There are as many ways to cook meat as there are types of animals to eat.  From grilling and barbecuing to frying and baking, you can take a single cut of meat and dress it up in almost unlimited ways.  While it is great to have options to make dinners a little more interesting, how healthy are those ways we cook meat?

Grilling

Grilling is a very healthy way to cook meat and usually does not involve extra oils or fats being added to the meat.  Grilling results in light, tender meat if properly done, and meat cooked this way usually tastes good as leftovers the next day.

Broiling

Broiling in the oven is also healthy and requires no fats or oils.  Heat from the broiler points directly at the meat which is placed on a special broiler pan.  Fats and drippings are pulled away from the meat, leaving it less greasy.

Boiling

Boiling does not require oils, just water.  The fats from the meat tend to stay put, but you can drain most of them away with the water which can be saved and used later as a broth for soups and stews.  Meat that is boiled is usually tender – this is one of my favorite ways to cook whole chickens.

Stir Fry

Stir fry involves cooking meats with little or no oil at very high temperatures.  Meat cooked this way cooks quickly and is frequently stirred to avoid burning.  You can stir fry meat to use in fried rice, salads and other delicious meals.

These four methods are healthy, tasty ways to cook meat that allow you to control the extra fat and oils used or even eliminate them completely.