when using oils to make food

juditanne
juditanne Posts: 59 Member
in Recipes
tonight i am making a chicken breast patty and i have found that i like to use oil in a frying pan better than i like using the foreman grill. i was checking the calories for EVOO and it said 120 calories for 1tbsp! kind of bums me out when i am just using it to cook with, not even as an ingredient.

what are some good alternatives?

Replies

  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    most of your oils are going to be close to that. But I've gotten by with frying my chicken in less than 1 TBS. Just use enough to coat the pan. plus either way, the entire TBS of oil probably isn't going to end up in you chicken breast.

    If you're on a super restricted diet, then cooking with oils just might not be an option that you can really fit into your day. But I really like taking in some good fats via oils. Coconut oil is awesome to cook in, but has about the same calories I believe.
  • MeMyCatsandI
    MeMyCatsandI Posts: 704 Member
    tonight i am making a chicken breast patty and i have found that i like to use oil in a frying pan better than i like using the foreman grill. i was checking the calories for EVOO and it said 120 calories for 1tbsp! kind of bums me out when i am just using it to cook with, not even as an ingredient.

    what are some good alternatives?
    Good alternative calorie wise? The George Foreman grill.
    Most oils have very similar calorie counts as olive oil.
  • cyberiarob
    cyberiarob Posts: 229 Member
    most of your oils are going to be close to that. But I've gotten by with frying my chicken in less than 1 TBS. Just use enough to coat the pan. plus either way, the entire TBS of oil probably isn't going to end up in you chicken breast.

    If you're on a super restricted diet, then cooking with oils just might not be an option that you can really fit into your day. But I really like taking in some good fats via oils. Coconut oil is awesome to cook in, but has about the same calories I believe.

    Agreed. There really aren't any good alternatives :grumble:
  • juditanne
    juditanne Posts: 59 Member
    yea, i figured there wasn't. i suppose i could use my foreman, but it dries out the chicken so bad. i have cooked other things on it, no problem, but the chicken just dies more than it is already dead.

    anyway, THANKS.

    i think i will still use my EVOO, but not the whole tablespoon. ha.

    :)
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    Yeah, I use coconut oil - it has a higher smoke point/doesn't degrade at higher temps.

    But butter works, too. Really you only need about a half teaspoon of any oil. That's how much I use to cook a frozen breast in a skillet. Try putting a lid on it while it cooks, keeps the moisture in.


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  • LizL217
    LizL217 Posts: 217 Member
    Sometimes if I am just using oil for the purpose of moisture, for example if I'm braising leafy greens, sauteeing mushrooms, etc. I will mix chicken or beef broth in with just a tiny bit of oil. I'll do this with cut-up chicken breast sometimes too. Heat up some minced garlic and onion in a pan with a tiny bit of oil, then once it's aromatic, brown the chicken in the pan and then deglaze with the stock. Works very well and makes a nice sauce.

    If I want to cook up a juicy chicken breast without the calories from oil, and I don't feel like grilling, I'll marinate the chicken in fat free plain yogurt and some spices for at least a couple of hours and then bake it. It's the juiciest chicken breast I've ever had, and the yogurt is low in calories and high in protein. The flavor will not go with everything, but it tastes great with lemon juice, paprika, ranch-like flavoring, Indian spices... I'm still experimenting with it.

    If I want chicken that tastes like fried chicken, unfortunately I don't know of any substitutes! Just plan ahead and make sure it fits your calorie and macro targets for the day.
  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    Spray oil, or something like this -

    http://goo.gl/DKWxg

    Easy to coat the pan with significantly less oil.

    If you are only cooking a single patty, use a smaller pan and less oil. As someone mentioned, it's possible to cook with less than a TBSP. I can easily get by with a TSP if I'm not cooking too much at once.
  • AliD5679
    AliD5679 Posts: 20 Member
    Another option I've been using lately significantly cuts down on the oil you need: Put whatever you are frying into a ziploc bag and put oil in a teaspoon at a time (I normally only need one), close the bag, and then use your hands to rub the oil over what you are cooking. This is a great non-messy way to use just a little bit of oil, and it's worked really well for me frying anything from mushrooms to fish.
  • shawaniea
    shawaniea Posts: 25 Member
    cooking spray
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    yea, i figured there wasn't. i suppose i could use my foreman, but it dries out the chicken so bad. i have cooked other things on it, no problem, but the chicken just dies more than it is already dead.

    anyway, THANKS.

    i think i will still use my EVOO, but not the whole tablespoon. ha.

    :)

    Wrap the chicken in aluminum foil before putting on the George Foreman. Problem solved!
  • SteveJWatson
    SteveJWatson Posts: 1,225 Member
    Oil is good for you!

    But I generally don't use more than 2tsp of olive oil when I'm browning off meat, and you could use less if you had a non-stick pan
  • ottermotorcycle
    ottermotorcycle Posts: 654 Member
    Sometimes if I am just using oil for the purpose of moisture, for example if I'm braising leafy greens, sauteeing mushrooms, etc. I will mix chicken or beef broth in with just a tiny bit of oil. I'll do this with cut-up chicken breast sometimes too. Heat up some minced garlic and onion in a pan with a tiny bit of oil, then once it's aromatic, brown the chicken in the pan and then deglaze with the stock. Works very well and makes a nice sauce.

