How to Minimize Cauliflower Cooking Odor

Cauliflower can smell rather strongly when cooking, and for some people, it's overwhelmingly unpleasant. It's good to know that something can be done to minimize this odor and still get cooked cauliflower!

Steps

1
Add a bay leaf to the boiling or steaming water. The bay leaf will release a pleasant odor that overcomes the cauliflower smell.
2
Add a few drops of cider vinegar to the cooking water. The vinegar will mask the odor.
- Alternatively, heat a separate pan of white vinegar on the same stove top as the cauliflower. Don't boil; just warm gently.
3
Place a slice of white bread in the cooking water. The bread soaks up the odor in its porous texture. Discard the bread after cooking (or feed it to the chickens).
4
Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or essence to the cooking water. It will mask the cooking odor.
5
Microwave the cauliflower. The shorter cooking time means that there is less time for the odors to fill the kitchen. However, you may still wish to use the vinegar method to reduce the odor build-up inside the microwave oven.
6
Don't cook the cauliflower on the stove top. Instead, bake it in the oven (there are many delicious ways to do this, such as baked cauliflower cheese). Or, simply eat it raw, in salads or as a dip vegetable.