The effect of cooking methods on the mineral content of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)

In this study, we assessed the impact of two cooking methods, steaming and boiling, through the true retention (%TR) of minerals in pseudocereals and rice (varieties Indica and Japonica). Mineral content was determined by ICP-OES. Cooking methods have an impact on mineral composition of pseudocereals with losses up to 20%. Quinoa’s %TR varied from 100% (manganese, phosphorus and iron) in steaming, to 83% (copper) in boiled. In amaranth, it ranged from 98% (copper) in boiling method, to 80% (magnesium) in steaming. Buckwheat presents a %TR of 100% in iron and 87% in zinc. For boiled rice, the losses were higher in the variety Indica, with a decrease of 34% for manganese. Steamed amaranth is a higher density food in particular for manganese, magnesium and phosphorus, which present a recommended nutrient intake (RNI) contribution of 70%, 65% and 44%, respectively. Rice represents the lowest contribution to mineral RNI. This study demonstrates that estimation of mineral intake should be based on data obtained from cooked food.The scientific work was funded by the Portuguese Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic projects UID/EMS/00667/2013 and UID/BIM/04293/2013. The analytical work has been financially supported by the SUDOE Interreg IV B Programme through the ORQUE SUDOE Project (Ref. SOE3/P2/F591/5).