Best Cooking Tips

LIMITS OF FOOD IRRADIATION While food irradiation can reduce the risk of some illnesses and lower food costs by reducing spoilage, it has several limitations: • It cannot improve food that has already started to deteriorate. • It does not remove toxins such as botulism. • It may increase levels of free radicals - which are linked to ageing and cancer - in food. • Read more [...]

HUMAN HEALTH SCARES Intensive farming and food production methods have resulted in frequent human health scares. Incidences of food poisoning are on the increase and factory farming has increased the risk of cross-contamination between animals of food poisoning bacteria such as salmonella and E-coli. Contaminated feed has been linked to salmonella in poultry, and the consumption Read more [...]

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS Some genetically modified foods found on supermarket shelves include: Tomato puree Vegetarian cheddar cheese Soya beans Strawberries Maize Rapeseed oil Some brands now contain genetically modified ingredients. Some brands contain a genetically modified enzyme that replaces traditional animal rennet. Processed foods Read more [...]

Fresh herbs or dried? Fresh herbs taste better than dried, but if they are not available substitute dried herbs. Use only one-third of the amount, as dried herbs are more concentrated. If you want to use dried herbs in a dish which will not be cooked, such as a salad, pour a little boiling water over them and leave to soak for a minute before draining and adding. They will Read more [...]

Additives aren't all artificial Do you automatically return a product to the shelves when you see E numbers on the label? If so, you could be missing out on some good buys. Not all additives are synthetic; in fact many are natural substances, and a product which is free of artificial extras could still list E numbers on its label. The trick is to know whether you're looking Read more [...]

SIMPLE WAYS TO SLIM Work with your body Treat it well, and your body will be an ally in the fight against fat. Regular exercise can increase metabolic rate (the rate at which you burn up energy) and help you to stay slim. Crash diets have the opposite effect: the body protects itself from starvation by conserving as much energy (and hence fat) as possible, and your Read more [...]

TIPS FOR VEGETARIANS Be prepared If not all the family is vegetarian, keep a supply of bought -or homemade if you prefer - vegetable burgers and sausages to serve when others have hamburgers or meat dishes. Put them in a bun, or dish up with salads or vegetables. Ensuring a good supply of vitamin B12 You'll need to take vitamin B12 as a supplement if you're a vegetarian Read more [...]

GLUTEN-FREE DIETS Who needs them? The answer is: anyone who has difficulty digesting a protein called gluten, found in some grains. The problem is known medically as coeliac disease, and symptoms may start before the age of three, with diarrhoea, wind, and occasionally even weakness or malnutrition if the victim can't absorb enough protein. Luckily, a gluten-free diet Read more [...]

WHEN YOU CAN'T DRINK MILK Milk substitutes If you're allergic to cow's milk or you find it hard to digest, try soya milk or goat's milk, which rarely cause problems. Most supermarkets and health food shops keep both, as well as products such as goat's-milk yoghurt and cheese. Buy the milks in liquid or powder form, and use them in exactly the same way as ordinary Read more [...]

DIABETIC DIETS Avoiding sugar Diabetics need to avoid sugar, both by itself and in sugary foods, although some diabetics can take very small amounts. Fresh or dried fruit and fruit sugar (fructose) can be useful substitutes for sugar in cooking, but they are still high in calories, so it's best not to use them in very large quantities. Sorbitol (a product Read more [...]