Cooking pasta is one of the easiest techniques in the kitchen. Even the most inexperienced home cook can make delicious pasta. However, there are more tricks to this notoriously simple task than you might think—and saving the pasta water is one of them. The cooking water is the liquid left over after cooking the pasta. Even if it looks cloudy and dirty, it is the key to a successful sauce and a beautiful pasta dish, for example. Below you will find out why you shouldn't throw away the pasta water!
Why pasta water is valuable
The water in which the pasta was cooked is full of starch, which is often rich in minerals and vitamins. So it would be a complete waste to throw it away when draining the pasta. The pasta cooking water is one of the best goods in the kitchen. The less water you have, the more concentrated it is. It is recommended to fill the pot with only 3 - 5 cm more water than the noodles. You can freeze your leftover pasta cooking water in an ice cube tray to use in future dishes.
Do not throw away pasta water: reuse it in sauces
The most obvious use for pasta water is to add it to the sauce you plan to serve with your freshly cooked pasta. It may sound strange, but a shot of this starchy and salty liquid is the secret behind the smooth anddelicious pasta saucesrestaurant quality. The starch content of the cooking water not only helps bind other ingredients in a pasta sauce, but it can also act as a thickening agent. This sets average pasta sauces apart from the silky-smooth delights found in high-end restaurants. Additionally, the salt you seasoned your pasta with in the pot is also added to the water and it adds additional flavor to your sauce.
Using it in pesto is truly a life hack
As already mentioned, the starch and salt in pasta water not only serve as a seasoning, but also as an excellent binding agent. Otherwise it is perfect forthe preparation of the best pestothat you have ever tried.
Degreasing the dishes – pasta cooking water works wonders
The pasta water is rich in starch and degreasing substances, making it excellent for soaking the pot in which you cooked the pasta or the dishes for lunch. Immerse the dinnerware and cookware in the still hot water and allow all pots and plates to soak for a few minutes. Afterwards, all you need to do is wipe them with a sponge and detergent so that they are shiny and clean again.
Pasta water as a base for soups and stews
The cooking water from the pasta is the ideal basis for all preparations that require a lot of water,such as soupsand stews. In addition, using the water in which you cooked the pasta allows you to save on salt since you only need to add very little.
The cooking water is perfect for preparing many types of vegetables
Even if the water has already been used to cook pasta, it can be reused for a new preparation - for example, for steamed vegetables or for fish. This is a healthy preparation and a great saving of water.
Don't throw away the pasta water - use it in the dough for pizza
The pasta cooking water is ideal for preparing homemade bread, pizza and focaccia. Add the cooking water to the dough, but be careful with the salt because you need to balance it with the salt already in the water.
The perfect hair mask with pasta water
If you don't want to reuse the pasta cooking water in the kitchen and like natural remedies, you can use it for a hair mask. Thanks to its starch and salt content, it becomes a real beauty treatment that leaves hair soft and shiny. Make a mask to apply to hair before shampooing. Leave the mask on for fifteen minutes before washing your hair to soften it.
Do not throw away the pasta water: it is suitable as a foot bath
The salts and starches contained in the cooking water of the pasta are also a real panacea for swelling of the feet and legs. Don't throw away the water you cooked spaghetti in for dinner, but use it for a nice, relaxing foot bath before bed. Add a few drops of essential oil or bubble bath, sit on the sofa and watch an episode of your favorite series.
Soak the legumes in the pasta cooking water
Legumes include various foods such as beans, peas and flaxseed, all of which are great for the immune system and offer a range of other health benefits. For best results with legumes, soak them before using so they soften and cook better. If you want to give your legumes the finishing touch, soak them in the leftover pasta water overnight.
Don't throw away the pasta water: use it to water the plants
Finally, you can use the cooking water that you let cool to water the plants and flowers on the terrace, but only ifif you like the noodlesdo not add salt. However, if the water is salty, you should not use it because you could dry out and kill your beloved plants.
Check out more pasta water hacksin this article.
