We all love our fried food. But as a matter of fact, fried food tops the list of what one should not be eating to remain healthy.Fried food need not be avoided completely, provided you don’t treat yourself to them on a regular basis.
Here are some pointers to help you make your fried food healthier:
- Make it yourself-Cooking at home allows you to be in control of the cook. You can decide on the portions and the ingredients.So leave behind all those worries of fast food restaurants serving you items fried in oil being days old.
- Temperature of the oil-This is the key factor to be maintained so as to reduce the absorption of oil by the fried food. The temperature has to be just right. Use a digital thermometer to judge the temperature.Ideal frying temperature is between 350 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Opt for healthier items to fry-If you enjoy fried food, try frying vegetables and tofu. Deep frying need not necessarily be on unhealthy items.
- Use healthier oils –Select oil that is low in saturated fats. Choose an oil that has a high ‘smoke point’. The higher the smoke point, the more stable the oil is to fry. Rice bran oil and canola oil are good options.
- Use clean and fresh oil –It might be expensive, but do not reuse oil. The more oil has been heated at high temperature, the more easily it breaks down in your food.
- Keep the portions small-Limit your portions and try to serve them with a side of salad or steamed vegetables.
So fry right to make your fried foods healthy.Now that you have understood how to make your fried food healthy, you can treat yourself to occasional meals that include crumb fried chicken or shrimp tempura.
Written by : Rasha Ashraf