These cooking habits are the worst!

You’re probably already familiar with this, but everyone is saying that if you want to eat a real and healthy meal, you should make it yourself. Fair. If you are the one cooking, you know that you have used the best ingredients, and this means you are in control of what you are eating.

But even if you can control the quality of the ingredients and the seasoning, there are some common cooking habits that can transform your homemade meal into a toxic hazard. No matter how good you cook, you can still make these mistakes, so keep reading to find out what to avoid.

So, these are the most common dangerous cooking habits you need to avoid at all costs if you want to keep yourself safe and healthy!

Using fake meats in your meals

Plant-based diets are more popular than ever, and many people consider meat alternatives a healthier version compared to regular meat. At first, they might seem perfect for a seemingly healthy swap, but experts are here to warn us that highly processed meat substitutes may be doing more harm than good.

These meats are marketed as a healthier option, but unfortunately, some of them are full of additives, unhealthy fats, and refined grains. They don’t provide the nutrients regular meat does, and they are high in sodium, artificial ingredients, and hidden sugars.

Even worse, some of these alternative protein sources are made with heavily processed soy or pea protein isolates, which completely eliminate natural fiber and nutrients. This means blood sugar spikes, digestive issues, and even increased cravings become more common.

If you want healthier meat-free alternatives, you need to change your cooking habits. Try to choose whole, plant-based proteins like beans, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, or tempeh. They are packed with nutrients and don’t have any additives. If you still prefer meat substitutes, look for brands with minimal ingredients and no artificial preservatives.

Using nonstick pans that have Teflon

Ok, we know that everybody wants to have a nonstick pan, and they are a staple in the kitchen. How else can you make the perfect eggs without such a pan? Also, cleanup is a breeze with them.

The problem is that many nonstick pans coated with Teflon release harmful chemicals known as PFAS. This only happens when they are used at really high heat or when the coating becomes scratched.

PFAS are called “the forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in your body or in the environment. Over time, exposure to these chemicals has been linked to hormone disruption, developmental issues in infants, an increased risk of cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

If you want to keep yourself and your family safe, you have to change your cooking habits and see what other alternatives are available on the market. Cast iron, ceramic-coated pans, and stainless steel are the best choices for you, according to experts.

Not taking care of your cast iron cookware

Speaking about cooking habits and cast iron pans, not taking good care and cleaning these types of pans properly can be incredibly harmful to your health. Yes, cast iron is durable, amazing at retaining heat, and has natural nonstick properties without eliminating PFAS, but if not cleaned correctly, the food buildup can lead to the apparition of bacteria.

Also, if you leave cast iron pans wet after cleaning them, they can easily rust, and this degrades the pan’s surface and makes it unsafe for cooking. So, what you need to do is skip the soap almost every time you clean your pan. Rinse with warm water and then gently scrub using a brush or salt. This is more than enough in most cases. After this, make sure you place the pan over a hot burner for a couple of minutes to evaporate any moisture.

Don’t forget to season your pan from time to time. After it is clean and dry, put a little bit of oil inside and let it sit there until the pan starts smoking. This helps create a natural nonstick coating that improves with use.

Overcooking vegetables

Considering that eating a variety of colorful vegetables is one of the best ways to fuel your body with all the nutrients that it needs, you might say that this doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Why does it matter if the vegetables are rawer or cooked more thoroughly?

Well, this is partially true because overcooking will never turn vegetables unhealthy, but this is a cooking habit that you should change because it significantly reduces their vitamin and mineral content.

For example, water-soluble vitamins like vitamins C and B vitamins are extremely vulnerable to heat, and they can easily break down if the vegetables are cooked for too long. So, try to use gentle cooking methods such as steaming, sautéing, and roasting at moderate temperatures.

Then make sure you avoid long cooking times and use lots of water, and in this way, you will get the perfect plate of vegetables. Looking good and full of all the nutrients your body needs to keep itself in the best shape.

Believing non-GMO foods are better

There are a lot of people out there who are convinced that if the label says “non-GMO,” the food they buy is automatically better and healthier. According to experts, a non-GMO label only means the product doesn’t contain genetically modified ingredients. This doesn’t guarantee how nutritious the product is or if it is free of additives or not.

If you just assume that these foods are better, you can end up eating unhealthy meals. This is a pretty common one among those who have bad cooking habits. There are many non-GMO products that are laced with pesticides, additives, and preservatives.

Yeah, they no longer contain genetically modified ingredients, but in the end, they can still be full of refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial flavors.

What you should do is try to look beyond the label. Always check the ingredient list and the nutrition facts. Then make sure you prioritize whole, minimally processed foods. Some non-GMO crops may still be treated with chemical pesticides, so try to be careful about this too.

Using too much oil or butter

Fat is essential when you are cooking, as it enhances flavor and makes the texture of your food more textured. But if you are not careful and you are using too much oil or butter, you will end up adding excess calories and unhealthy fats to your meals.

To avoid this one of the cooking mistakes you should avoid is measuring the amount of fat you are using. Just one tablespoon of oil contains about 120 calories and 14 grams of fat! If your food is too fatty, this can lead to high cholesterol, weight gain, and increased cardiovascular risk over time.

A good idea would be to switch to an oil spray bottle. These bottles are ideal because the amount of oil you use will be minimal but at the same time efficient for your cooking. Also, if you want to avoid oil you can try to choose healthier cooking methods such as grilling, baking, and air frying.

If you need a new nonstick pan, you can try this one: SENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet, Swiss Granite Coating

You should also read: Best Foods To Eat in Each Decade of Your Life