New Year, Healthier You: Healthier Eating, Made Easy

It seems everywhere you turn these days, someone has new advice on the “best way” to eat better. There is always a new food to try, things to avoid, count your macros, up your protein, no more sugar, fake sugar, only real sugar but less of it. (No shame for those in their organic gardening and homemade sourdough eras ☺️).

While the best solution could be to hire a nutritionist or speak with your doctor about your specific needs, eating better overall can be much easier than you think. A few small changes in how you cook can give you cleaner, leaner meals you won’t need to spend an entire day preparing.

Fry Without All the Fat (and Mess)

Air-frying is amazing and could not be easier. It’s a technique that circulates heated air around foods on all sides to achieve delicious results that are crisp and crunchy outside, moist and tender inside, using just a fraction of the oil and fat of traditional frying methods. That means less oily foods, fewer calories in every bite, and a LOT less oily, splattery mess to clean up afterward.

Kenmore’s new 8-quart air fryer makes it super-easy to air-fry your family’s favorites with a minimum of time and fuss. It offers fully programmable time and temperature settings, and digital touch controls put 12 popular presets at your fingertips for perfect results with zero guesswork. It occupies only a small footprint of your countertop, but it provides ample cooking capacity for family-size meals. You can even dehydrate slices of fruits and veggies to create your own wholesome snacks and treats!

Pro Tip: Our newest gas and electric ranges include an Air Fry setting and specially designed food basket to let you easily air-fry your favorites, right in the oven. Learn more here.

Seal In Freshness, Simply

While fresh foods have many benefits, STAYING fresh is not their strength. Many times, the obstacle to eating better is convenience. Keeping newly picked produce or cut meats ready-to-cook can make a big difference in how often you’re willing to argue “we already have food at home”.

When it comes to creating healthier meals, fresher is always better! Our new Kenmore vacuum sealer gives you an incredibly easy way to protect the freshness and extend the life of all your favorite foods – from fruits and vegetables to fresh meats, poultry and seafood. Simple one-touch automatic operation and digital touch controls let you customize your seal, reducing waste and conserving storage space too. And it’s a terrific value if you buy in bulk and want to preserve portions for future use in your freezer. Our sealer set includes everything you need to get started, including three sizes of sealing bag plus an external hose and stopper for preserving wine and carbonated beverages.

Bonus Tip: You can also vacuum-pack valuable photos, documents, stamps, jewelry, and cosmetics to keep them safe from oxidation, corrosion, and moisture.

Wok This Way

Another great way to preserve the vital nutrients and fresh flavors of your favorite foods is to stir-fry them quickly in a sizzling-hot wok. However, some stir-fry recipes include a generous amount of oil to help prevent sticking in the pan. And as well all know, extra oil means extra calories from fat.

Kenmore’s Hammond 14-in. carbon-steel wok is made with a no-stick interior that’s non-toxic, PTFE/PFOA-free, and heat-resistant up to 500 degrees. That means you can use far less oil when stir-frying, and still enjoy super-flavorful foods and easy cleanup afterward. Designed with a flat bottom, our wok can be used on virtually any cooktop surface (gas, electric, ceramic, induction) and its heavy gauge 1.8-millimeter carbon steel retains and distributes heat evenly. Double-riveted acacia wood handles resist heat and provide an easy ergonomic grip.

Recipe Tip: If you’re looking for a quick, simple, delicious stir-fry recipe you can easily whip up on a school night… no worries. We got you, fam.

Steaming Is Believing

If you’re looking for an easy way to prepare fish, seafood, vegetables, dumplings and more with no added fat or oil at all, steaming is a smart way to go! You can enjoy mouth-watering results in minimal time, with no more effort than boiling a pot of water.

Our Kenmore Elite Devon 5-piece set comes complete with a 6.5-quart dutch oven pot, an 11-inch steaming basket, 11-inch steam plate, tempered glass lid, and a set of tongs. Designed and made from durable, high-performance stainless steel, this set is built to last. Plus, it’s easy to clean, dishwasher-safe, oven-safe up to 500 degrees (with lid), and it works on all cooktop surfaces. And that shiny stainless steel looks really nice in your kitchen, too!

Another Recipe Tip: Our fresh take on steamed fish is a delicious classic worth checking out!

FAQs

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about these easy-to-use mealtime preparation tools.

Q: What are the pros and cons of using an air fryer?

A: On the plus side, air fryers use significantly less oil than other frying methods so foods turn out deliciously crisp but less oily, and there’s less mess to clean up afterward. They are also very quick and easy to operate. On the other hand, they can take up valuable counter space, so some users may prefer air frying in an oven with an Air Fry option (like our latest Kenmore models).

Q: Are vacuum sealers worth it?

A: Compared to the overall benefits and cost savings from reduced food spoilage, the cost of a vacuum sealer is actually very favorable. This is especially true for people who buy in bulk and want to freeze portions for future use, or for gardeners who want to preserve their harvest. Home cooks who enjoy sous vide cooking will also love its convenience.

Q: Is a carbon-steel wok the best kind to use?

A: Pro chefs use carbon-steel woks because they are incredibly durable and provide even heat distribution, and they’re versatile enough to use with all types of food. Their natural non-stick attributes tend to “season” and get better with age, and they are non-toxic unlike some non-stick coatings. Also, carbon-steel woks are very easy to clean. All in all, they’re a terrific cookware investment.