Summer is the season for all kinds of beverages to be in vogue, and it's likely that many families will store some at home for daily consumption and unexpected needs. However, summer foods are not suitable for long-term storage. So, when you have leftover drinks at home or they are about to expire, you can consider using them to cook a few dishes. Not only are they delicious, but they are also nutritious.
Milk and soy milk are nutritious for cooking
In recent years, milk has become a necessity in many households. It is not only suitable for drinking, but the dishes made with it are also delicious. Fresh milk is rich in nutrients, known as "white blood," and is rich in various macro and micronutrients such as protein, fat, amino acids, carbohydrates, salts, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamins, making it highly nutritious. Therefore, using milk in cooking can not only enhance the umami of the dish but also increase its nutritional value, making the dish colorful, aromatic, beautifully presented, and full of a milky fragrance.
Soy milk is also an excellent cooking ingredient when added to other foods. Soy milk can be used to cook rice and congee. Take leftover rice that you don't know what to do with, add an equal amount of water to cook it into a thick porridge, then add an equal amount of soy milk and continue cooking for a few minutes, and you're done. If you don't want to waste the soy pulp, you can add it in as well.
Carbonated drinks make for delicious dishes
Carbonated drinks have a refreshing taste and quench thirst, and the effect is even better when chilled. They come in a wide variety, with cola, Sprite, and Fanta being popular favorites in the summer. These drinks are not only delicious to drink but also make for very refreshing dishes when used in cooking. Cola chicken wings are a common dish made with beverages, with various cooking methods, but they are all primarily made with cola and chicken wings. The meat is tender and smooth with a cola aroma, making it a beloved dish among the masses. Sprite can also be used for cooking, such as Sprite bitter melon and Sprite radish. These are refreshing side dishes with a light taste, perfect for summer meals. Bitter melon, in particular, is bitter and can help reduce internal heat and detoxify, making it suitable for summer consumption. However, it is worth noting that the main components of carbonated drinks are sugar, essences, colors, and carbonated water, with very little nutritional value. Therefore, they should not be consumed for long periods, as they can affect bone development in adolescents and easily lead to osteoporosis.
Fruit and juice drinks bring unique flavors to dishes
Fruit juices are sweet and fresh, rich in various vitamins, and can often be used as an ingredient in dishes to create unique flavors. Fruit juices are rich in nutritional components such as carbohydrates, inorganic salts, vitamins, tannins, enzymes, and minerals. They can promote physical development, enhance physical fitness, reduce gastrointestinal diseases, and boost metabolism. Meats, on the other hand, are rich in proteins and phospholipids that the human body needs. Therefore, cooking with a combination of fruit juice and meat can not only provide complementary nutrition but also enhance the umami of the meat, creating a flavor that is different from meat dishes cooked with various vegetable oils and seasonings. For example, orange juice ribbonfish, orange pork ribs, and orange juice beer drumsticks are all dishes with savory and fragrant meat, tender texture, rich sauce, and high nutritional value. Fruit juice can also be paired with fruits and vegetables to make refreshing side dishes and salads, which are light and refreshing.
In addition, some alcoholic beverages can also be used in cooking. Scientists have found that moderate drinking is beneficial to health. Moreover, the mellow and rich aroma of alcohol can infuse dishes with a strong wine fragrance and a mellow taste, increasing appetite. Beer, as an alcoholic beverage, is suitable for summer consumption and has a certain effect on aiding digestion and promoting appetite. It can be used to cook dishes like beer stewed chicken or beer stewed fish, which has the effect of enhancing freshness and removing any gamey smell. Red wine helps protect the cardiovascular system and is excellent for making dishes like red wine stewed meat or red wine pear.