Culinary Wellness 103
Cookware & Food Storage
Now that you have done your due diligence and are sourcing quality, local, sustainable food and are preparing the foods for optimal nutrient density, it’s time to talk about storage and cooking. You definitely do not want to waste all the effort and love to this point and cause food breakdown and improper absorption due to storage and cookware. Don’t fret, however, because you do not need to run out and buy all new everything. After all, we have a budget to keep in mind! What are some small changes you can make and why?
What do you actually need to begin your life of preparing your own meals? You can start making healthy and gourmet meals with just a few gadgets: a solid wood cutting board or two, a sharp quality knife, wooden spoon(s), a steamer basket, and a few pots/pans (NTA, 2020). Most of us already have these basics in our kitchen but why is important to make sure these few gadgets are the best quality?
Did you know that when you cook with a nonstick skillet it is lined with Teflon polymers and that leaks into your food every time you cook with it? Gross right!? The same can also be said for steaming vegetables in plastic and having those molecules infuse your beautiful food! Ensure that you do not clean your cast iron with abrasive sponges and scrubs as it strips the seasoning you are developing on the pan. Make sure your knife has a full-tang blade and forged from a block of steel. Full tang means that from end to end the blade is one piece of steel. These are some easy ways you can ensure proper cooking and storing of your quality sourced foods.
So, when on a budget what are some things you can do without breaking the bank? According to the Nutritional Therapy Association (2020), there are 3 simple steps you can take:
Buy 1 quality cast iron skillet and knife,
Ensure your food is fully cooled before storing it for leftovers, and then reheat those leftovers OUTSIDE of the plastic containers, and lastly
Use unbleached parchment paper instead of foil when lining baking sheets; consider beeswax wrap for storing left over foods.
These steps are easy, inexpensive, and can be done now! What are you waiting for?
