Fried chicken may taste great and many people love a good Friday night fish fry, but eating greasy fried meat, poultry and fish on a regular basis isn't good for your health. The oil and batter adds extra calories and too much fat. If you don't know what else to do with your meat, poultry and fish, I've got four healthier ways to do your cooking. These cooking methods reduce or eliminate the need for oil and use shorter cooking times which help preserve nutrients.
Grilling
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Grilling works well for beef, pork, venison, poultry and fish because it doesn't add any fat to the food. You need to be careful not to char meat too heavily and it's important to keep your grill clean between uses (here's how to cook healthy foods on a grill). Grilling works best with meat that is lower in fat to prevent flare-ups and charring. An indoor grill like the Indoor Grill by DeLonghi can make grilling convenient any time of the year.
Resource:
Healthy Grilling Lesson
Broiling
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Broiling is similar to grilling except that the heat comes from above the meat rather than below. Broiling is good because the cooking time is short -- less damage is done to the meat. Just like grilling, broiling works best for meat and fish that is lower in fat. High-fat meats might cause flare-ups. Some ovens come equipped with broilers, or you can use a free-standing broiler like the broiler/toaster oven from Cuisinart. Keep your broiler clean between uses.
Resource:
Broiling Lesson
Using a Pressure Cooker
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Pressure cooking is a great way to cook because it speeds up the cooking time. The less time foods are exposed to high temperatures, the more nutrients are preserved. Pressure cooking is especially good for tougher cuts of meat or for making hearty soups and stews. If you haven't used a pressure cooker in a long time or if never used one, don't worry, modern pressure cookers like this Cuisinart electric pressure cooker, are easy to use.
Resource:
Pressure Cooking Lesson
Stir Frying
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Stir frying is a good way to cook meat, poultry and fish because it uses a short cooking time, and adds very little fat. Use canola oil, which is a healthful cooking fat. Stir frying is also convenient because you only need one large pan, or better yet, a wok like the West Bend electric wok from Cuisinart. Stir frying is easy and lets you combine meats or fish with fresh vegetables, and rice (brown rice is better than white rice) or noodles.
Resource:
Stir Frying Lesson
Feeling strapped for time? I've got more cooking help with this: Healthful Foods In a Hurry.
