by Matilda Willows

Created on: February 05, 2011   Last Updated: February 08, 2011

The best cooking methods for low fat meals are methods that do not need much or use any fat to cook with. Luckily, there are a number of means to cook food with little or no fat at all. Many people even claim that some of the following healthy and low-fat methods taste much better than with the additional use of extra fats. 

• Grilling/ broiling

Grilling foods can be in the form of using a grill pan with ridges on, or under a grill fire or electrical bar in the oven. The barbecue is also considered a method of grilling, and many can testify to the great taste of grilled vegetables or burgers from the barbecue. Grilling is usually done without the use of any fat, moreover, any natural fats present in meats will drip off into the grill pan while cooking. And so grilling foods will greatly reduce the fat in any meal, as well as enhance the taste and providing an often crispy crust. Thin cuts of meat cook well using this method, as well as mostly anything. Various fat-free marinades using vinegars and herbs can be used to add even more flavor. This is a low-fat method of cooking favored by many.

• Baking

Baking refers to cooking anything in the oven, usually on some kind of tray. Roasted meats and vegetables are a favorite meal to many and don’t have to be high in fat. It is easy to bake in little fat, by using just a little oil to line a baking tray and cook the food. To add more liquid, simply add some broth or water with herbs and cook away for a low-fat meal. In addition, foil can be used to wrap and cover foods to help retain their moisture.

• Steaming

Steaming uses no fat whatsoever. It is a method of cooking that uses the steam of boiling water to cook the food.  Bamboo steamers are popularly used in Chinese and Asian cuisine. All sorts of foods can be steamed, such as rice, meats and fish as well as vegetables and grains. It is the best cooking method which retains the nutritional values of foods, especially vegetables.

• Sautéing

For some meals, sautéing of the foods is required. However, that does not have to spoil the individual needs of cooking in a low-fat way. To sauté food in a low-fat way, simply use less oil or fat. Add more water or vegetable broth to cook the food in the amount of liquid required to prevent the food sticking to the pan. When using this method, make sure the little oil used is very hot so that the food doesn't absorb the fat and become soggy.

The best cooking methods to cook low-fat meals comprise of grilling, baking, steaming and sautéing foods in little to no fat with an increased use of broth or water. Thankfully, it is easy to find the right methods to suit the individual health needs of today.

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