Elderly people love to cook soup, and many of them believe that soup should be cooked for at least 3 hours, or even longer, to maximize its nutritional value. However, nutrition experts disagree with this viewpoint.
1.5 to 2 hours of cooking time is recommended
Experts believe that soup should not be cooked for too long, and a cooking time of 1.5 to 2 hours is optimal to preserve the nutrients. Start by boiling the ingredients on high heat, then simmer on low heat. Adding a variety of nutritious ingredients to the soup ensures a balanced diet and promotes digestion and absorption. However, cooking soup for too long can cause the loss of nutrients such as proteins and fats. Therefore, it is recommended to consume the soup and meat together, as not all protein in the food can be dissolved in the soup.
Medicinal ingredients should not be cooked for more than an hour
In addition to meat, the use of medicinal ingredients is also a characteristic of nutritious soup. If meat cannot be cooked for an extended period, what about the additional medicinal ingredients? According to experts, for medicinal ingredients such as Huangqi and Dangshen, which replenish Qi (vital energy), simmering them on low heat for 40 to 60 minutes is sufficient. If the cooking time is too long, the active ingredients of the medicinal herbs will be destroyed in the solution.
So, how can meat and medicinal ingredients be cooked synchronously? Experts recommend the following method: if the cooking time for the soup is two hours, soak the medicinal ingredients separately for one hour, then add the soaked medicinal ingredients and the soaking water to the soup after one hour of cooking, and continue simmering with the other ingredients for another hour. This method maximizes the preservation of nutrients and medicinal properties.
In addition, experts suggest choosing medicinal ingredients that are suitable for most people and have a balanced nourishing effect, such as Chinese yam, goji berries, Dangshen, Rehmannia, and Solomon's Seal Rhizome.
