What is the best cooking method?

Since the war of fire, man has understood that the use of cooking was not just a simple question of taste to consume hard or difficult to assimilate foods, but a real chemical manipulation essential for our development.

So let’s start again with the war of fire, since, with the barbecue, our annual regression phase follows the return of the sun. With happiness for our taste buds, but also for our health. The ideal would certainly be a vertical barbecue that allows fats to escape in a way other than on the embers. But to close the debate on over-grilled meats supposedly carcinogenic, you should know that there are fewer dangerous substances in 50 kilograms of over-grilled meat than in… a single cigarette.

Man quickly understood that he could also boil. For the sake of economy and for a certain efficiency. Unfortunately, if soup was for a long time a constant in our diet – it remains so in many countries – it is a poor way to preserve the nutritional quality of food. For example, vegetables cooked in water lose almost all their vitamins, hence the importance of drinking the cooking broth.

Very quickly, the most advanced civilizations were also able to equip themselves with ovens that have continued to evolve since the dawn of time. From underground burial to microwaves, including the papillote – which is a perfectly suitable micro oven – we have here a very good cooking model that prioritizes the quality of food and its nutritional rendering, provided that we do not add dangerous substances, which our ancestors did not understand very well when they cooked with butter. Because frying or reheating leftovers with a good piece of fat is certainly the main error in our gastronomy in terms of cooking.

One might even imagine that the microwave oven was invented just for that: to reheat without cooking in fat!

Finally, the last method, perhaps the most used in the world – because it is the majority in the Far East –: steam. If there is a process on which it would be interesting to bet, it is that of steam. It is medically perfect.

Modern cooking methods and innovations

With the advancement of technology, new cooking methods have emerged that bring unique benefits. For example, sous vide cooking is an innovative technique that involves cooking food in sealed plastic bags, immersed in a water bath at a controlled temperature. This method helps preserve nutrients and ensures even cooking, while preserving the texture and natural flavors of the food.

Modern pressure cookers, equipped with pressure cooking functions, have also become popular. They allow for quick cooking while preserving the nutritional qualities of the food. Pressure cooking reduces cooking time significantly, making meal preparation more efficient without sacrificing nutritional value.

Comparison of different cooking methods

1. Barbecue:

• Benefits: Unique smoky flavor, conviviality of outdoor meals.
• Disadvantages: Potential for formation of carcinogens if misused, requires outdoor space.

2. Boil:

• Advantages: Simple and economical.
• Disadvantages: Loss of vitamins and minerals in cooking water.

3. Oven:

• Benefits: Cooks evenly, great for a variety of dishes.
• Disadvantages: Can be energy intensive, some nutrients can be degraded at high temperatures.

4. Microwave:

• Advantages: Speed, ideal for reheating without adding fat.
• Disadvantages: Limited for certain types of cooking, perception of lower quality of dishes.

5. Steam:

• Benefits: Preserves nutrients and flavor, ideal for healthy eating.
• Cons: May be less flavorful for some foods, requires specific equipment.

6. Vacuum packed:

• Benefits: Cooking precision, preservation of nutrients and flavors.
• Disadvantages: Long cooking time, requires specialized equipment.

Choosing the best cooking method depends on personal preferences, nutritional needs, and available equipment. Barbecuing is perfect for outdoor entertaining, while steaming is ideal for a healthy, balanced diet. Modern innovations like sous vide cooking offer additional benefits in terms of nutrient retention and flavor. Ultimately, varying your cooking methods can help maximize nutritional benefits and keep meals interesting and delicious.