Some cooking methods are considered healthy to a great extent while a few others are seen as unhealthy. Now, let’s see the more common cooking methods and their effects on your health.

1. Steaming

Steaming of vegetables can give you more antioxidants than consuming them raw. This was revealed in Cornell University’s research findings. You can have a variety of health benefits if you prepare your food by steaming. It largely retains vitamin B, vitamin C, and other water-soluble vitamins. Moreover, this method of preparing food is easy and simple.

2. Microwaving

According to Harvard Health Publishing, microwaving preserves nutrients in food because of shorter cooking times. This was established with the help of a study that involved using microwave for preparing broccoli. The researchers found that the microwave was able to preserve the broccoli’s flavonoids.

Microwaving helps in preserving your food’s vitamin C content to a great extent. It also prevents other nutrients from diminishing during the heating process.

3. Pressure cooking

Most people like pressure cooking because it is the easiest way to prepare foods. However, not many of them know that it also prepares foods in a healthy way. This method of cooking can preserve the nutrients in meat, vegetables, and spices.

A reference to this fact can be found in a study published in the Journal of Food Science. In the study, it was found that pressure cooking retained 90 percent of vitamin C content in broccoli.

4. Boiling

Boiling diminishes a significant portion of water-soluble nutrients such as vitamin B and vitamin C in your food. To make the process more effective in retaining nutrients, you can boil your food at lower temperatures. One good aspect of boiling is that you can avoid oil or butter in the process.

Thus, it can be an effective method for the management of calories. Boiling also softens the meat and makes it easier to chew and digest.

5. Grilling

You might’ve relished grilled meat and vegetables for long, especially during your vacations or camping trips. Grilling certainly enhances the taste of your food and can help retain their nutrients. You can also avoid fats by grilling meat and other food items.

Despite all such benefits, it is important not to grill the food items to the point of charring them. A research done by Harvard Health revealed that excessive grilling can expose food to chemicals in the smoke. These chemicals might increase the risk of cancers.

6. Deep frying

This is one of the most unhealthy methods of preparing your food. According to The BMJ, a medical journal, regularly consuming deep-fried food can negatively affect your health. It increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. If you can’t avoid frying your food, opt for healthier cooking oils while doing so. Avocado oil and olive oil are the healthier options among all the different types of oils.

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Oils used for cooking have traditionally been obtained from fruits. New varieties such as sunflower and soyabean oils were introduced in the 20th century. This was when the right technology was available for extracting oil from the seeds. Despite the wide range of choices, the confusion while choosing a healthy cooking oil still exists.

Oils with lesser fat content

The quantity of fat is a cause of concern for many while choosing cooking oils. The ones with least amount of fat are mostly the best ones for maintaining good health. Such oils play an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

They can also be an excellent choice for those who are worried about their increasing obesity and belly fat. A low-fat oil used for cooking can be of great help in keeping their body fat under control.

Oils with high ‘smoke point’

Smoke point is the temperature at which oil starts producing toxic fumes. Some oils are characterized by a high smoke point, making them suitable for cooking at high temperatures. The unhealthy oils are the ones with the lowest smoke point. They begin giving out toxic fumes even when the temperatures are kept low.

Smoke point of an oil becomes an important point to consider while frying foods. To prepare certain dishes, deep frying is inevitable. In such situations, using an oil with a high smoke point would be the best option.

Oils that absorb nutrients well

You’ll find certain oils that boost the absorption of essential nutrients and antioxidants. They are essential for maintaining an individual’s overall health. Such oils are also effective in fighting certain types of cancers. When you cook foods using oil at high temperatures, toxins are generated.

Foods cooked in this manner can harm your liver. The use of a healthy cooking oil that absorbs nutrients and antioxidants well provides effective protection to your liver. Regular use of such oils can also help you stay youthful and energetic.

How avocado oil is the best for cooking

Avocados are known to possess some powerful nutrients. They also have certain properties that can be highly effective in fighting the deadly diseases. When avocado oil is used for cooking, it provides the same benefits as that of the fruit. This is because most characteristics found in the avocado fruit are also found in its oil.

Although fats are present in avocado oil, their quantity is essential for boosting good cholesterol. They are also helpful in maintaining stable levels of insulin and blood sugar. Avocado oil has a highest smoke point of 520-degrees Fahrenheit, making it liver-friendly. It is also an antioxidant, which helps you in preventing cancers and cataracts.

Moreover, using avocado oil for cooking can slow down the aging process in your body. For these reasons, avocado oil is considered one of the healthiest cooking oils in the world.

