you have a huge kitchen combined with a dining or living room. In that case, I recommend a larger air purifier, such as the Levoit Core 600S.
Smart options are other things to look out for when buying a kitchen air purifier. Although not essential, it can also be helpful when choosing an air purifier for your kitchen. For example, an air purifier with an air quality sensor can easily be set to automatic mode, where the device will maintain good air quality independently, without any additional settings.
How I Tested and Selected Air Purifiers for the Kitchen?
To provide the most accurate recommendations, I personally tested numerous air purifiers in my kitchen to be one hundred percent sure which devices perform exceptionally well, which ones get the job done, and which ones are suitable for the kitchen. The essential conclusion is that whichever device you choose from the options mentioned above, you will go right and experience a noticeable improvement in air quality from the very first use.
For me personally, because I use a smaller kitchen, the most practical air purifier is the Levoit Core 300, which I always place near the stove and which efficiently neutralizes the smell of fried fish, onions, or anything else that comes from my kitchen.
However, I must also point out that the filters get dirty faster when I use the air purifier in the kitchen or any other room. Interestingly, the air purifier gets dirty much quicker when I use it in the kitchen than, say, in a room where I have pets. That’s why I took the filter’s longevity as one of the parameters when choosing an air purifier for the kitchen.
The most important thing is that I have carried out real-life tests in which I have tested the air purifiers in the kitchen while preparing different dishes, whether it was my wife or me preparing them. With that said, rest assured that this is a list of the best kitchen air purifiers you will find!
FAQs on Kitchen Air Purifiers
Where is the best place to put a kitchen air purifier?
It is best to place the air purifier as close as possible to the source of cooking smells somewhere on the countertop. If you are using a larger, powerful air purifier, then you can place it somewhere on the floor, but again close to the source of the pollution.
Which pollutants can you find in the kitchen?
Homes have different heat sources for preparing food. Each of these heat sources creates its own pollution. Natural gas, propane, butane, and wood Owens can create harmful toxic substances like carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and whatnot. An air purifier can combat these poisonous substances, as well as it can remove fried fish smells from the kitchen. Don’t worry; the onion smell can also be removed; nobody likes that smell anyway.
Do air purifiers remove cooking odors?
Yes! Air purifiers basically aim to remove most pollutants and odors from the air, which means that an air purifier efficiently neutralizes cooking odors. However, always choose a device with a higher-quality carbon filter, such as the Alen FLEX air purifier.
Does the air purifier remove the smell of curry?
Yes! I have personally tested many air purifiers that have successfully neutralized the smell of curry, and I can confirm that all the suggested air purifiers neutralize the nasty curry smell.
Final Conclusion
The fact is that air purifiers work in the kitchen, and they are a quick, effective, and affordable solution to neutralize cooking odors. This means that many people go the extra mile to combat cooking odors, specifically by buying an air purifier, in addition to some other ways, such as opening a window or using a cooker hood.
In this article, I have compiled a list of the 5 best air purifiers you can buy for cooking odors. Believe me, whichever one you buy, you won’t regret it. However, if I had to choose the best one, it would be the Alen FLEX, and the device I would buy first and use personally would be the Levoit Core 300 because of its compactness.
If you have any questions on this topic, please do not hesitate to post a comment in the comments box below.
I am allergic to many foods. While sharing my living quarters, I need something to eliminate these allergens from other people cooking in our shared kitchen. Case in Point – Peppers!
The Alen FLEX will do the job!