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What Are the Best Tips for Low-Fat Cooking?

Lainie Petersen
Lainie Petersen

Tips for low-fat cooking can fall into one of four categories: food choice, cooking methods, food modification and recipe substitution. In many cases, the easiest way to reduce the amount of fat in cooking is to start with foods that are already fat-free or low in fat. Cooks can further reduce fat consumption by using fat-free or low-fat cooking methods. In situations where a cook is working with food that contains fat, it is sometimes possible to reduce the amount that diners consume by cutting away or removing the fat during the food preparation process. Finally, cooks can modify recipes by substituting non-fat or low-fat products for high-fat ingredients and oils.

Individuals who rely on low-fat cooking for health or personal reasons may wish to first reassess the foods that they eat. Some, such as vegetables, fruits and grains are virtually fat-free. By using these foods in cooking and selecting recipes that incorporate them, cooks can easily reduce the fat content in the dishes that they serve. Cooks can also reduce the amount of fat in some foods through various preparation methods: skin can be removed from chicken, fat can be trimmed from steaks and chops and egg yolks can be discarded during the preparation of omelets.

Glasses of skim milk, which is low in fat.
Glasses of skim milk, which is low in fat.

Other low-fat cooking techniques include learning how to make appropriate recipe substitutions. In some cases, this may be a matter of using a low-fat version of an ingredient, such as skim milk instead of whole milk. In other cases, low-fat cooking may call for substituting an ingredient that provides texture for a cooking fat or oil: applesauce is typically substituted for oil when preparing baked goods. Some food manufacturers have also developed low-fat versions of common foods, such as fat-free half-and-half cream or low-fat egg substitutes. These ingredients are commonly used in low-fat cooking so as to provide diners with an acceptable substitute for favorite foods and recipes.

Many cookbooks include recipes designed for specific diet plans, like low-fat cooking.
Many cookbooks include recipes designed for specific diet plans, like low-fat cooking.

Low-fat cooking methods reduce or eliminate the need for added fats. One of the simplest ways of reducing cooking fats is to use non-stick cookware. Another option is to use a commercial cooking spray or an oil mister on pans to create a slick surface that does not add significant calories or fat to the food. Other low-fat cooking methods include poaching, baking, broiling and roasting. Cooks using these methods may decide to pay special attention to the flavor of the low-fat foods, adding additional salts and seasonings to make up for the flavor that fats often add to recipes.

Discussion Comments

clippers

Getting a good steamer can go a long ways towards eating low fat. Having an easy way to steam vegetables means that you have no excuse for cooking them in a lot of oil.

And if it is easy to steam vegetables then you can make delicious pasta, stir fries and other low fat meals with a minimum amount of effort. It makes it a lot easier to eat low fat when it is fast and convenient.

vigilant

Exploring the cuisines of other cultures is a great way to cut out fat from your diet. The American diet and the Western diet in general is very high fat. But Asian, India, Latin and dozens of other cultures have found delicious ways to prepare foods without a lot of fat.

gravois
When people think of low fat cooking they often think of reducing the amount of oil, butter and fat in their cooking. One of the easiest ways to do this is to go vegetarian. I did it about three years ago and I have lost weight that I didn't even mean to.

Meat, even lean meat, often has a lot of fat in in once it is prepared. But what I never really thought of is how meat is often paired with really fatty foods like french fries or mashed potatoes. I still eat fries, but not nearly as often as I did when I ate burgers. Cutting out meat cuts out a lot of other fat incidentally.

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    • Glasses of skim milk, which is low in fat.
      By: chris32m
      Glasses of skim milk, which is low in fat.
    • Many cookbooks include recipes designed for specific diet plans, like low-fat cooking.
      By: Vivian Seefeld
      Many cookbooks include recipes designed for specific diet plans, like low-fat cooking.
    • Applesauce can be used as a substitute for butter or oil some recipes.
      By: rimglow
      Applesauce can be used as a substitute for butter or oil some recipes.
    • Lean chicken breasts are good to use in low-fat recipes.
      By: Viktor
      Lean chicken breasts are good to use in low-fat recipes.
    • When you do consume fat, opt for a monounsaturated one like heart-friendly olive oil.
      By: margo555
      When you do consume fat, opt for a monounsaturated one like heart-friendly olive oil.