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For instance, a small number of germs like Salmonella in under-cooked foods can become a cause for food poisoning. You can avoid some food safety mistakes to protect your family. Here are some common ones that can endanger food safety and the ways to avoid them:

1. Eating raw batter or dough

Sometimes you or any of the members in your family might eat raw batter or dough. It usually contains uncooked flour or eggs, which may contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella. You must, therefore, cook or bake the flour thoroughly. Never eat foods that contain raw or uncooked eggs.

Keep the raw batter or dough away from children as they tend to eat it while playing. After contact with the raw dough, wash your hands, work surfaces, and utensils thoroughly.

2. Not cooking meat well

Under-cooked meat, seafood, or eggs may contain germs that can make you sick. It is absolutely necessary that you cook such foods to a safe internal temperature. Until you serve these foods, keep them hot at a temperature of 140-degrees Fahrenheit or above.

3. Leaving food out for too long

Leftovers, meat, seafood, eggs, cooked rice, and sliced fruits are some of the foods that are perishable. If you leave them out for too long, they become safe havens for harmful germs to grow. Make sure all such perishable foods are not left out in the open for too long.

They must be kept in the refrigerator within two hours of their exposure to a temperature of 90-degrees Fahrenheit. It would be a good idea to divide large portions of food and roasts into smaller containers. This will help the quick chilling of these foods in the refrigerator.

4. Thawing or marinating food by keeping it on the counter

It would be a mistake to marinate or thaw food by keeping it on the counter. Harmful germs tend to multiply at a faster rate under room temperatures. You can thaw your food in cold water, refrigerator, or in the microwave. Make sure that you always marinate food in the refrigerator.

5. Peeling vegetables and fruits without washing

Germs are easily transferred from the skin of fruits and vegetables to their insides while cutting or peeling them. This happens when you cut or peel vegetables or fruits without first washing them. To avoid this, wash all fruits and vegetables under running water. Use a clean brush to scrub melons, avocados, and other firm fruits and vegetables. Don’t use soap or detergent to wash the vegetables and fruits.

6. Eating foods that are risky for you

Some individuals are more prone to food poisoning if they eat certain kinds of foods. Under-cooked or raw animal products, raw sprouts, and unpasteurized milk and juices are some of the examples. Such individuals must stay away from all those foods that are considered risky for them.

7. Putting cooked meat on a plate used for keeping raw meat

When raw meat is placed on a plate, germs from the meat spread out on it. They spread to the cooked meat if it is placed on the same plate without washing it thoroughly. So, make sure that you use separate plates for raw and cooked meat.

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They’ll be enough to make your life much easier in the process of cooking your meals. Here we’ve made a list of the essential utensils that you must have in your kitchen. This would help you identify all the basic ones that are essential while working in the kitchen.

1. Measuring spoons

You’ll need precise measurements to add the right amount of spices and herbs while cooking. For this purpose, it is extremely necessary to have measuring spoons in your kitchen. If they’re narrow enough to fit into the jars, you’ll not need extra spaces to store them. You’ll also be saved from the worries of losing or misplacing them.

2. Knives

Knives are an essential part of the basic sets of kitchen utensils. A chef’s knife is a must-have for all those who do the daily cooking. You’ll be using this knife for most of your food preparations. So, it’s absolutely necessary to buy a good chef’s knife and use it with great care.

The other knives that can help you in your cooking endeavors are a paring knife and serrated knife. A paring knife can be used to do the smaller and more delicate work. A serrated knife allows you to slice vegetables and bread with greater ease.

3. Tongs

Tongs come in handy when you have to flip big pieces of food. They also help in moving ingredients around when you’re using a frying pan. You can also use them while moving ingredients around in a sheet pan without the risk of getting burns. Having a pair of tongs is like having extended hands to help you in the kitchen.

4. Fish turner

You can not only flip fish and eggs with this tool but also flip burgers! A fish turner has a thin and beveled edge. This makes it a lot easier to slide under the foods you’re trying to flip. It can also serve several other purposes in the kitchen while cooking your meals.

5. Wooden spoons

A wooden spoon set can have a variety of spoons for different kinds of cooking. The greatest benefit of a wooden spoon is that it is not abrasive on cooking surfaces. You must take utmost care not to put them in the dishwasher. If you take good care of your wooden spoons, they can last forever.

6. Peeler

A good, sharp peeler is also an essential kitchen utensil. Using a peeler, you can shave off cheese and peel vegetables in the right way. Some folks even get a lot more creative with their peelers. The best example of this is using a peeler to make some crunchy ribbons from a zucchini.

7. Measuring cups

Measuring cups are used mostly to ensure the right quantity of liquids while preparing certain foods. You can use them to make sure that you’re adding the right quantities of liquids while making sauces. They can also be used to measure dry ingredients effectively for preparing your favorite delicacies.

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