Does cooking in a pressure cooker destroy nutrients?

Does cooking in a pressure cooker destroy nutrients? - Man Wearing Black Apron Near Two Silver Metal Cooking Pot

I've read that because of the higher temperature specially vegetables lose more nutrients in a pressure cooker as opposed to a normal cooking method. Is this true?



Best Answer

According to Eating Well who consulted a food scientist, yes, some heat sensitive nutrients are lost, but no more so than other forms of cooking:

Pressure cooking can reduce heat-sensitive nutrients (e.g., vitamin C, folate) and bioactive phytonutrients, such as betacarotene, glucosinolates (helpful compounds found in cruciferous vegetables) and omega-3 fatty acids, that are beneficial for human health. But so do other cooking methods—and generally to more or less the same extent.

but in other cases, as in grains and legumes, the pressure-cooking is helpful:

in the case of grains and legumes, although the vitamins and heat-sensitive vitamins and phytonutrients are vulnerable to deterioration, the net result of pressure-cooking is a positive nutritional gain—from the increased digestibility of the macronutrients (protein, fiber and starch) and the increased bioavailability of the essential minerals.




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Quick Answer about "Does cooking in a pressure cooker destroy nutrients?"

A 2009 study found pressure cooking and boiling saw the greatest nutrient losses, compared to griddling, baking, or microwaving vegetables. A 2010 study found pressure cooking was better than boiling for nutrient retention, improving digestibility and reducing antinutrient compounds.

Does pressure cooker destroy nutrients?

Some studies suggest that pressure cooking destroys nutrients, but there is far less evidence against pressure cooking as there is for it. One study showed that pressure-cooked food lost more antioxidant activity than food cooked by other methods, including microwaving and baking.

Is it healthy to cook food in pressure cooker?

Cooking in an \u201cinstant pot\u201d or pressure cooker is a great method for preparing your food on many levels \u2014 including the nutritional level, according to registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD. \u201cInstant pot recipes are absolutely healthy as long as what you put in the recipe is healthy,\u201d she says.

What are the disadvantages of pressure cooking?

Disadvantages of Pressure Cooking
  • May need some practice at the beginning.
  • Pressure cookers can be expensive.
  • You can't check if your food is ready while cooking.
  • You can't adjust the flavor during the cooking process.
  • You can't look inside.
  • Only suitable for certain kinds of dishes.




Ask Dr. Gundry: Do pressure cookers remove nutrients from foods?




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