What Happens to Food When You Cook It? Does Cooking Destroy Nutrients?

Does cooking destroy nutrients? Is steaming better than boiling? Does microwaving “nuke” the nutrition out of food? Cooking changes food, but those changes aren't necessarily bad. Some nutrients decrease with heat, water, and longer cooking times, while others become more available and easier for the body to absorb. In this episode of the Real World Nutrition podcast, learn how common cooking methods, including roasting, baking, air frying, sautéing, boiling, steaming, grilling, and microwaving, affect nutrients and the foods we eat. You'll also learn why cooking is important for food safety and digestibility, whether raw vegetables are healthier than cooked vegetables, how adding fat can help with the absorption of certain nutrients, and whether there really is a “healthiest” way to cook vegetables. The bottom line? You probably don't need to worry nearly as much about how you cooked the broccoli. Read More: What Happens to Food When You Cook It? A Guide to Different Cooking Methods