Steamed vs Grilled vs Pan Fried Veggies

thisismynewmindset
thisismynewmindset Posts: 273 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I know there are many ways to cook your veggies, such as steamed, grilled, or pan fried.

But what I don't know is what these methods does to the nutritional info of the veggies... do any of these methods increase or decrease the calories?

Replies

  • chels1605
    chels1605 Posts: 206 Member
    steamed is best! Fried probs increases because of the oil.... same with roasted?
  • makeachange22
    makeachange22 Posts: 151
    not really, unless when you pan fry you pan fry in butter then yes. grilling them doesnt change, and steaming only keeps in the nutritional value comapred to calories
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    The only thing that would change calories is if you fry them in some kind of fat or oil or butter (the extra calories come from the oil/butter/fat).

    As far as nutritional content, frying them with fat, etc, can pull out some of the oil-soluble vitamins, like A, D, E (but only if there's a lot of fat around them). This is why french fries and even sweet potato fries are basically empty calories. And cooking vegetables in a lot of water can pull out water soluble vitamins like C and B vitamins. Steaming or grilling/frying with very little oil shouldn't do too much. IMO, steaming gives the best flavor.

    Of course, you can always eat (most) vegetables raw, which preserves all the nutrients :happy:
  • squishycow7
    squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
    You should ROAST them!! roasted cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, asparagus, zucchini, summer squash... all really good. I usually just barely coat them in olive oil or balsamic vinegar and some spices are they're perfecttttt
  • thisismynewmindset
    thisismynewmindset Posts: 273 Member
    MMM roasting sounds good.

    CAVEAT - I do not know how to cook... can someone tell me how to properly steam veggies without a proper steamer?
  • irridia
    irridia Posts: 527 Member
    You should ROAST them!! roasted cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, asparagus, zucchini, summer squash... all really good. I usually just barely coat them in olive oil or balsamic vinegar and some spices are they're perfecttttt

    I love them that way too! Beets, sweet potatoes and mushrooms are the bomb! I assume since the oil stays on them that there's less worry about fat soluable vitamin leaching because you then eat the oil as well ...
  • littlemili
    littlemili Posts: 625 Member
    Get an oil spray and then stir-fry or pan-cook in a non-stick pan with a tiny spray of oil, adds so few calories for when you're bored of boiling/steaming. I often grill stuff with just a spray of olive oil (it's like 1/10 of a teaspoon or something ridiculous) for a change too. Just use any method where you keep in the nutrients and don't need to add more than a squirt of oil.
  • irridia
    irridia Posts: 527 Member
    MMM roasting sounds good.

    CAVEAT - I do not know how to cook... can someone tell me how to properly steam veggies without a proper steamer?

    if they are frozen, then microwave, if not then add some water and microwave... don't have a microwave or steamer? put them in a pot w/ a little water, you can also put them in a pan that is hot and then pour water in and immediately cover w/a lid and that will flash steam them.
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