How to neutralize spicy vapors if inhaled during cooking to stop nostril burning sensation and coughing?
Yesterday I did something wrong when adding some pepper flakes into an extremely hot pan with oil. The air around me instantly got spicy, and everyone standing in my kitchen or within its vicinity started tearing up and coughing. I believe I inadvertently created a pepper spray effect, and my nose and throat began to sting. Is there something I can ingest or do to relieve the pain immediately? Is there something I can apply inside my nostrils to alleviate the burning sensation?
Best Answer
I get the same situation repeatedly when preparing stir fry. Fragrant dry spices (like red pepper flakes) intensify in flavor when roasted in hot oil for a short (!) amount of time, lest they burn.
To circumvent the peppery air that can be quite unpleasant if you're not used to it, you could:
- not add pepper flakes or other highly aromatic compounds into hot oil at all, but toss them in later with other ingredients that "catch" them, or omit them completely (if you want spiciness that's a bit of a useless answer though)
- reduce the temperature of your skillet to medium heat or so; not really that good an answer if you are cooking a wok-style meal that needs the intense heat to quickly fry stuff
- turn up your exhaust hood to the maximum; additionally, open a window in your kitchen
- gas mask ;-)
But I am not aware of anything that can really draw the peppery vapors out of the air in your kitchen.
Pictures about "How to neutralize spicy vapors if inhaled during cooking to stop nostril burning sensation and coughing?"
How do you get chili out of your nose?
The oil that makes chili peppers hot, capsaicin, is more soluble in alcohol, so a quick rub down with rubbing alcohol (or even a high proof booze) can help wipe it from your skin.Why does my head tingle when I eat spicy food?
Spicy food contains chemicals that trick the body into cranking up its internal air-conditioning system, triggering responses from head to toe and involving everything from the respiratory to the circulatory system.What to do at the time of Breathlessness? | Dr Hansaji Yogendra
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Mareefe, Pixabay, Devon Rockola, Artem Beliaikin