Warm, crispy, chewy churros! Mmm…Seriously, what could be wrong with this delicious pastry? Made with simple choux pastry and fried in shimmering hot oil, these beloved treats are coated in cinnamon sugar and dipped in thick chocolate. But, despite their heavenly taste, churros don’t come without their drawbacks and disadvantages.
What are some of the drawbacks of eating Churros? First, they do not form part of a balanced diet; you can never get all the nutrients you need from a meal of churros. In addition, churros can be considered among the most fattening foods globally, as they are loaded with fat, sugar, carbs, and empty calories.
Are you ready to learn everything about the drawbacks of Churros? Perfect! Continue scrolling to learn about all the disadvantages of eating churros.
1. High in Fat
So, what are churros actually made from? Churros are made from a batter consisting of water, flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt. The batter is then piped out from a pastry bag and deep-fried in vegetable oil. Finally, it is rolled in sugar and cinnamon. Some chefs also use butter and margarine to enrich their churros, not to mention that there are also cream- and custard-filled varieties.
A single churro contains 9% of the daily recommended fat intake! And if you are like most people, you probably eat more than one Churro at a sitting—mainly because they are so tempting! So, if you just ate three churros, you have fulfilled around 30% of your daily fat intake.
As you know, overeating unhealthy fat can raise cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. If you munch on Churros regularly, you need to make sure to burn off the high calories. So enjoy those churros, but get on a treadmill or cut back on subsequent snacks and meals!
2. High in Sugar
The authentic Churro is generously coated with sugar—which is one reason why it is so yummy! But although your sweet tooth may be satisfied for a while, this sugar might not do your body any good.
According to CarbManager, one regular Churro contains about 11 grams of sugar. However, the American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended no more than 24 and 36 grams of sugar for women and men, respectively. So with three sneaky churros, you will reach about 33 grams of sugar – which is well over or almost your daily allowance.
3. High-Carb, Low-Fiber
Yes, you heard that right. Churros are extremely high in carbohydrates but very low in fiber—which is not a healthy combination. Churros are tubes of carbohydrates dipped in fat and sugar. There is less than one gram of dietary fiber in churros—not even a single gram!
You’ve probably heard before that dietary fiber is good for health. Fiber is best known for preventing and relieving constipation. However, it also helps maintain weight and lowers diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. Unfortunately, getting enough of this vital nutrient from Churros alone is going to prove very difficult. Healthier options are fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Great news for Churro lovers: Some varieties of Churro come packed with delicious fruits!
4. Empty Calories
Churros may be called one of the most incredible treats invented by humanity, but unfortunately, not in terms of nutrition. Churros provide calories, but they are considered “empty calories,” meaning they provide little or no nutritional value.
Let’s take at a churros label. This is what you get from one regular Churro:
- Fat (13% of Daily Value)
- Sodium (6% DV)
- Potassium (1% DV)
- Carbs (8% DV)
- Protein (5% DV)
- Vitamin D (0% DV)
- Potassium (1% DV)
- Calcium (4% DV)
- Iron (6% DV)
That certainly does not look like a very nutritious meal.
5. Often Accompanied By Chocolate
Chocolate goes hand in hand with Churros, especially in Spain, the birthplace of the churros. Imagine taking a fresh, warm Spanish churro and dipping it into a mug of thick chocolate. Yummy… What could be more satisfying in this world? However, don’t forget that chocolate is high in sugar and fat – adding to the already unhealthy calorie content of the Churro. In addition, too much chocolate results in excess weight, which can increase your risk of heart disease. Therefore, churros are not the healthiest snack.
6. Eaten With Coffee
Churros are generally eaten with coffee – because they are such a great combination. For example, in Spain, you would ask for churros “con chocolate” (with chocolate) or “con café” (with coffee). Coffee offers a lot of health benefits, but it doesn’t come with its drawbacks as well. For example, coffee contains caffeine, and too much of it can cause anxiety and disrupt sleep in many people. Also, coffee is addictive, and missing a few cups can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, irritability, and brain fog.
7. Low Nutrition
Churros are low in nutritional value. As a result, churros should only be a part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, whether in adults or children. Having churros for breakfast can be fun, but what nutrition are you getting? Poor nutrition, of course, results in poor health. A few consequences of eating a diet low in nutrition are:
- Obesity
- Dental Cavities
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Type-2 Diabetes
- Heart Disease and Stroke
- Certain Cancers
8. Should Be Eaten In Moderation
Churros are a taste of heaven – decadent, fluffy, soft, and crispy; they melt so slowly in your mouth. It’s a fast, convenient, affordable, and delicious snack to grab while on the run.
But it would be best if you did not eat too many churros. If they don’t form part of a healthy diet, you may find yourself struggling with some severe health issues such as weight gain and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, churros should always be consumed in limited quantities – and that is undoubtedly a significant drawback when trying to avoid their tempting, delicious smell and taste!
9. Costco’s Churros and Fans
For churro lovers, a trip to Costco is incomplete without a trip to the food court for churros. However, Costco churro customers have been complaining that Costco churros are not the same as they used to be. Some churro lovers claim that Costco churros are not as crispy as initially, not as flavorful, and just too thick. Others disliked the twisted version, and some were upset that the recipe kept changing. Unfortunately, nothing stays the same in this fluctuating world!
10. It’s Deep Fried
History shows that we humans have had a love for deep-fried foods for a long time. French Fries, chicken nuggets, doughnuts, potato chips, and churros are all fried in oil. However, fried foods have been linked with severe health problems like obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Additionally, deep frying food in oil has been known to increase the calorie content of food and alter its quality.
Another thing to worry about is the effects of reheating and frying batches and batches of churros in the same oil. Each time you reheat the oil, the oil changes chemically, becoming hydrogenated oil, which is associated with heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
11. Storing Churros is Tricky
Fresh churros are the best, and storing them for later can be difficult. Do you have leftover churros in your fridge? It’s best to keep them at room temperature because refrigerating your churros can make them soggy and moist. Instead, wrap them in a paper towel and put them in an air-tight container; this may help your churros last up to two days.
12. Melts Easily
Let’s continue exploring the disadvantages and drawbacks of churros. Another disadvantage of churros is that they must be kept away from high temperatures because they can melt quickly.
13. Too Many Recipes
So you want to try your hand at making some fresh homemade churros? Good for you. The internet is bursting with churro recipes. However, finding the formula that works best for you can be a long process – both healthwise and taste-wise. As a result, it might take several tries at different recipes before you know which one you like the most.
14. Churro Explosion vs. Fire Hazzard
If you have tried making your own churros, you know what we’re talking about. But, if you haven’t attempted to fry churros yet, this is for you. And, if you have no idea what this is about, google “why do churros explode”, and you will know immediately!
Fire, oil, and heat equal explosions. Frying churros can be dangerous. The outside of the churros cooks faster than the inside, creating a hard shell. Slowly, the batter inside begins to heat and steam, and soon, it has no place to go, resulting in a huge “BANG.” Boiling oil splatters everywhere, including on you. Scary!
15. Bad Churros
Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to find good healthy churros. And the sad reality is, eating excessive amounts of unhealthy churros can make you feel awful. Resulting in your cholesterol levels rising, leaving you feeling dizzy, sweaty, and your stomach groaning.
Last Word
Now, you know all the disadvantages and drawbacks of churros. Yup, there are better ways to start a day than with churros, chocolate, and coffee. However, being the good person you are, you deserve to treat yourself sometimes too!
This article was co-authored by our team of writers and editors who share one thing in common: their passion for food and drinks!
