Hi,
I was wondering how you figure out the carbs of food when you only have the dry nutritional value. Ex) brown rice farina= 1/4 cup dried 32g carb -2g fiber for a total of 30g carbs…but if I cook it with water does this change?
Thanks
Just measure out the 1/4 cup before cooking and then cook it for your 30 grams. As long as you measure it dry it will be correct.
Thank you Zoe
Actually, cooking changes food. And it is best to lookup a nutritional value for a food based on the form in which you will consume it. Many foods have "confusing" labels. Something like rice may list the serving size in dry form but give the nutrition for the cooked serving. Other foods which can be eaten cooked or uncooked (like carrots) will often give a nutrition value for the raw form and the cooked form will actually be different. And cooking generally makes food more digestible, so a complex carb with a fair amount of fibers may actually end up having more carbs when it is cooked.
This is a very salient point. I use an "intelligent" scale (one with a builtin food database) to weigh portions. In a great many cases, the carb count for a raw food differs substantially from the count for that same food when cooked. And as mentioned, the cooked value is most often the higher of the two.
Yes, that is correct that the carb count for a cooked versus a dry or raw food is different. However, the OP was asking about a packaged food that lists carb count for dry ingredients. In this case, the carb count is accurate and he can go ahead and cook the 1/4 cup of whatever and then eat it based on the carb count listed. The manufacturer knows that you are not going to eat the rice or farina dry! It is only when you are dealing with foods where you are uncertain if the carb count is for cooked or raw food that you run into this quandry.
Brian and David, what are ( if any) your suggestions for calculations from dry to cooked. I eat some foods that do not give me the cooked values and scouring the net has not worked for specific food items…is there a way I can figure it out on my own without a lab:).David, which scale are you using? I’m a bit of stickler when it comes to numbers and accuracy, especially due to the fact this is all very new to me. I’m trying to see my reactions to certain food items and insulin.
CalorieKing mobile app has most foods cooked and raw.
Weight Watchers mobile app has almost every food known to man but it's cost me 50.00 a mounth to belong to WW, you can also scan most name brand foods and it will store the nutritional info for future reference (very nice).
There are several scales out there that do this. The one I'm using at the moment is the EatSmart.
Thanks for all the replies. I’ll pick up an intelligent scale and check said apps. I will have to use my discretion when using certain products that may not be easily found. Thank you Zoe, David, Brian and John, the info is much appreciated