Do you weigh your food raw or cooked?

[underfed]

typically i'd just weigh the food when raw and assume the weight doesn't change much and not really pay attention when checking out its stats on www.calorieking.com.au, but i only now realised the huge difference it makes. i knew it made some difference, but not this much...

250g raw chicken breast (56g protein) = 275kcal
250g cooked chicken breast (71g protein) = 393kcal

just thought i'd throw that one out there in case someone else is missing it as well.

yes i feel like a retard because of this.

[MJfinns]

I weigh all of my stuff uncooked unless it states other wise on the package but in reality it is not going to affect you all that much.

[cute_asian_girl]

I weigh mine raw since I'm more concerned with cutting. For me (at least) it's better to be safe than sorry. I would rather overestimate my calories than underestimate them and gain weight.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[SeeZ]

i wegh my stuff in raw aswell from fitday though.

theirs a huge difference when eating raw and cooked foods but like the guy above me said you rather be lower rather then going over.

[Wozz]

i wegh my stuff in raw aswell from fitday though.

theirs a huge difference when eating raw and cooked foods but like the guy above me said you rather be lower rather then going over.

I think the 'guy' is a chick, judging from her pic?

I havn't worried about it too much, I did know there was a difference but you're right it certainly is enough to notice in 250gm!

[FLEX_09]

LOL thats funny "the guy above me" thats what u would call a women my friend! :P

[SeeZ]

LOL thats funny "the guy above me" thats what u would call a women my friend! :P

hahha sorry brah i got mixed up somehow :S dayum mayne u from aus aswell? ima add you.

[Jules Verne]

I think the 'guy' is a chick, judging from her pic?

The username would be another clue.

To the OP: since muscle is 70%+ water it stands to reason most protein sources are going to have a high pre-cooked water content. And even a kindergartner know what happens when you heat water.

Ever thought of weighting rice, oats and pasta raw instead of cooked?

What about a higher-fat meat, for instance bacon, a rib-eye steak or even chicken thighs? Are you going to weight them raw or cooked?

[underfed]

The username would be another clue.

To the OP: since muscle is 70%+ water it stands to reason most protein sources are going to have a high pre-cooked water content. And even a kindergartner know what happens when you heat water.

Ever thought of weighting rice, oats and pasta raw instead of cooked?

What about a higher-fat meat, for instance bacon, a rib-eye steak or even chicken thighs? Are you going to weight them raw or cooked?

Hah, yea I weigh rice and pasta raw - it's easier because the nutritional info is on the packet and measured in raw form.

bacon? i just eat the whole 1/2 lb pack in one go so i know what it weighs raw

[bmx2962]

Did you take into account the weight that is lost through cooking? I think that should make a difference. A chicken is not going to weigh the same after you grill it, it is going to weigh less. You should weigh a chicken breast before and after cooking, and then measure the separate calories for each and then see the difference.

[br00wz]

Did you take into account the weight that is lost through cooking? I think that should make a difference. A chicken is not going to weigh the same after you grill it, it is going to weigh less. You should weigh a chicken breast before and after cooking, and then measure the separate calories for each and then see the difference.

exactly, 250g raw would get leaner, which means it could be like 200g~ or smth.

[liftjunkie06]

Cooked, unless it's something you don't cook.

[Jules Verne]

bacon? i just eat the whole 1/2 lb pack in one go so i know what it weighs raw

I don't eat bacon, but my point here is:

1. what about the fat that is presumably left in the pan or grill? do you make make sure you consume that too?
2. with more fatty meats, the exact amount of fat may vary quite a bit from one portion to another. The listed nutritional profile will be some average and/or estimate anyway.

So with some foods you can probably be quite accurate (e.g. rice, pasta, oats, chicken, tuna) weighting raw, but other foods you are going to be much less accurate whatever method you choose (raw or cooked).

[bmx2962]

I don't eat bacon, but my point here is:

1. what about the fat that is presumably left in the pan or grill? do you make make sure you consume that too?
2. with more fatty meats, the exact amount of fat may vary quite a bit from one portion to another. The listed nutritional profile will be some average and/or estimate anyway.

So with some foods you can probably be quite accurate (e.g. rice, pasta, oats, chicken, tuna) weighting raw, but other foods you are going to be much less accurate whatever method you choose (raw or cooked).

It is as simple as this:

On the internet there are formulas for calculating the calories in food. Each of these calculators specifies what it is for. If it says RAW chicken, then it only works for the weight of RAW chicken. If it says ROASTED chicken, then it only works for ROASTED chicken. The weight changes after you cook it, not the calories.

As far as oats and rice are concerned, cooking it in water is going to give you a larger volume of product. But, the calories stay the same. You have to notice whether it specifies cooked, un-cooked, dry, etc.