Adequately Cooked Food

The flavor of certain foods will vary in taste depending on how they are cooked. It is not the same to sauté meat, as it is to fry it (this does not mean that the meat changes but the way it is cooked does). In these ways food varies in texture, flavor and color. Sautéed meat will always be a little bit harder than boiled meat and its flavor will be different as well as its color.

Boiled Food
Boiling consists of submerging the food in water and allowing it to cook until it is ready to be eaten. When this method of cooking is used the food is then a bit insipid, and its texture will be softer and part of its substances will be left in the water. However it is a very adequate way of preparing soups and purees for children.

Steamed Food
Steam cooking consists of cooking the food in a recipient that has the following characteristics: it must be done in a deep thick bottom pot and must be hermetically shut.

Once the cooking is done, the look and texture of the food looks the same as it would when it is boiled, but it is more flavorful since it is cooked in its own juice. The cooking method is very adequate for meats, fish, potatoes and vegetables, although it is better to leave this type of cooking method for later on since the food is then a bit stronger in flavor when prepared in this way.

Fried Food
Frying is a typical Mediterranean style of cooking and consists of frying with oil. This type of cooking method changes the flavor of the food completely, as well as the texture and color. Children generally really like this type of cooking.

If you are going to fry a certain food it is important to keep the following in mind:

• Make sure the oil is at a temperature of 180 to 190 degrees C.
• Fry with an abundant amount of oil, to almost cover the food.
• Cooking in this way should be done quickly so that the food does not become drenched with the oil.
• Once fried, the food should be placed over a metal rack or absorbent paper so drain the oil the food has absorbed during the cooking process.

When it comes to children it is convenient the oil used is olive oil. It is not advisable to abuse the type of cooking, since it is energy food.

The amount of oil that can be rescued from this type of cooking will vary depending on the type of food being cooked.