Is it before or after? when do you weigh your food?

sarahi2009

So I have heard some people weigh their piece of chicken or whatever they are having before and others after. What do you do and why? How does MFP calculate that? Is there a difference?

carrieberrie

Your meat is always weighed AFTER you cook it

jamie1888

You can weigh food raw or cooked, you just have to select the right option in MFP. For example, you can find "chicken cooked" or "chicken raw".

groomchick

I always weigh after...because that is what I am actually putting in my mouth.

carrieberrie

The calories remain the same, cooked or uncooked.

MrsSWW

It depends, if the calories are on the pack pre-cooking I'd tend to use those, and most meats in the database specify how they are cooked so I'd assume that's after-cooking. If you order a 16oz steak in a restaurant that would be the pre-cooked weight

BeLightYear

The nutritional information listed on most meat packages is raw weight. 4 oz of raw meat basically becomes 3 oz of cooked meat.

MrsSWW

The calories remain the same, cooked or uncooked.

Not necessarily, have you seen how much fat comes off chicken while you're cooking it?

sarahi2009

Thanks for all the responses !

Nomomush

The calories remain the same, cooked or uncooked.

Not necessarily, have you seen how much fat comes off chicken while you're cooking it?

Agree with MrsSWW. . Also- rice and pastas can differ in weight and measurement after cooked. There is a big difference in calories from 1/2 c uncooked rice to 1/2c cooked rice. The same with meats and vegetables.

tiggerbounce411

Agree with MrsSWW. . Also- rice and pastas can differ in weight and measurement after cooked. There is a big difference in calories from 1/2 c uncooked rice to 1/2c cooked rice. The same with meats and vegetables.
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This is true..measure a 1/2 cup of uncooked rice and scoop up that same amount cooked..less can fit in the cup because it's got water cooked into it so it's puffed up a little. So therefore, you will get less and the calories change.. Always measure AFTER you have cooked.

gsager

You weigh it before you cook it. 4oz of steak will become 3oz after its cooked. So if you are going to weigh it after then weigh out 3 oz. if you are calling it 4 oz. It loses moisture when it is cooked.