The oven has been in our kitchen for several decades and today there are still several doubts, so we have decided to make a kind of guide to get the most out of this appliance. We are going to break down the advantages and disadvantages of cooking in the oven and we will also mention utensils and materials that we should never put in an oven.
There are those who cook drives them crazy and everything goes wrong, on the other hand, cooking relaxes them, helps them and even puts them in a good mood. Then there is a middle ground in which there are those who only cook certain things and take the rest directly to the oven or microwave because the food is brought to them by tupperware companies at home.
No one can deny that the oven solves many meals for us and gives a special touch to meat and fish. Also, compared to frying, cooking in the oven is healthier.
Cooking in the oven has its pros and cons and not just any container will do. For this reason, throughout this text we are going to discover the benefits of cooking in the oven, its drawbacks, some tips to be a good cook with the oven and we are going to discover if cooking in this appliance is really healthy.
Is cooking in the oven healthy?
The answer is yes. when we cook in oven the food is lower in fat, so we will have fewer calories and it would be healthier for our body. When cooking in the oven, very little oil is needed, so the chances of having greasy and unhealthy food are reduced.
We also have to be consistent with what we eat, roasting a chicken or making a vegetable lasagna is not the same as putting 4 layers of bacon on a few vegetables and adding cheese and sauces.
Baking in the oven does not mistreat the nutrients, so we will obtain all the properties of the food we are eating. This is because the oven uses dry heat, so many of the most essential vitamins and minerals survive without issue.
Something very important is the taste, and more when it comes to infant feeding. Baking enhances the flavors of foods, making them more appetizing.
Advantages of cooking in the oven
Cooking in the oven is very good, as we have seen in the previous section, but now we are going to go one step further and we are going to indicate some of its main advantages. Some of its main advantages have to do with cooking in the oven being healthier.
We save time
This is one of the main advantages of cooking in an oven, and it is that while the food is cooking on a slow fire inside, we can do various things such as putting in the washing machine; clean the car outside; Wash the dog; iron clothes for the week; cook other recipes; call or video call a family member or friend; review social networks; get work done, and even go for a short walk.
More than saving time is efficient use of time. It is very important to take advantage of the time throughout the day, to be able to enjoy the afternoon with the family, go to run errands, go to the gym, etc.
vitamins and minerals are maintained
It is something that we have already advanced in the previous section. And yes, cooking in the oven is healthier and one of the main reasons is because the minerals and vitamins in the food remain intact.
When using dry heat manages to preserve minerals and vitamins such as A, group B, C, D, E and K. This makes the oven one of the healthiest methods of cooking since food is more nutritious using this small appliance.
Taste and texture improve
Be careful not to cook too much, since, instead of improving the appearance and flavor of the food, we could quickly churruscar it. Not another thing, but in the oven, if we spend half a minute, the food goes from being perfect to being charred.
By slow cooking, the flavors are enhanced. It is well known by all that the food we bake has a pleasant texture and is very particular to its cooking, in addition, the smell is usually very striking and delicious, both combine and make meals very tasty and attractive.
Disadvantages of using the oven
Not everything was going to be laughter and happiness. There are a number of disadvantages and drawbacks to using the oven for cooking. Like everything in life, there are things that, no matter how perfect they may seem, have disadvantages, even if they are very few, as is the case with the oven.
- It is an appliance that gets dirty very easily and should be cleaned after each use.
- It is easy for food to burn if we are not attentive or do not control the time.
- We can get burned if we don't use protection.
- It spends a lot of energy, so it is increases the cost of light and increases the monthly bill.
- As a general rule, they are very durable appliances, but they can also suffer breakdowns.
- It is not used to cook any food nor can you introduce any container or material, as is the case with the microwave.
Tips for using an oven
Although it is an appliance that we have been using for years, it is important to know some basic tips that will make the oven's useful life longer and will help us to achieve much better recipe results.
- The oven cools itself, it is not necessary to open the door. On the contrary, when opened, the structure cools quickly and deforms.
- We must use long, heavy gloves that go up to the elbow to remove, move, turn, etc. with maximum security.
- The oven must be cleaned after each use, otherwise, when cooking again, the odors will mix and the cheese that melted yesterday will char and smell terrible.
- It requires a container and materials capable of withstanding high temperatures. We cannot put single-use plastic, or glass or ceramic that is not prepared for those temperatures, nor should we put paper, cardboard, aluminum or plastic bags.