Does cooking food change the calories?

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Kittyy1994
Kittyy1994 Posts: 108 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Anyone know if cooking veggies or meat changes the calories. For example if I log 1 cup of raw broccoli will it be same amount of calories when cooked.
If logging according to weight should you weigh before or after cooking? Thanks😀

Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 33,943 Member
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    It's more accurate to weigh things raw. Especially meat.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
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    I recommend weighing before for consistency but whatever you pick chose the right entry (there are typically entries for cooked and uncooked foods);

    Assuming you aren’t adding any oil/butter etc - the calories should stay the same
  • Poisonedpawn78
    Poisonedpawn78 Posts: 1,145 Member
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    If you set the food on fire it will!

    Another vote for logging raw weight
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
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    For meat in particular, cooking reduces the amount of water held in the meat, which reduces it's finished weight. So whether you weigh it raw, or weigh it cooked, make sure the entry you are using indicates either or. It tends to be more accurate to weigh things raw because the amount of water cooked out of (say meat, for example) will vary depending on the cooking method and how long it is cooked for. Two equal weighted steaks: one that is heavily burnt will weigh even less than the one that is barely cooked, so they will weigh different amounts, but will contain the same number of calories. It's also easier if you are throwing a bunch of things into a single pan and plan to eat the whole thing when it's done. Weigh it as it goes in the pan.

    TL;DR: preferably weigh products raw, but if you weigh them cooked try to find a database entry that reflects it

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