How it's made?

wannakimmy
wannakimmy Posts: 488 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've been searching the database for different things this weekend. Noticing of course that calories differ depending on how they are cooked. ie angus steak burger 1/3 lb 330 calories, 220 when grilled? Can there really be that much difference in grilling instead of say pan frying? I just want my logging to be accurate.... Help.

Replies

  • frenchfacey
    frenchfacey Posts: 237 Member
    the only advice i can give you is to get a food scale and measuring cups, weigh your food and use the USDA information for the closest possible accuracy, and measure and include any oils, marinades, etc that you use while youre pan frying or whatever the cooking method might be!

    and dont stress it too much, the only variable you can control is yourself

    good luck :)
  • Travelbug1955
    Travelbug1955 Posts: 61 Member
    When you fry, you are getting all the fat. When you grill, the fat is dripping off the meat and you will not be eating it. Fat has lots of calories.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    If you are using oil or grease for frying then it would make a difference. Frying really racks up the calories. Try comparing the figures from MFP to other websites like calorie count: http://caloriecount.about.com or buy a scale.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I'm also assuming these may be pre-made burgers which could account for the difference in calories since they may have different things added to them.

    If you are making your own burger, I would go with the raw weight of the meat itself and choose the entry for raw beef, then log the additional items you add to the burger to make it (like egg, bread crumbs, etc). While you may lose some of the fat and calories grilling it, at least you know you are not underestimating.
  • wannakimmy
    wannakimmy Posts: 488 Member
    I'm sorry, maybe I wasn't clear in my question, and did not give enough info. I do have a scale and do weigh my food.

    Was just wondering what to log. I am not eating the meat raw, I am eating it after being cooked on the grill. Do I weigh it after I have grilled it and that is why the calories are so much less? Say it is 1/3 lb raw, but 1/4 lb grilled. Which do I log it under?
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I'm sorry, maybe I wasn't clear in my question, and did not give enough info. I do have a scale and do weigh my food.

    Was just wondering what to log. I am not eating the meat raw, I am eating it after being cooked on the grill. Do I weigh it after I have grilled it and that is why the calories are so much less? Say it is 1/3 lb raw, but 1/4 lb grilled. Which do I log it under?

    Like I said, I log all my meat raw if possible, regardless of cooking method. If i cook it in a pan with oil, I log the oil too. If I cook it in a broth, I log that. That way you are likely over estimating a bit and do not have to worry about underestimating.
    Logging the cooked weight will be inconsistent since you lose water during the cooking method as well.
    A 1/2 lb raw will end up weighing less after cooking.

    I've always read that you should log raw weight when possible. Same with pasta and rice should be weighed dry.
  • wannakimmy
    wannakimmy Posts: 488 Member
    Thank you, I appreciate the info :smile:

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