Reduce the Fat in Your Meal by Using These Cooking Methods

You did it! You lost weight. Maybe you haven't reached all the weight loss goals that you set for yourself yet, but you are getting there. One big help in the battle to keep the weight off and shedding fat is changing the way you cook your food.

If you haven't started cooking more at home yet, then you definitely need to start. The only way to know for sure what is in your food is to cook it yourself. When cooking for yourself you will be able to use only the freshest ingredients and eliminate all of the unnecessary preservatives which can add unwanted sodium, fat, sugar and calories to your food.

Reducing fat in your food is fairly easy if you follow cooking methods that are alternatives to frying with oil. Below is a list of some of the alternative cooking methods you can begin using right away to reduce fat in your foods and start eating healthier.

1. Steaming - Vegetables and rice are some of the best food that can be used for steaming. You can steam using a rice cooker or, if you like oriental food, use a bamboo steamer. Steaming preserves the nutrients and the original flavor of the food without overcooking it.

2. Broiling Fish - Fish is prepared by many people by frying it on the stove top. However, there is an alternative to frying that leaves less fat on your food. You want to keep the good fat that most fish contain without adding that extra bad fat that frying introduces. First you have to marinate your fish and then pop it under the broiler. Turn after five or ten minutes for even cooking. When the fish gets flaky you will know that its done. Broiling the fish reduces the fat by not adding the extra fatty oil and even makes for a much tastier meal.

3. Marinating Your Meats - Marinating your food is one of the best cooking methods to reduce the fat. Marinating meats breaks down the muscle fibers and tenderizes it. As the meat sits, the marinade will work its way through every inch so every bite is succulent and tender. This technique is best used when you plan on grilling or baking your meat.

4. Grilling Your Food - This technique works well outside in the summer and inside when using a grill pan. The reason that this techniques works so well is because gas grills help keep the temperature of the meat even and prevent the charring of the meat unlike the charcoal briquettes used in a non gas grill. A non-stick coated grill pan doesn't need additional oil and you can drain away the fat before serving.

5. Sautéing - This technique is best used for cooking meats and vegetables quickly. Take a tablespoon of canola or olive oil, put it in your pan and let it heat up before adding the ingredients. To cook the food better and faster cut it into cubes or strips.

6. Stir-frying Meats and Vegetables - Stir frying is a great way to create a meal using very little oil. The way this technique works is by taking a tablespoon of oil, heating it up in the wok and swirling it around so that it coats the bottom and the sides. Once the oil is hot the meat can then be added. The wonderful thing about this cooking method is that not much oil is used so when the meat is ready there is no need to drain it. All you have to do in the end is add the vegetables, cook until tender and finally serve this delicious meal.

Chefs of the world as well as regular people that cook for themselves would have to agree that there are many ways to cook food to bring out the flavor without serving up the fat. Try one or all of the techniques mentioned in this article for lower fat cooking and begin enjoying a healthier diet.