Next time you’re making pasta, keep that in mind!
Why no pasta water should be discarded
Pour the pasta cooking water – Source: spm
Pasta is one of the main dishes of the Mediterranean and especially the Italian culinary traditions. Many of us make it quickly, but the most famous chefs share their precious recipes for this thousand-year-old dish and advise against dumping the pasta water down the drain. In fact, there are several ways to reuse it without wasting it.
Most chefs agree that once the pasta is cooked, you shouldn’t lose the starch at all. And for that, you have to keep some cooking water. Discover all of its other functions.
Pasta is a popular dish around the world, versatile and easy to prepare. Most pasta recipes cook quickly, which is why they’re the perfect choice for a quick lunch or hearty dinner. The pasta is usually boiled in salted water and the sauce is prepared separately.
When boiling, the noodles release starch into the water. The longer we let it boil, the more starch remains in the water. Water can be used in many ways, next time you cook pasta, don’t throw it away. First of all, you can use it in preparing the sauce for your pasta. To a carbonara recipe, for example, add a spoonful of the water in which the pasta was cooked while you prepare the sauce.
Also, after draining the pasta, reserve a cup of the cooking water, as you may need to dilute the sauce more. Pasta tends to absorb whatever sauce it’s mixed into, and when it cools, it becomes dry. This can be resolved by pouring some of the water in which the pasta was cooked into the pan.
Here are other uses for pasta water
Cooking pasta – Source: spm
The water in which the pasta is boiled can also be used to boil other vegetables. Pasta water helps the beans, peas, and lentils soften faster and taste better. The next time you make pasta, save water for cooking the legumes in.
In addition, the water in which the pasta was boiled can be used in the preparation of various recipes. When kneading bread, pie, or pizza dough, use pasta water instead of plain water to get a smooth, pliable dough.
Besides cooking, pasta water can also be used for gardening. Save the water, and once it cools down, use it to water the flowers. This water helps plants absorb nutrients from the soil more efficiently and grow healthy.
While preparing your next pasta, remember not to throw away the water, it can still be used!
