Stupid Q

1meh
1meh Posts: 94 Member
in Getting Started
When you weight meat (like chicken) to get 4oz, do you weigh it before or after you cook it?

Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • rosebette
    rosebette Posts: 1,660 Member
    I always weigh meat after cooking because cooking reduces the size of the meat; some of the fat always cooks out. This is especially true with red meat, pork, and lamb. MFP also gives calories per serving of cooked versus uncooked meat.
  • caroldavison332
    caroldavison332 Posts: 864 Member
    Typically it's the before cooking weight.
  • nltg13
    nltg13 Posts: 24 Member
    I don't eat meat, so can't comment on what I do...but surely you would weigh after as the cooking method will make a difference. For instance 100g of raw chicken is probably different to 100g grilled chicken which again would be different to 100g roast chicken I would think?
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    not a stupid question at all

    it doesn't matter so long as the calorie counts you're using for it are for the way you're weighing it. So if you eat (say) chicken, if you weigh it raw, you use the calorie values for raw chicken to calculate it (also make sure it's from the same part of the chicken, chicken breast has less fat than chicken thighs). If you weigh it cooked, then you need to use the same calorie values as for chicken cooked the same way, e.g. if you're eating fried chicken then use the calorie values for fried chicken OR weigh the chicken raw and use raw chicken calorie numbers, and also log the fat and any other ingredients you fried it in.

    Hope that makes sense.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I don't eat meat, so can't comment on what I do...but surely you would weigh after as the cooking method will make a difference. For instance 100g of raw chicken is probably different to 100g grilled chicken which again would be different to 100g roast chicken I would think?

    yes it is correct that each one is different.... however you weigh the chicken, you need the calorie values for the same kind of chicken... i.e. if raw, then use calorie values for raw chicken.... if grilled use calorie values for grilled chicken, etc.
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    It depends on how you log it. I found a cooked and an uncooked selection for chicken in the MFP database. I use the uncooked (and weigh before cooking) if I am making something from scratch. If I am reheating leftovers, I use the cooked weight.

    I tried weighing ground beef before and after cooking...to my surprise, it lost quite a bit of weight while cooking.
  • 1meh
    1meh Posts: 94 Member
    thx guys (and girls)

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