The Best Way to Remove Burnt Odors from Your Microwave

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Eliminate a burnt smell from your microwave with natural, household items

Co-authored by Susan Stocker and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: November 28, 2023 Fact Checked

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How to Remove Burnt Smells

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Preventing Burnt Smells

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Key Takeaway

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Expert Interview

Snacks like popcorn are infamous for leaving a burnt odor in and around your microwave that just doesn’t seem to go away. Not to worry, though—as pervasive as these burnt smells seem, it’s possible to vanquish them with some common household cleaning supplies like vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. We’ll walk you through some tried-and-true deodorizing suggestions, along with some tips on how to prevent these smells from popping up in the first place.

Things You Should Know

To get rid of a burnt smell, start by wiping out any debris from inside your microwave with a soft cloth.
Then, heat a bowl of diluted vinegar or lemon juice for 1.5-4 minutes to steam up the microwave. Leave the steam for 15 minutes, then wipe it out again.
Place a bowl of baking soda in your microwave overnight to finish up the deodorizing process.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Remove Burnt Smells from a Microwave

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1
Clean out any obvious debris in your microwave first. Grab a soft cloth or sponge and give the inside of your microwave a quick wipe-down. Make sure to clean off each side of the microwave, including the ceiling.
- Don’t use steel wool or any kind of metal scrubbing sponge to clean your microwave. There’s a chance that small bits of metal could come off the sponge while you clean, which could become a future fire hazard.
2
Heat a bowl of diluted vinegar or lemon juice to create steam. Vinegar and lemon juice are natural deodorizers, and the steam helps soften and remove caked on debris. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water so it’s about 50% full. Then, stir in 3 to 4 US tbsp (44 to 59 mL) of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, or one lemon’s worth of juice. Here’s how long you need to heat the bowl for, depending on your microwave’s wattage:
- 600 watts: 4 minutes
- 700 watts: 3 minutes
- 800 watts: 2.5 minutes
- 1,000 watts: 2 minutes
- 1,200 watts: 1.5 minutes^{[1]
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- Alternative: Don’t have lemon juice or vinegar? Cut up an orange and place the slices in a microwave-safe bowl filled with 2 c (470 mL) of water. Microwave that instead!^{[2]
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  Research source} You can also microwave a bowl of regular water.
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Don’t immediately go to open the microwave once it dings. Instead, give the steam a few minutes to sit in the microwave and work its cleaning magic (especially if you have any burnt-on messes).
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Wipe out the steamed microwave. Using a sponge or cleaning cloth, clean off all the surfaces again—thanks to the steam, it should be significantly easier to wipe down. Take a moment to clean off any other accessories for your microwave, like the turntable or tray at the bottom.
- Keep your face away from the microwave as you open it, as the lingering steam may billow out and be hot.
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Place a bowl of baking soda in the microwave overnight. Fill a small bowl with baking soda, or stick an open box of baking soda inside of the microwave. Let the baking soda deodorize the microwave interior overnight, clearing away any burnt smells from the appliance.^{[3]
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- Alternative: Soak up the bad smells with a bowl of charcoal.^{[4]
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  Research source} A bowl of old coffee grounds can also do the trick.
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Replace the grease filter on your microwave if the smell persists. Many microwaves (particularly those with a built-in exhaust system) have special grease filters installed. Check your microwave’s user manual to learn the proper way to remove and install a new grease filter. This may help clear away the bad smell.^{[5]
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- Don’t have your user manual on hand? Search Manualslib for a free, digital copy of your microwave’s handbook.

Section 2 of 3:

How to Prevent Burnt Microwave Smells

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1
Monitor starchy items that you microwave for burning. From a technological perspective, microwaves make food hot by creating vibrations in a given food’s water content.^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source

US Food and Drug Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health

Go to source} With this in mind, drier and starchier foods (foods with lower water content) are more likely to burn; so, it’s important to keep a close eye on anything dry that you put in the microwave.
- Dry, starchy foods you might microwave include things like popcorn, bread, pasta, or rice.
Burnt smells are best tackled at the source, and they shouldn’t be left to fester in your kitchen. Set aside some time as soon as feasibly possible to clean out your microwave once it starts to smell bad. The scent definitely won’t get any easier to eliminate as time goes on!
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Clean out your microwave once a week. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure—and this is especially true when it comes to microwave maintenance. Choose a day of the week to wipe down the inside of your microwave to keep messes in check, and to prevent any burnt smells from popping up.^{[7]
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- Diluted baking soda is a great cleaning agent for your microwave. Simply stir 4 tbsp (68g) of baking soda into 1 US qt (0.95 L) of warm water; then, use this mixture to clean everything off. Once you’re finished, rinse off the baking soda mixture with a clean cloth that's damp with clean water.^{[8]
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Section 3 of 3:

Will a burnt microwave smell go away?

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However, your chances of successfully deodorizing your microwave significantly increase the sooner you tackle the smell. Get cleaning as soon as possible to get your microwave (and kitchen) smelling as fresh as possible.