Impact of Culinary Techniques on Nutritional Profiling: Unraveling the Transformation of Proteins and Vegetables in Cooking

Adumu Michael James

Department of Biochemistry, Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the impact of cooking technique and vegetable nutritional components. As a crucial provider of nutrients, food goes through profound changes when cooked, hence its effect on macro- and micro-nutrients. Protein denaturation, which may lead to the breakdown of the tertiary structure resulted from the effect of heat, acid, alkali, or ultraviolet radiation, is a process that disrupts the original characteristics of proteins. Proteins basically remain more secure than vitamins while cooking, but they risk denaturation after overcooking or exposure to high heat. Although micronutrients like vitamins and minerals needed for growth are stable in their content and behavior, they can change their content and behavior during cooking process as they cannot withstand heat. The paper underlines the multiple impacts of cooking techniques on vegetables by pointing out that some techniques of heat application might result in inferior nutritional quality. Bioactive compounds that are in vegetables, undergo changes in the physical attributes, the sensory properties and bioactive content based on the techniques such as boiling, steaming or microwaving. Besides, during food preparation such as washing, peeling and cutting almost everything like flavor, texture or final nutritional values is already determined. The cooking method chosen in a wide range including microwave, pressure cooker, open pan or steaming has a great impact on the nutrient composition. Bacterial contamination in eggs, which is a health safety concern that can cause nutrients losing and even harm consumer health, stresses the need for cooking to preserve nutrients and protect consumers. The modern consumer who cares about the nutritional values and benefits of home cooked meals must be aware of the magnitude of method of cooking on the content of nutrients. Being a fact that more and more consumers after minimally processed and additive free snacks and nutrition information about cooking method is critical. The study concludes by suggesting that additional research is needed so as to develop the guidelines for the best cooking methods that promote nutrient conservation, safety, and palatability.
Keywords: Cooking technologies, Nutrient value, Protein denaturation, Vitamins and minerals, Vegetables processing, Food processing, and Consumers trends.

CITE AS: Adumu Michael James (2024). Impact of Culinary Techniques on Nutritional Profiling: Unraveling the Transformation of Proteins and Vegetables in Cooking. IDOSR JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES 10(2) 26-29. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JES/102.2629.1124