What is the right way to cook vegetables? How do cooked vegetables lose their nutrients? |
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Oiling Vegetables: Pressing vegetables with oil before starting to cook can seem a foolproof way to avoid them sticking to a pan, unfortunately adding oil to them increases the chances of vegetables burning as the oil will become extremely hot, instead, add a thin pattern of extra virgin olive oil to the pan and then add the vegetables after that won't have to worry about everything sticking to the pan or overall burnt vegetables.
Not cooking them at all: Many vegetables are healthier in their raw state, but it is not true for all of them Beets, broccoli, onions, and bell peppers have more nutrients when raw, but others become more nutritious when heat is applied, asparagus has cancer-fighting properties that get turned on when steamed, Mushrooms give more potassium when they are boiled, grilled, or roasted, while raw spinach tastes great in a salad, eating it cooked will let absorb more calcium, iron, and magnesium likewise, tomatoes absorb more cancer-fighting lycopene when they are cooked.
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Boiling Vegetables too much: Boiling can be an instant way to prepare vegetables, but it is also an instant way to rid them of nutrients and taste, when boiling them, nutrients solved in the water get out of vegetables and get juiced into cooking water can also lead to cooking more than boiling, making them soft and gray, boiling vegetables Swim in water when making soups and yet, only for a short time if it is intended to lighten them in boiling water to soften, do it for just a few minutes and transfer them to the ice bath before they lose their bright color.
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Smoking out the veggies: While may love the slightly-burnt flavor that the grill lends to veggie kabobs, the hot and dry environment can deplete produce's nutrients, what's worse, if leave them on the grill long enough that they develop a blackened, charred appearance, that's a sign the veggies could have been exposed to benzopyrene, a carcinogenic chemical found in cigarette smoke, next time barbecuing outside, ditch the kabobs and cook vegetables in a grill basket instead, this tactic eliminates the risk of eating dangerous char while helping the veggies retain their moisture, vitamins, and minerals, stick to medium-high cooking heat and skip the olive oil drizzle before heating veggies, cooking them dry and adding the fat after will help cut back on antioxidant-depleting smoke.
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Roasting at too low a temperature: Perfectly roasted vegetables have the power to turn even the biggest haters into a number one fan, but if what pulling out of the oven isn't brown and crisp outside, tender and creamy inside, something's gone wrong, and it's probably the cooking temperature 400-450 degrees is the sweet spot for most vegetables to obtain that delicious caramelized exterior while ensuring the inside is cooked through, the optimal oven temperature isn't the only factor to pay attention to when roasting veggies, also have to have the right pan, baking sheets are the perfect pan for roasting veggies because of their low sides, anything too high will prevent water from evaporating, which could lead to soggy veggies.
Cooking vegetables when they are wet: Washing veggies are great, but not patting them dry before cooking can ruin a dish, when they are too wet, the water creates steam which results in mushy food, by thoroughly drying them, veggies will remain bright and crisp, wet food can also be a danger when placed in a hot pan of oil, before cooking vegetables, place them on a clean dishtowel or paper towel and pat them dry, this will help get the most out of meal and is worth the extra bit of time.
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Conclusion! Now that aware of the mistakes that have been made when cooking vegetables, it is important to know which ones are the best for your health, as not all vegetables are created equal. Share this post with your friends, and let us know what you think of this post, if you have any comments or suggestions, be sure to write them in the comments section below. Click here for more posts about health, food, and nutrition!
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