7 healthy cooking methods

Steaming

Steam-baking food in a basket with holes over simmering liquid is one of the healthiest cooking methods available. You can also use a microwave or an electric steamer. Your meal will absorb the flavor of the seasonings when it cooks. Perfect for poultry, fish filets, and all veggies.

Stir-frying

Stir-frying is a traditional Asian cooking technique that involves rapidly stirring small, uniformly-sized food pieces in a wok or large, non-stick frying pan to cook them quickly. This cooking method requires very little oil or cooking spray; the key is to maintain a high temperature and movement of the ingredients.

Grilling

Cooking food under the grill by exposing it to direct heat is quick. Cook fatty fish or meat on a wire rack to allow any excess fat to drain underneath and stay healthy. Use foil or a grill basket with a long handle for smaller items like chopped vegetables to keep them from slipping through the rack. To keep veggies from scorching, give them a light oil brushing. Turn on your oven-top fan when grilling fish to help mask the fishy smell.

Poaching

When poaching food, cook the ingredients until they are soft and cooked through by slowly simmering them in adequate water (use broth or juice for extra flavor). For fish, poultry, and eggs, this is perfect. Select a pan for stovetop poaching that best fits the food's dimensions so that you use the least quantity of liquid possible. A tight-fitting lid is required.

Braising

First, sear your meat rapidly over high heat in a small amount of oil in a heavy-bottom pan to seal in the flavor. After that, pour some water or broth over the meat and cover the pan, allowing it to cook slowly in the oven. Some recipes call for using the leftover cooking liquid to create a flavorful, nutrient-rich sauce. Cast iron pots work well for braising.

Baking

You can bake fruits, vegetables, seafood, poultry, lean meat, and desserts in addition to breads and sweets. Arrange your meal in a pan or dish so that the hot, dry air from your oven surrounds it. To prevent the filets from drying out, try baking fish or poultry in tinfoil. You can also bake jacket potatoes or wedges in their skins with a little sea salt sprinkled on top. Preheat your oven to 150°C to 180°C.

Roasting

Similar to baking, but with faster cooking times and at temperatures greater than 200°C, roasting is a fantastic method for preparing meat and vegetables. Foods can be roasted in a roasting pan or on a fat-free baking sheet. To allow the fat in the meal to drain away during cooking, insert a rack inside the roasting pan for poultry, fatty fish, and pork. To prevent the food from drying out, baste it frequently.