Healthy cooking: through ingredients, cooking methods and cookware

Healthy eating and cooking have become a topic of daily discussion and debate. In fact, more and more people are looking for ingredients, recipes and cooking methods that allows the reduction of calories consumed during the day, while improving the taste of food. In order to cook healthily, three main elements must be considered:

1. ingredients;
2. cooking method;
3. type of pot, pan or grill pan used.

Point one, it is known that a healthy diet is based on the choice of the right ingredients and foods, preferably organic; It is also good to remember that choosing healthy ingredients does not mean using only fat-free ingredients, but choosing those that are not treated and therefore natural. Examples of this type of food are fish such as salmon, a source of omega-3 fatty acids; avocado, a tasty fruit rich in natural fats that help absorb the nutrients of other foods; seeds and dried fruit, whose oils and fats are fundamental in maintaining a healthy heart; eggs and meat (preferably white), a source not only of protein, but also of healthy and untreated fats. All these ingredients, accompanied by vegetables and legumes, are ideal in the creation of recipes and tasty dishes.

The right ingredients must therefore be accompanied by the most suitable cooking method; choosing vegetables, meats and healthy condiments and then accompanying them with cooking methods that involve the use of condiments and fatty or treated oils, such as frying, would in fact cancel the painstaking work done during the search for the best ingredients.

Some of the healthiest and lightest cooking methods are:

Steaming: this type of cooking, used since ancient times, consists in cooking the food resting on a special basket or perforated surface with the steam released from the water or broth from the pot below. Cooking with steam, therefore, allows you to cook food thanks to the absorption of the moisture of the liquid used, avoiding the use of other condiments and thus allowing you to preserve the caloric intake, taste and all the nutritional characteristics of the ingredients.

Boiling: this method consists in cooking the ingredient directly in the pan full of liquid such as broth or water. This method is mainly indicated in the preparation of soups, since the nutrients of the ingredients are dispersed in the cooking liquid;  contrarily, boiling should be avoided if you wish to cook vegetables, as the related vitamins and nutritional substances would be dispersed in the cooking water.

Grilling: a healthy and particularly tasty method of cooking, as it allows the meat and vegetables to acquire the aroma of the smoke and, in the specific case of the meat, allows excess fat to melt away, making for healthier, lighter food. With grilling, however, it is necessary to be extremely careful not to overcook the food: burnt food is, in fact, not healthy and, in some cases, can even be carcinogenic.

Oven cooking: a long and complex method of cooking, but with amazing results. Cooking in the oven makes the dishes very flavourful and tasty, without losing  nutrients.

Pan cooking: the most versatile cooking method, which, with the right method, allows the creation of tasty and healthy dishes, as well as maintaining intact, the consistancy of the ingredients; even in the case of pan cooking, it is necessary to avoid excessive use of oils and seasonings.

Last, but not least, a fundamental point in the process that leads to the creation of healthy food and healthy cooking is the choice of a suitable pot, pan, grill pan or oven dish. The kitchen items produced by Topgres, made of Ceramic stoneware, are the best answer to this need to cook food in a healthy and natural way. Specifically, the Topgres kitchen items are characterized by a series of features that make these pots, pans, grills and oven dishes unique in their ilk:

• use of Ceramic stoneware, a natural material fired at high temperature, free of heavy metals and with low porosity;
• high capability of absorbing heat in a "soft" way and then transfering it slowly to food, distributing it evenly;
• non-toxic enamels and decorations, which comply with all the strict legal standards relating to products for cooking food with a wide margin of safety.