Foods that are rich in nutrients should be eaten. While some foods can be consumed raw, others are prepared to kill bacteria. Different regions and religions in India have their ways of cooking food. However, nutritional value has been compromised today to make food more appealing and delicious.
The Best Ways to Preserve Nutrients
1. Dry heat cooking: This is where the heat is added to the food using above and below (especially in an open oven). This process adds flavor and heat to the food by raising the temperature.
- These are just a few of the many techniques that can be used. Broiling ( Broiling) is when food is cooked by heating it directly with radiant heat. This can be done on a grill, below a gas burner, or under an electric coil.
- Grilling: Grilling is a method of cooking that uses dry heat to cook food. It can be done from the sides, above or below the surface. Grilling is used for cooking meats and vegetables quickly.
- Roasting: This method uses dry heat to cook food evenly from all sides. Open flames are allowed to reach temperatures of 150 degrees Celsius (300 degrees F) at this temperature. Roasting is best for cooking whole chickens, turkeys, leaner lamb, pork, or beef cuts.
- Baking: baking is a way to prepare food using dry heat, usually in an oven. Baking can be used to bake different types of food, such as meats, sausages, loaves of bread, and cheeses.
- Sauteing is a way to cook with very little oil or fat. It’s done in a shallow saucepan and over high heat.
2. Moist heat cooking: This is where the food is prepared using liquid or steam. This cooking can be used for poaching, steaming, simmering, boiling, and other methods.
- Steaming: steaming is a way to cook with steam. This can be done using a steamer. Steaming is delicate and is best for delicate greens like baby carrots, green beans and cubed zucchini.
- Poaching. Poaching is a moist-heat method of cooking that involves submerging food into a liquid and heating it at low heat. It can be used to cook delicate proteins like fish, eggs, chicken, and some fruits and veggies.
- Simmering This technique involves simmering (cooking) foods in hot liquids. The temperature must be kept below the boiling point and above the poaching point. This is gentler than boiling. Simmering is a good way to cook tough meats, soups, or stews.
- Boiling -Boiling refers to cooking food at a high temperature (100 deg C) in water or another water-based liquid. This method is the most popular and also the easiest. This method can cook tough foods such as beans, pasta, and certain vegetables.
