Straining pasta is a daily activity in many Slovak kitchens. We usually do not think about it and reflexively do what we learned in early childhood. At the same time, some habits are not only unnecessary, but can even be more harmful. This includes, for example, pouring water from cooked pasta. Or even watering them with cold water.
Cooking is an ever-changing art and science. An example of this is straining pasta. In the past, no one even thought that the remaining water could be used for something. She was wrongly considered trash. At the same time, it is “liquid gold”.
Straining the pasta – what about the water?
The water after cooking pasta is a culinary treasure, which we often waste without realizing its potential. Instead of spilling this precious liquid, use it and enhance the taste of your dishes.
- The starch in this water can transform an ordinary sauce into a velvety, thick composition and give it depth and flavor.
- Don’t limit yourself to just sauces – you can use this water as a base for soups or as a useful element in the preparation of pulses.
- In addition to the kitchen, pasta water can also be used for skin and hair care and as a conditioner for plants.
Draining the pasta – to run cold water on the pasta or not?
Pouring cold water over the pasta can be helpful, if you want a loose consistency, for example when preparing salads. Also when you want to stop cooking al dente pasta or when you have inadvertently exceeded the optimal cooking time. Cold water completes the cooking process in an instant and also removes excess starch that causes the pasta to stick together.
However, in some cases, for example when preparing pasta as a side dish to sauces, watering with cold water is not recommended. The reason for this is that the starch that is removed in this way helps to give the food a silky and creamy texture. Therefore, it pays to consider the end goal before deciding to take this step.
Salted pasta can be saved. Forget the cold water bath
