Chinese buffet: "fresh vegetables" and "sauteed broccoli" calories?

Hey everyone.

I just got back from a chinese buffet dinner. I'd eaten a pretty big breakfast and lunch, so I didn't have a lot of calories to spare. The majority of my dinner was "fresh vegetables" and "sauteed broccoli."

I know to avoid sauces at chinese buffets, and neither of these were cooked in sauce per se - they appeared totally sauce-free, and tasted just a little salty/savoury. At first, I thought the liquid in the bottom of the dish was water - but upon closely examining my plate, I saw little droplets of fat coating the top.

So my question is: how were these dishes likely prepared? Was I as safe as I thought in eating TONS of them? They tasted so good; I should have known there had to be a catch...

I am pretty sure they are drenched in oil.

UD

i doubt that they were cooked in tons of oil because you'd know it by just rubbing you lips together after eating some. so, they probably steamed them and added a sauce that has some oil in it, hence the salty/savory taste. i don't think you could have possibly done too much damage.

Original Post by chrissy1988:

i doubt that they were cooked in tons of oil because you'd know it by just rubbing you lips together after eating some. so, they probably steamed them and added a sauce that has some oil in it, hence the salty/savory taste. i don't think you could have possibly done too much damage.

Yeah, I agree. Unless you're totally oblivious, you'd notice if they were covered in oil. They probably used an oily sauce which adds some calories, but I bet you didn't do as much damage as you think you did. 

I LOVE Chinese, but know that they are usually high in calories/fats, so I consider eating out a "cheating" day.  :(

You did much better than me last night....I totally cleaned my plate that was full of orange chicken, sesame chicken, fried rice and to top it off a fortune cookie with no fortune in it.  :(.....oh..and crab wontons. 

dear me, I was doing so good for the last 3 weeks and then this week I totally botched it!

Original Post by marsheroyth:

You did much better than me last night....I totally cleaned my plate that was full of orange chicken, sesame chicken, fried rice and to top it off a fortune cookie with no fortune in it.  :(.....oh..and crab wontons. 

dear me, I was doing so good for the last 3 weeks and then this week I totally botched it!

Crab wontons? Wow, never seen those. How were they?

UD

Original Post by umneydurak:

Original Post by marsheroyth:

You did much better than me last night....I totally cleaned my plate that was full of orange chicken, sesame chicken, fried rice and to top it off a fortune cookie with no fortune in it.  :(.....oh..and crab wontons. 

dear me, I was doing so good for the last 3 weeks and then this week I totally botched it!

Crab wontons? Wow, never seen those. How were they?

UD

Maybe she means crab rangoon?  I've seen them...and they are essentially a fried crab wonton.

Original Post by prinzessin_naseimbuch:

Original Post by umneydurak:

Original Post by marsheroyth:

You did much better than me last night....I totally cleaned my plate that was full of orange chicken, sesame chicken, fried rice and to top it off a fortune cookie with no fortune in it.  :(.....oh..and crab wontons. 

dear me, I was doing so good for the last 3 weeks and then this week I totally botched it!

Crab wontons? Wow, never seen those. How were they?

UD

Maybe she means crab rangoon?  I've seen them...and they are essentially a fried crab wonton.

I never understood how fried wontons can be tasty.  The oil just completely overpowers the taste of the filling =[

Not if you don't use too much oil.  Then they're just nice and lightly crispy on the outside.

Haha maybe I just have really bad experiences with that and wonton strips 

Original Post by umneydurak:

Original Post by marsheroyth:

You did much better than me last night....I totally cleaned my plate that was full of orange chicken, sesame chicken, fried rice and to top it off a fortune cookie with no fortune in it.  :(.....oh..and crab wontons. 

dear me, I was doing so good for the last 3 weeks and then this week I totally botched it!

Crab wontons? Wow, never seen those. How were they?

UD

 They were good!  :\  too good.  they have crab, (obviously) and cream cheese in them with a crispy outer shell.  So yummy.  *sigh*

*wipes drool off chin* crab rangoon! chinese place near me does it perfectly- can taste the crab meat and cheee plus still soft and crispy! mmm!

White_sakura: I have had those experiences- too much oil, not enough filling, or over-fried to the point I fear I will chip a tooth, lol. Don't give up! There are good ones out there!

Original Post by amandief:

White_sakura: I have had those experiences- too much oil, not enough filling, or over-fried to the point I fear I will chip a tooth, lol. Don't give up! There are good ones out there!

Haha that's good to know.  I'm personally not completely against deep-fried stuff, but I've been very disappointed by the foods I've had in America that have been. =[

FWIW - fried foods that taste greasy or seem soggy were probably fried in oil that wasn't hot enough (or in a fryer loaded with too much food, which ultimately amounts to the same thing). As far as I know, frying in the proper temperature isn't going to significantly affect the *health* considerations of fried food, but you do get  a much better texture and taste.

Not that that's really helpful when you're eating out, but it's a good thing to pay attention to if you ever fry something.

Original Post by kriklaf:

FWIW - fried foods that taste greasy or seem soggy were probably fried in oil that wasn't hot enough (or in a fryer loaded with too much food, which ultimately amounts to the same thing). As far as I know, frying in the proper temperature isn't going to significantly affect the *health* considerations of fried food, but you do get  a much better texture and taste.

Not that that's really helpful when you're eating out, but it's a good thing to pay attention to if you ever fry something.

^^ True.  I work in my school's cafeteria and the fried potato for breakfast will be super soaked with oil if the oil wasn't at temperature or if there was too much in the fryer basket.  That's why we bake our hash browns now instead of frying them.  They cover up one another creating undercooked super oily spots.  They fell apart like nobody's business leaving a pool of oil in the bottom of the pan.  Oil must be at least 350 degrees F...if the tater doesn't fizzle when you put it in then it is not hot enough.

Also, fried things must drain.  If they are a little soggy perhaps someone didn't let the excess oil drain off.