9 things you can do with pasta cooking water

The main ingredient in many recipes, pasta is always a big hit in the kitchen, and rightly so, it’s delicious, quick and easy to prepare. It requires a lot of water to make it, which usually ends up in the drain. However, this water has a few uses. After reading everything you can do with it, I’m sure the next time you cook pasta you will save it.

How to use the water from cooking pasta

The water picks up nutrients and starch from the pasta and it’s a shame to lose them. That is why we propose the following uses.

Watering the pasta with cooking water provides minerals to the plants

The pasta water it is rich in minerals that they are not only necessary for human beings; plants also need them. You can use pasta water to water both the garden and the pots instead of throwing it away.

It is important that you let the pasta water cool beforehand. At most you can use it being somewhat warm. You should never water plants with hot water, as you can damage them.

You should also pay attention to the salt content. Ideally, the water should not contain any salt, although plants can withstand small doses. If you are one of those who tends to go overboard with salt, you better not use the water to irrigate.

Creamy sauces and pestos thanks to pasta water

pasta water contains starch which is ideal for thickening sauces. The cooking water is suitable for pestos and sauces of all kinds, which are nice and creamy and adhere particularly well to the pasta itself.

This trick works best if you add the pasta water to the pesto or sauce. while it’s still hot. You can also mash or beat the sauces with a little of this water.

Keep in mind that the pasta cooking water already contains salt. Therefore, you will need a little less salt in your sauce or pesto that you usually add.

Give hair shine thanks to the pasta water

It sounds strange at first, but it works. With pasta water you can give your hair a nice shine. To do this, carefully pour the warm water over your head. Hair must be completely wet. Let the water act for ten minutes. Then rinse with clean water or a mild shampoo.

Soak the legumes with pasta water

Lentils, beans, chickpeas… many legumes need to be soaked before cooking, preferably overnight. This shortens the cooking time, saves energy and, above all, the legumes will be much more digestible.

Instead of plain water, you can also use pasta water to soak them. This it gives the legumes a tasty note. Also, they will be softer when cooked.

Pasta water as an ingredient in soups and stews

As with sauces, you can also add the cooking water to any soup or stew. To do this, simply replace some of the water or broth of vegetables for the pasta water. The starch in the water thickens the soup a bit.

Pasta cooking water, a treat for sore feet

Whether it’s after a long walk or a day in uncomfortable shoes, a foot bath with pasta cooking water (around 35-40ºC) is a real treat. The water warms the feet, which relaxes the muscles. Plus the pasta water provides additional minerals that soften the skin.

wash dishes with pasta water

It may sound strange to wash dirty dishes with cloudy pasta preparation water. However, the starch it contains dissolves even stubborn dirt. It is therefore a great alternative to chemical cleaning agents. Let the dishes soak for a while in the still hot water from cooking the pasta and then wash them (by hand or in the dishwasher).

Pour the pasta water into the bread and pizza dough

If you are making pizza or bread dough, you will need salt and liquid. Whether to use the water to cook the pasta you will add a little more flavor to the dough and, thanks to the starch it contains, it will stick together better.