Vegetable Cooking Guide: Nutrition, Methods & Storage

Maximize nutrients by understanding which vegetables should be cooked or eaten raw. From grilling in a pan to using an electric smoker, discover the most nutritious vegetables and learn how to safely freeze, thaw, and refreeze your produce.

Sliced hokkaido pumpkin on a wooden board

A List of Starchy Vegetables and Foods

Starches are complex carbohydrates that produce vital energy when your body converts them to glucose during digestion. The starches in peas, corn, whole grains and potatoes provide fuel for your muscles, brain and other vital organs.

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Basket of fresh organic veg

Allergies to Nightshade Vegetables

Nightshade vegetables are a group of vegetables containing about 85 genera and over 2,000 various species. The most commonly known nightshade vegetables include potatoes, peppers and tomatoes. An allergic reaction to nightshade vegetables is considered uncommon, according to Medline Plus.

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Pumpkin stew with rice and meat

How to Eat Gourds

Gourds are a staple in autumnal centerpieces on dinner tables, while their cousins like pumpkins and melons more often make it to the dinner plate. Many gourds are best left to fall crafts, but a few are edible and flexible enough to be used in a variety of dishes.

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Various vegetable in refrigerator

Can Old Vegetables Make You Sick?

Whether you bring vegetables home from the store or harvest them from your garden, proper storage is a key factor in retaining their freshness and quality.

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Barbecue scene, Shish kabob ready to be put on the grill.

How to Cook Vegetables in an Electric Smoker

An electric smoker uses low temperatures to slow-cook food and give it a smoky flavor. Most smokers contain a pan of water for moist heat, although you can also buy a dry smoker. Both types work for vegetables. Smokers are often used to slow-cook meat, but you can also cook vegetables in your electric smoker.

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Frozen vegetables

How to Thaw, Cook & Refreeze Vegetables

Frozen vegetables are an easy way to include more nutrient-rich foods in your diet. They are convenient, have a long shelf life and cook quickly. Frozen vegetables are often picked at the peak of ripeness and flash frozen, to preserve nutrients and prevent spoiling.

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How to Cook Arugula

With its spicy, bold taste, raw arugula is often added to salads to punch up the flavor, but the leafy green can also be eaten cooked. Sautéed or steamed, cooked arugula delivers an impressive dose of vitamins A and K, contains no fat and is very low in calories.

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fresh hot baked potato

Which Gives You More Energy, Meat or Vegetables?

You might count calories as part of a weight-loss diet without fully understanding what a calorie is and how it works. A calorie is a unit of energy. It takes 1 "large calorie" to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of pure water by 1 degree Celsius. Food calories are measured in large calories.

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vegetables cooked in the microwave

4 Ways to Cook Vegetables in a Microwave

Microwave cooking translates to easy cooking. You can quickly cook vegetables in a microwave that you would normally steam on top of the stove. Simply place the vegetables in a microwave safe dish and add a small amount of water. Green beans, peas and broccoli need about 3 tbs.

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Background of grilled vegetables close up. Horizontal top view

How to Grill Vegetables on a Grill Pan

Cooking vegetables on a grill is a quick and healthful technique. It requires little or no fat, depending on the vegetable, and won't leach away water-soluble vitamins as boiling can. However, there are times when a true grill isn't available. For those occasions, a grill pan can be a useful substitute.

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raw banana

How to Cook Jamaican Boiled Green Banana

Green bananas are a staple in Jamaica and other Caribbean nations, as well as in India and parts of Africa. In these countries, the green banana is treated more as a vegetable than a fruit, and it is most often prepared and used in dishes much as Americans use potatoes.

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cheese fondue

How Do I Cook Vegetables for Fondue?

Fondue is not just a meal; it's an entire culinary experience. A vegetable fondue can be served as an appetizer or a main course. In this communal do-it-yourself meal, pieces of chopped vegetables are cooked individually on long skewers either in hot oil or cheese.

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Grilled patties

Vegetable Burgers Vs. Beef

Vegetable or “veggie” burgers have become commonplace as meat alternatives, joining the menu alongside hamburgers in restaurants and fast food establishments. They are no longer reserved for individuals who follow vegetarian or vegan diets.

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Blood Thinners & Leafy Green Vegetables

Blood thinners such as warfarin or Coumadin are prescribed by doctors for patients who are at risk of serious health complications due to blood clotting. As with most medications, certain foods are contraindicated for patients on blood thinners.

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Green beans close up.

Vegetables Without Potassium

For most people, potassium is a healthy part of their diets, and getting enough is easy by eating a variety of food. But doctors require some people with heart and kidney problems to lower their potassium intake. This turns out to be hard to do, since almost all foods contain some potassium.

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How to Cook Purple Kale

Purple kale has purple-green leaves and deep purple stems. The sturdy green is in season in spring and fall when the weather is cooler. Although tender young kale leaves are suitable for fresh use, the tougher larger leaves have the best flavor and texture after cooking.

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