4.
STEP FOUR: Methods of Cooking
Moist Heat: Moist heat cooking methods involve cooking with moisture; whether it's stock, steam, water, or wine (maybe some other liquid.) Cooking temperatures are much lower, anywhere from 140°F to a maximum of 212°F, **This is because water doesn't get any hotter than that**
Tough cuts of meat like a shank need to be cooked slowly, with low heat. This has to be done for a long time, and with a lot of moisture. This method, if done correctly, will create incredibly tender and delicious product. Methods include:
-Poaching, Simmering & Boiling
Dry Heat: Dry heat cooking is a cooking technique where the heat is transferred to the food item without the use of any moisture. Dry-heat cooking usually involves temperatures of 300 F or hotter.
Dry-heat methods typically involve very high temperatures and short cooking times— a beef tenderloin steak would work well with dry heat. Methods include:
SUSTAINABLE COOKING
First, it’s good to know how much energy is used for certain cooking methods:
-A microwave oven uses approximately 1, 500 watts of energy
-An electric oven consume about 5, 000 watts of electricity
-A gas oven uses about 350 watts while the glow bar is on
Keep in mind: Healthy Eating is Sustainable Eating: takes 200 times more energy to produce beef than to produce potatoes[3]
Yes! Eating green is much more sustainable.
LISTEN UP! It’s almost impossible to eat well and be healthier if you are stressed, unorganized, misinformed, or even unsure of what you don’t know.
( Visit ZenFamilyHabits at http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2009/10/7-steps-to-sustainable-healthy-eating-habits/ to see the 7 steps to take to start your path to developing healthy eating habits; which are actually sustainable in the long run!)
Sustainable Cooking Methods:
Solar
cookers can be used to cook any kind of food. It is possible to do
everything from simmering to poaching, steaming, sautéing, baking,
toasting, pan frying, grilling, canning, water pasteurization, and even
making ice (at night!)[4].
- Hybrid electric box cookers
- Panel cookers
- Parabolic reflectors
- Solar box cookers, also known as solar ovens: (learn how to make your own solar cooker here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77GMx8W6CAk)
(If you’re interested in purchasing solar cooking wear, here are some websites that can help you:
www.sunoven.com, www.solarovens.org, www.sunbdcorp.com, www.solarcookers.org, and www.solarcooking.org.)
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