Weighing food

AlohaKeAkua

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but do you weigh your food before or after it's cooked (for those of you that do weigh your meals)? Do you log calories for something at 4 oz before it's cooked, or the slightly smaller number after it's cooked?

LittleMissDover

Before unless the nutritional information given is for cooked weight.

jacksonpt

Generally before. Some things will indicate on the label (4oz dry, 1 cup dry, etc)... but if it's not specified, as common with meats, I always weight raw.

AlohaKeAkua

Thanks guys! It's a silly question, but I appreciate your responses! I guess I was hoping I was going to be able to cut a few corners :-)

Francl27

After for me unfortunately. We're 4, I'm not cooking my stuff separately every time.

mom2kpr

After for me unfortunately. We're 4, I'm not cooking my stuff separately every time.

This - I cook for a family of 4 & do lots of hot dish/casserole type stuff.

BarbieAS

I try to stick to whatever the database lists. If I have an option, I usually do cooked, because, as a few others said, I'm usually cooking for more than just myself and that's just too much stress for me. If I am cooking for just myself, I'll often do it before, if that makes sense with the entry.

For example, if I make chicken thighs in the oven, I use the (non-starred so MFP) entry that says "Chicken thighs, meat an skin, cooked, roasted." So, I weigh it cooked. Broccoli gives both raw and cooked weights, so I use whatever works. Same with ground meats, etc. Meat, IMO, is the most important because a lot of the fat cooks out and it can really affect the calories/macros. Dry goods like pasta/rice are second most important because of the water they absorb. Veggies and stuff I wouldn't personally worry too much about.

Really, if you're taking the time to weigh it, as long as you're trying your hardest to match when you weigh it with what nutritional information you're using, you're about 900 steps ahead of 95% of the rest of the country, so I think just do what works for you with the most accuracy you can get and don't get obsessed with whether it's a few grams off because it's cooked or not.

Andrew_peter

Always before. Kind of a pain when cooking larger meals or for more than one person, but I found there is just way to much variation with cooked weights.