How to Reduce Condensation While Cooking

Excess humidity in the kitchen can lead to condensation which causes damp walls and eventually mould growth. Cooking, whether on the hob or in the oven can release large amounts of steam into the air, and if the kitchen isn’t well ventilated, this condensation can quickly lead to problems.

Thankfully, there are some steps you can take which will reduce the amount of water vapour released when cooking and help to reduce the risk of condensation in your home.

Why does cooking cause humidity?

When food is heated, particularly when boiling or steaming, moisture is released into the air. This is initially absorbed by the air, but when the warm, humid air meets cooler kitchen surfaces, the water vapour is released as droplets of condensation. The more steam produced and the less ventilation available, the higher the humidity levels become.

How you cook can affect humidity

Some cooking methods release more moisture into the air than others. Opting for drier techniques can help control humidity levels.

Air fryers are a fashionable and useful addition to many kitchens. They use rapidly moving hot air circulation to cook food. This produces far less steam than traditional frying or baking, and cook your food more quickly, which reduces the amount of energy used.

Slow Roasting keeps most moisture contained within the food itself rather than releasing it into the air, although you need to avoid opening the oven too often to avoid steam escaping which not only contributes to humidity but also takes some of the moisture out of your meal.

When cooking food on the hob, make sure that you keep lids on pans when boiling or simmering, and if possible, use a kettle to boil the water first. Not only is this more efficient, but it also releases less steam than boiling in the pan.

The importance of your kitchen extractor fan

Extractor fans play a crucial role in controlling moisture levels by removing excess steam before it settles on surfaces. You should always run the extractor fan throughout the cooking process to steam from accumulating. Modern extractor fans such as the EnviroVent Cyclone 8 feature a built-in humidity sensor that detects the amount of moisture in the air and adjusts the power levels accordingly to remove steam as quickly and efficiently as possible.

You should ensure that you leave the fan running for 15-20 minutes after cooking to ensure that moisture is properly ventilated and prevent condensation.

An extractor fan creates negative air pressure in your kitchen which can reduce the presence of steam in other rooms, as well as minimising cooking smells around your home, however if you find that even with your extractor fan running properly you also find condensation and damp patches elsewhere in your home after cooking, you may want to consider installing a whole house ventilation system such as EnviroVent ATMOS.

Positive Input Ventilation Systems (PIV) such as EnviroVent ATMOS work by drawing air into the home at roof level and then gently distributing this around your home. This incoming air displaces the humid air from cooking and prevents the build up of humidity in other parts of your home.

Find out more

A family meal doesn’t need to cause condensation or mould problems in your home. If you are suffering with excess humidity from your kitchen, our local ventilation specialists can help. Enter your postcode below to book a Free Home Survey from EnviroVent. We’ll visit your property to identify the causes of condensation and provide you with advice about the best way to prevent condensation developing into more serious problems like damp or mould.

 

One of our local experts will contact you to learn more about your problems, offer free expert advice and make recommendations for a solution.

During the free survey we will