You Probably Shouldn’t Cook Without an Air Purifier Nearby. Here’s Why

For all the attention we give to outdoor air quality, the air inside our homes is rarely as clean as we assume — especially in our kitchens. According to the American Lung Association, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and, in some extreme cases, 100 times more polluted. The pollution isn’t just from the usual culprits, like cigarette smoke, an errant toaster, or lingering wildfire smoke that’s crept its way inside.

When you cook, if the air becomes fragrant without whatever it is you’re boiling, searing, braising, or frying, you’re breathing in particulate matter. And the type of appliance you cook with can make matters worse. Combustion stoves (gas) release far more harmful particles into the air than electric ones, and poorly ventilated gas stoves are among the largest sources of indoor particulate pollution. Even electric stoves aren’t impact-free, so proper ventilation is critical no matter what you use.

In my case, though, my gas stove came without a hood, and my best bet for ventilating my kitchen while I cook is opening a window. That’s why I make sure to also run my air purifier near my stove whenever I cook. That said, it’s important to note that it does not replace proper ventilation and cannot capture all combustion gases, like NO₂, unless specifically designed to do so. According to the EPA, “Most [air purifier] filters are designed to filter either particles or gases. So in order to filter both particles and gases, many air cleaners contain two filters, one for particles and another for gases (in some cases, including gases that have odors). Other air cleaners only have one filter, usually for particles.”

Air purifiers with a single filter help reduce airborne particles (such as oil mist) and eliminate odors (like that stubborn bacon smell). This is the most basic type of air purifier. That said, air purifiers with two filters — one to catch particles and another for gases — aren’t as hard to find as you’d think. The EPA specifies that “to filter gases, choose a portable air cleaner with an activated carbon filter or other filter designed to remove gases.”

Levoit Core Mini-P Air Purifier

This option from Levoit, called the Core Mini-P, is quiet and compact (less than a foot tall and only 2.2 lbs) — perfect for even the smallest kitchen. (According to The Spruce, the average kitchen ranges from 161 to 169 square feet, and this machine manages up to 225 square feet.) But it also meets the EPA’s aforementioned requirements; its air filter features three layers of filtration: inner and outer prefilters to trap dust, hair, and pet fur, an efficient inner filter for smoke particles, pollen, and pet dander, and a custom activated carbon filter to neutralize smoke, odors, fumes, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds, aka gases).

Levoit Core Mini-P Replacement Filter

It’s important to note, though, that because kitchens produce a lot of grease and smoke, filters typically have a shorter lifespan in this room. You can extend it by keeping the purifier six to 10 feet from cooking surfaces, though. When it does eventually get too clogged to keep doing its job, Levoit offers replacement filters for all its models, and the Core Mini-P filter is far cheaper than the others, despite meeting the EPA’s standard — and available on Amazon for quick shipping if you notice your machine struggling to keep up.

Featured Image Credit: Credit: Liudmila Chernetska/ iStock