Pasta, pizzas, cakes, vegetables: with our pots and pans You can really cook anything. Today, however, we're not offering you a recipe, but rather, we'll talk about one of the world's most precious resources, as well as the basic ingredient in every dish. Without it, a tasty plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce would be impossible. Yes, we're talking about water .
How to reuse pasta cooking water
We could survive without food, but not without water: and this is a fact. Many times, however, We don't realize how much water we waste : when we wash the dishes but also when we use it to cook pasta. Have you ever thought about not throwing it in the sink but recycling it? And it's not worth answering " yes, to mix the pasta " because it doesn't apply. No, we're talking about real reuses that allow you to safeguarding the environment through small gestures with little effort. And we're ready to share it all with you.
Let's start with the scientific basis. Cooking water is rich in starch and mineral salts obtained from the time it spends with pasta. Thanks to its new composition, this water can be reused not only in the kitchen but also in other areas, such as gardening, or for your beauty routine.
How to reuse pasta cooking water: the lazy version.
- To wash dishes: soak them in still-hot water and then rinse off the dirt with a little natural detergent.
- For cooking vegetables: being rich in mineral salts and vitamins, the cooking water can be used to prepare soups, broths and vegetable stews.
- To make bread at home: having acquired the starch from the dough, the cooking water can be used to give the yeast a particular softness and flavor.
Pasta cooking water for washing dishes
Reuse the pasta cooking water to wash the dishes This is a great method whether you have a dishwasher or use your hands. First, soak the dishes in hot water to loosen the dirt. Then, if you put everything in the dishwasher, you'll significantly reduce consumption and your energy bill. Otherwise, if you wash by hand, remember to add a little natural detergent and rinse the rest of the dirt away.
Pasta cooking water for cooking vegetables
Did you know that you can cook vegetables in the water used to cook pasta? Now you know, and you can avoid waste. As mentioned earlier, you now have water rich in minerals and vitamins: perfect for preparing dishes like soups and broths. It won't cover all the water you need, of course, but it can absolutely form the basis.
Pasta cooking water for making homemade bread
We've already told you about the starch and mineral salts found in pasta cooking water, and we've also told you about the very simple possibility of making homemade bread. Now we'll tell you how you can combine these two skills to use this type of water to give the yeast a soft texture and a distinctive flavor. Thanks to this ingredient, the bread will stay good for longer: in one fell swoop, you've saved water and avoided buying bread.
Other uses of pasta cooking water at home
This type of water can also be used as a broth for steaming vegetables or to thin out thick sauces like pesto. If it's unsalted, you can soak dried legumes in it, but not for cooking them. Or, if it's not very salty, you can use it after cooling to water flowers, plants, and garden vegetables.
The last two uses we recommend aren't just for cooking: you can use the pasta cooking water to make the salt dough that small children love to play with, or you can use it as a hair pack to use before shampooing. The final use isn't to be underestimated either: pour it into a bowl and use it for a relaxing foot bath, perhaps along with a few drops of essential oils.
