How to Cut Cooking Fat : A Small Guide

Cutting cooking fat will not only help you manage your weight, but it may also improve your health: Trimming fat from your diet may reduce your risk of diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. 

As a rule of thumb, saturated fat and trans fat should be avoided as much as possible. Here are some pointers on how to cut cooking fat:

• Saturated fat isn't found only in animal products; some oils contain it, too, including coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and palm oil.
• A little oil goes a long way. Choose extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil or walnut oil.
• Use non-stick pans so you can saute and stir-fry with little or no added fat.
• Grill, broil, roast, bake, or boil food so you don't need to add oil or fat at all.
• Use nonstick cooking spray in lieu of butter. About.com low fat cooking Guide, Fiona, can even tell you how to make your own cooking spray.
• Use little oil or butter with vegetables, pasta and rice.

If you are interested in consuming more "healthy" fat (unsaturated fat), be sure you don't add them to your diet while keeping "bad" fats in it. Instead, replace solid fats typically used in cooking with liquid oils (preferably canola oil or olive oil). Substitute polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats for saturated fats and trans fats.