How to reuse pasta cooking water: 10 good reasons not to throw it away

The cooking water of pasta and rice, but also of legumes, vegetables and other cereals, can be stored and reused so that it is not unnecessarily wasted.

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Do not throw away the cooking water of the pasta! L'water it is a truly precious resource, a real one “Blue gold“, And wasting even a small part of it, especially when you are in the kitchen, is a real sin. L'pasta cooking water and rice, but also legumes, vegetables and other grains, it can be preserved and reused so that it is not unnecessarily wasted.

To collect it, simply place a bowl under the colander before pouring the pasta to drain. You can then store it by transferring it into one or more bottles with the help of a funnel, depending on the intended uses.

Index

Water the plants

If you are among those who They DO NOT salt the water to cook pasta, rice or boil vegetables, you can use the cooking water to water your plants or your vegetable garden. But first it will have to be left to cool. It can be used both for flower pots and for herbs or vegetables. Anyone who has a large vegetable garden or many pots to take care of can transfer it directly to a watering can.

Hair pack

Lrice cooking water, rich in starch, can be used to prepare a hair pack to be applied before shampooing and left to act for at least a quarter of an hour before washing. The hair will be much softer than usual.

seasoning

A part of the pasta cooking water can be transferred to a glass and used for make it more liquid those homemade toppings and rather dense results, as can happen, for example, in the case of pesto. Slightly stretching the dressing with water will make it easier to distribute in each dish.

Broth

The cooking water for pasta or vegetables can be enriched with aromatic herbs and used as basic broth for the preparation of soups and soups. If you use the pasta water, already salted, remember to avoid adding more salt and not to overdo it by adding other seasonings.

Wash the dishes

How to reuse pasta cooking water: 10 good reasons not to throw it away

Another immediate use for pasta water is represented by its use to facilitate the washing dishes, cutlery, pots and pans. The still hot water, poured into the dishes in which there are incrustations, will facilitate their detachment if you leave rest everything for a few moments before using a sponge and detergent.

Steam cooking

THEwater from pasta or rice can be used for carry out new cooking, with particular reference to steam cooking. Just transfer the water already used into a new pot, on which you will place a special basket for steam cooking, inside which you can place vegetables such as carrots and potatoes, which will thus maintain all their nutrient content.

Doughs for bread making

Taking into account that the water in the pasta or rice will already be salty and therefore you will have to avoid adding the salt required by the recipes, or diluting the water you have at your disposal, you could try to use it for the preparation ofdough of bread, pizzas, focaccia, crackers, breadsticks o savory pies.

Salt dough

How to reuse pasta cooking water: 10 good reasons not to throw it away

Here is a fun at no cost that you can prepare for your children. It is not necessary to buy expensive modeling pastes when it is possible to prepare the salt dough using only a few ingredients easily available in the pantry. The cooking water for pasta or rice can be one of these. Here are the instructions to prepare yours do-it-yourself salt dough.

Footbath

The cooking water for pasta or rice, rich in starches and mineral salts, can be used for an evening foot bath emollient and regenerating, especially for those suffering from swollen and heavy legs. A few drops of lavender essential oil for a relaxing effect or all'eucalyptus to achieve a cooling effect.

Soaking of legumes

You can use the cooking water of rice or vegetables, as long as it is not excessively salty, for thesoaking of dried legumes such as chickpeas, beans, peas and lentils. It is possible to add some bay leaves to the soaking water, in order to make the legumes more digestible. The soaking water it cannot be used for cooking legumes. You can use it instead to water the plants.

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