It is a common belief that the first step to eating healthy is making healthy food choices. While this is true, the way the food is prepared also matters. Even the healthiest food can become unhealthy if cooked using the wrong methods.
In fact, an article published by the BBC suggests that some cooking methods result in the creation of toxic chemicals which may lead to cancer.1 Fortunately, you can cook healthy food at home through healthy methods. Read ahead to discover fun, healthy cooking methods.
Healthy Modern Cooking Methods To Boost Your Wellness Journey
Like facial relaxation, healthy cooking at home elevates moods and helps you feel relaxed. A study by Pubmed found that people who cooked at home ate healthier foods and experienced more positive emotions and less worry.2 Below are 5 healthy cooking methods to start you off.
1. Air Frying
Air frying is a healthy modern cooking alternative to the traditional deep frying of food in gallons of oil. Air frying can use as little as a spray to a single teaspoon of oil to fry your favorite dish. The process circulates hot air through the food, leaving it crispy yet moist and succulent on the inside.
Air frying is a great way to make vegetables tastier and crispy, especially if you are not a fan. The fact that you do not need to add substantial amounts of oil to your foods helps reduce calorie intake.
This process can also save you time if you are a busy person. It is considerably faster to air fry your chicken compared to baking it. It also means you have no excuses not to cook and eat at home.
Although air frying is healthy, you should exercise caution when cooking. Ensure the food is not charred as that may lead to the formation of carcinogenic compounds.
2. Blanching
If you are a fan of crunchy vegetables, then blanching is the cooking method for you. Aside from making your veggie crunchy and tender, blanching is a great way to preserve excess food. This can come in handy during harvest seasons when there is plenty to spare.
The best part is that this method needs no skill at all. All you need to do is submerge your vegetables in boiling water for about five minutes. Then, remove your vegetables and stop them from further cooking by putting them on ice.
Blanching protects the food from losing its bright colors. It also ensures that essential nutrients are kept intact.
3. Stir-frying
Stir-frying is a Chinese cooking method that allows you to cook your food over high heat with negligible amounts of oil. In this method, you cook vegetables and proteins in a pan while constantly tossing them to prevent them from burning and make them crispy. With this simple method, you can enjoy healthy and delicious meals.
The best part about stir-frying is that it allows for lots of creativity and flexibility. You can choose to mix any vegetable and protein to your liking. Once you begin cooking, the process takes a short time, making it an excellent cooking method for weeknight meals.
Examples of common stir-fry dishes include beef and broccoli stir-fry, vegetable stir-fry, and Thai basil and chicken stir-fry.
4. Slow Cooking
Slow cooking allows you to enjoy healthy, hearty meals with minimum effort. You simply need to prepare your meal ingredients and cook them slowly. You can bake dishes in a casserole dish in an oven, use a stock pot to simmer or use a slow cooking device such as the electric slow cooker.
To slow cook, you can combine meat and vegetables, then add your favorite herbs and seasons. The lengthy cooking periods allow your meal to absorb the flavors and tenderize tough proteins resulting in a juicy, moist, and tender meal.
This method is dominant because it prevents food from drying up, retains nutrients, and keeps the dish fresh.
5. Steaming
Although steaming originated from the eastern cultures, it is now embraced by many. It allows you to cook food without using oils and fats, hence reducing trans fats and calories. Subsequently, you can enjoy a wide range of recipes and tasty, healthy meals.
To steam your food, place it in a steaming basket on top of a boiling pot on a stove pot. Or, you can use a steamer.
Enjoy Healthier Meals With The Above Healthy Modern Cooking Methods
The above cooking methods are easy to learn and use, yet they produce healthy meals. They preserve food nutrients and reduce calorie counts by reducing the amount of oil needed to cook. Used alongside body sculpting, healthy meals can help you get rid of unwanted fat.
Links To Sources Used
- The hidden risks of cooking your food https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200625-the-hidden-risks-of-cooking-your-food
- Healthy cooking as emotional reinforcement in home settings https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21613564/
