Many people don't realize that common cooking habits also affect the nutritional value of food and can even be detrimental to health. Recently, the Huffington Post summarized 10 common bad cooking habits people have in their kitchens.
1. Heating oil until it smokes.
Most cooking oils not only lose their flavor but also break down when heated to the point of smoking. During this process, the healthy antioxidant components are destroyed, and harmful compounds are formed. Therefore, when heating oil, you can start cooking as soon as you see the oil in the pan begin to shimmer.
2. Over-stirring food.
Over-stirring prevents food from being heated evenly, causing it to lose its characteristic flavor and turning a delicious dish into a mushy mess.
3. Overfilling the pan with ingredients.
This actually slows down the cooking process and makes the ingredients soft and sticky. If a dish requires searing, overcrowding the pan will cause the ingredients to release a large amount of steam, causing them to lose their crisp texture. Similarly, putting too much meat in the pan will cause the temperature to drop rapidly, leading to sticking and a longer cooking time. The best solution is to cook in batches according to the firmness and texture of the ingredients.
4. Cutting roasted meat right out of the oven.
Roasted meat should be allowed to rest in a warm environment for a while after coming out of the oven to allow the muscle tissues to relax. Otherwise, cutting it will release a large amount of juices, affecting its appearance and texture.
5. Not cleaning the sink after washing raw meat.
The sink can be contaminated with bacteria from raw meat when rinsing, which can easily lead to foodborne illnesses. Therefore, the sink should be cleaned immediately after rinsing raw meat.
6. Heating a non-stick pan at high temperatures.
High temperatures can cause the non-stick coating to release toxic substances in the form of fumes, which can lead to liver damage and problems with growth and development. Therefore, be sure to lower the temperature before cooking with a non-stick pan.
7. Using metal utensils in a non-stick pan.
Metal utensils can scratch the surface of a non-stick pan, causing the perfluorocarbons from the coating to enter the digestive tract and posing a health risk. When cooking with a non-stick pan, it's best to use wooden or silicone utensils.
8. Blending very hot liquids directly in a food processor.
This practice can easily cause hot liquids to splatter everywhere. To prevent this, you can cover the opening of the blender lid with a folded paper towel or a towel while blending.
9. Putting heat-resistant glass dishes in the oven.
Although heat-resistant glass can be heated directly on a stovetop, it cannot withstand the high temperature of an oven, and high heat can cause it to shatter.
10. Over-mixing batter.
This will develop the gluten in the flour, making the final baked goods tough. It's best to mix gently just until the batter is evenly colored.