    If I want to cook up a juicy chicken breast without the calories from oil, and I don't feel like grilling, I'll marinate the chicken in fat free plain yogurt and some spices for at least a couple of hours and then bake it. It's the juiciest chicken breast I've ever had, and the yogurt is low in calories and high in protein. The flavor will not go with everything, but it tastes great with lemon juice, paprika, ranch-like flavoring, Indian spices... I'm still experimenting with it.

    If I want chicken that tastes like fried chicken, unfortunately I don't know of any substitutes! Just plan ahead and make sure it fits your calorie and macro targets for the day.

    I don't often cook for myself but that yogurt marinade sounds awesome.

    OP, you could marinate in any number of things and bake your chicken that way! You can even still bread your chicken, it just won't come out quite the same. Btw - look out for whole grain bread crumbs.
  • NikkiSixGuns
    NikkiSixGuns Posts: 630 Member
    Can you bake or broil it? I find that both of those don't dry it out as much as the Foreman Grill. Another option might be to marinate it before you cook it (not sure if you're talking about a breaded patty or just a piece of meat) to add some moisture before you grill it.
  • squirrelythegreat
    squirrelythegreat Posts: 158 Member
    Rule of thumb for counting fry oil calories is if there's oil in the pan when you're done, count half.
  • Pearlyladybug
    Pearlyladybug Posts: 882 Member
    i never use oils when cooking chicken n a non stick pan and my chicken tastes fine without it and it never sticks! the only time i will use a a teaspoon or so is when Im softening onions etc.
  • emmymcq
    emmymcq Posts: 278 Member
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/feb/23/coconut-oil-good-for-you

    I use coconut oil in most of meals and am losing weight. It's different.
  • Pearlyladybug
    Pearlyladybug Posts: 882 Member
    Non stick is non stick for a reason!
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    What's wrong with using EVOO? I bet you are probably needing a little bump in your essential fatty acid profile. Personally I am a canola oil wh-re because it has a higher ratio of polyunsaturated fats like the omega-3 found in fish oil, but sometimes you need that wonderful rich EVOO flavor. I'm on the bad kid peer pressure side...use it! Honestly going over 100 calories in your calories on unprocessed oil is not going to harm you and may benefit you.

    My personal opinion.
  • spersephone
    spersephone Posts: 148 Member
    I bought an oil spray bottle from Weight Watchers online (in Australia). It's brilliant. I use far less than I used to, but still get the effect that oil gives. I make these wonderful focaccias, and spray them with the oil where I used to brush it on. I would use a few grams worth of oil rather than 20-30 or more.

    You don't have to sacrifice things you love when you're trying to be healthier, you just have to learn ways to use them better. I use the spray when I cook bacon on a grill plate, just a little bit is enough to help them start and then of course they have plenty of natural oil in them anyway.

    It's something I've never regretted buying, I use it many times a week.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    most of your oils are going to be close to that. But I've gotten by with frying my chicken in less than 1 TBS. Just use enough to coat the pan. plus either way, the entire TBS of oil probably isn't going to end up in you chicken breast.

    If you're on a super restricted diet, then cooking with oils just might not be an option that you can really fit into your day. But I really like taking in some good fats via oils. Coconut oil is awesome to cook in, but has about the same calories I believe.

    Agreed. There really aren't any good alternatives :grumble:

    No they arent low in calorie but I dont understand why they cant be part of diet. I mean you arent going to eat all of that oil. Sometimes you cant make a decent piece of fried chicken without oil, and fat helps to satiate. MMMM my tummy is so full, warm and happy I dont feel like snacking later at night. I love fat so much I'd marry it if I could.

    Oh you being an indefinite you not actually directed at you per se. I was just going off on my love of fat rant.
  • hungergames324
    hungergames324 Posts: 240 Member
    a teaspoon goes a long way once its heated up!
  • kangaroo33
    kangaroo33 Posts: 76 Member
    Try using cooking spray, olive oil based. You'll only need a little spritz to oil up your pan. You can also buy a pumping type of spray bottle (Pampered Chef sells one) that you can use any oils/liquids you want, then spray that into the pan (again not using too much). SmartBalance Buttery spread will give your chicken a nice taste, too. Last alternative, use half or one quarter of the amount of whatever you use. You'll still get the moisture, healthy fat and good taste, but less calories. Hope this helps.
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    EVOO isn't the best choice for frying or sauteeing...it has a relatively low smoke point, so it can taste off and start to chemically change sooner than some oils. Coconut or peanut are awesome for those uses. Calorie wise, oil is oil is oil, all about the same, so be sparing with it if calories are the concern.
  • juditanne
    juditanne Posts: 59 Member
    yea, i figured there wasn't. i suppose i could use my foreman, but it dries out the chicken so bad. i have cooked other things on it, no problem, but the chicken just dies more than it is already dead.

    anyway, THANKS.

    i think i will still use my EVOO, but not the whole tablespoon. ha.

    :)

    Wrap the chicken in aluminum foil before putting on the George Foreman. Problem solved!

    oo, i will try that! thank you and EVERYONE!

    i will definitely pick up a cooking spray. i don't know where my brain was yesterday. haha.

    PS- chicken patty burger was awesome.

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