Food preparation carried out with cookers, blenders, utensils and various appliances, can have a major impact on the nutritional value of the food, for better or worse.
Food that contains anti-nutrients must either be:
- Prepared properly to deactivate these compounds - e.g. foods such as cassava that contain cyanides must be soaked, fermented and/or cooked in water for a long time; beans (especially kidney beans and check peas) must be cooked at high temperature (boiled at 100 deg C - the toxins can be made worse at 75 deg C). Pre-soaking may help.[verification needed]
- Eaten in moderation to keep exposure to safe levels - e.g. oxalates.