Over the past few years, I've really honed my cooking skills, and now I love nothing more than to serve up a feast for my nearest and dearest. But I don't have a massive home, and after cooking for my big family last Christmas, we all felt just how stuffy and smelly the house became.
And as it's the middle of winter, no one really wants to be opening the windows, but did you know that aside from odors, cooking also releases VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), formaldehyde, and other pollutants into your space?
The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX Quickly Removes Smells and Harmful Pollutants
The Shark NeverChange MAX has dedicated filters for removing odors from your air, and can cover a larger space than most kitchens for rapid purification.
If you haven't had the privilege of using an air purifier before, you might not realize just how fresh it makes your indoor air. Since I started testing them for Homes & Gardens, and now use my favorite Shark NeverChange MAX daily, my space always has clean, breathable air. It's like being outside on a clear summer's day.
The NeverChange MAX works by pulling in air, filtering out the particles within it, then releasing clean, purified air back into the room. These particles – whether allergens, VOCs, or gases – are what contribute to your home feeling stuffy after cooking, and why smells can linger in the air for so long.
This is why it's one of the most effective ways to quickly remove cooking odors. As the NeverChange MAX covers spaces up to 1,400 square feet, it can pull air from the corners of even the biggest rooms – as NKBA research found that the average kitchen size in the US is approximately 161 square feet.
When it comes specifically to smells, the NeverChange MAX has an activated charcoal filter, which uses a process called adsorption to trap odor molecules on the filter's surface.
Not many air purifiers at this price point have activated charcoal filters, and they rarely have such a large room coverage. Typically, you'd expect a sub-$300 air purifier to just have a HEPA filter – which the NeverChange MAX also has – and cover around 500 square feet. The Coway Airmega Mighty [at Amazon] is one such example, and a great alternative if you'd rather spend a little less.
If you're skeptical about spending this much on an air purifier, the Shark one also has a money-saving feature you won't find in other models: Washable pre-filters that protect the inner filter for up to five years. This can save you at least $300 in replacement filter costs if you wash the filter every 1-2 months as advised by the manufacturer.
The 'NeverChange' in the name refers to the long-lasting inner filter, protected by washable pre-filters.
So, to see the NeverChange MAX discounted to this price is an absolute steal, especially as it comes with a free, portable Shark FlexBreeze that is the most powerful – and quiet – fan we've ever tested.
Use the two in tandem, and you won't have to worry about cooking stuffiness ever again. The FlexBreeze can quickly send air away from the kitchen, towards the purifier that will suck away the odors and harmful pollutants.
The Shark NeverChange MAX is available for $279.99 at SharkNinja.
More to Shop
Here are a few more solutions to keep your home fresh and breathable after hosting big family dinners, that we've tested and use at home ourselves.
All prices correct at time of publication.
If you don't want to splash out on a full air purifier, this powerful fan is the next best thing. You can take it off its pedestal as it's completely cordless, then keep it next to you while you cook. You'll have to open the windows during winter, though, but that can be beneficial to your air quality regardless. Walmart is selling it for $40 less than SharkNinja.
Read more in my five-star Shark FlexBreeze review.
Essentially a fan and a purifier in one, banishing thick air after cooking couldn't be easier. It focuses purified air in whichever direction you choose – great for aiming over the stovetop or to clear smelly air out of the dining room.
Read more in our full Coway Airmega Aim review.
As this is a purifier, a fan, and a heater in one – you can use it to ventilate a space while still removing odors. During testing we loved how quickly it can warm you up, making sure that the heated air that's directed at you is free of contaminants.
Read more in our full Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 review.
Next, learn the common mistakes compromising your air quality, and how to improve air quality when living in a city.
