Healthy cooking methods (2024)

FAQs

Healthy cooking methods? ›

That's because the way you cook your food affects the amount of nutrients it contains. Some methods can make nutrients more accessible or easier to digest, and with others, you may end up with fewer nutrients than you began with. Clearly, not all cooking methods are created equal.

That's because the way you cook your food affects the amount of nutrients it contains. Some methods can make nutrients more accessible or easier to digest, and with others, you may end up with fewer nutrients than you began with. Clearly, not all cooking methods are created equal.

Frying. Fried foods are unhealthy because adding fat increases the calories and the high heat destroys a lot of the nutrients. It's best to limit foods cooked in this way.

Aim for an internal temperature of 75 °C or hotter when you cook food. Heating foods to this temperature kills most food poisoning bacteria. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of foods during the cooking process. Cook mince, sausages, whole chickens or stuffed meats right through to the centre.

Deep-frying is one of the worst ways to cook your food, as it bathes your food in oxidized fats, denatured proteins, and glycated sugars. The high temperatures used during deep-frying produce a number of toxic compounds that may increase your risk of cancer.

There are three types of cooking methods: dry heat cooking, moist heat cooking, and combination cooking. Each method describes how chefs use heat to cook food and bring out unique flavors and textures.

Alternative cooking methods such as grilling, roasting, steaming, stir-frying or microwaving generally preserve a greater amount of vitamins and other nutrients.

Some studies suggest that people who cook more often, rather than get take-out, have an overall healthier diet. These studies also show that restaurant meals typically contain higher amounts of sodium, saturated fat, total fat, and overall calories than home-cooked meals.

Why is cooking healthy? ›

Preparing healthy meals at home can support your immune system and reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It can give you more energy, improve how you sleep at night, and help you better manage health problems.

Homecooked meals tend to be lower in calories, unhealthy fats, and sodium compared to restaurant or processed foods. By using fresh, whole ingredients and minimizing the use of additives and preservatives, you can create nutritious and balanced meals that support your overall health.

Steaming and boiling, which cook your food using moist heat, are some of the healthiest ways to prepare meat. 3 Both methods require low temperatures, which helps preserve nutrients and protect against harmful fumes and substances.

A gentle bath in a well-seasoned liquid makes poaching a popular way to cook delicate foods. Poaching is ideal for tender foods such as eggs, fruit and fish as it requires no stirring or agitation.

Alternative cooking methods such as grilling, roasting, steaming, stir-frying or microwaving generally preserve a greater amount of vitamins and other nutrients.

Grilling, roasting, baking, broiling, steaming, press cooking and slow cooking are some of the healthiest ways to cook meat. And yes, you should avoid deep-frying it. “Avoid marinades and sauces that are high in sugar and sodium,” she adds.