What Can You Do With Leftover Pasta Water?
Most people already know that adding a little bit of the starchy water your pasta cooked in to pesto helps to emulsify it and transform it into a silky, restaurant-quality sauce. However, not everyone knows that this unassuming water has a ton of additional uses too.
The surprising benefits of pasta water
The murky-looking water left behind from cooking your pasta probably doesn't immediately strike you as something worth saving, but we encourage you to keep an open mind. There are several surprising uses for leftover pasta water that can help improve your plants, hair, skin, and much more. We draw the line at using it in place of tap water to make our morning coffee, but some people swear by it, so who are we to argue?
Our top ten uses for leftover pasta water
Watering plants
Our ability to inadvertently kill off indoor houseplants is legendary, but the vitamins and nutrients in starchy water can be beneficial for plants by encouraging healthy bacteria to grow in their roots. It works in the garden too, with good results reported with roses, orchids, tomato plants, grass, and vegetable patches.
Giving shine to hair
Salty, starchy leftover pasta water contains a myriad of minerals and is great for giving hair shine and volume. Simply soak your hair for 10 minutes before shampooing as usual, and you should notice a difference. Some people even claim that it can help get rid of dandruff too.
Nourishing skin
Many people swear by adding a little oatmeal to a glass of pasta water and using it as a natural face scrub. The mineral salts are also excellent for nourishing and softening dry or cracked skin, particularly on your feet or hands.
Helping breads and pizzas rise
Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson famously uses starchy pasta water as the base of her sourdough and focaccia recipes, thanks to its ability to help bread rise. However, because that pasta water has already been salted, you will need to reduce the amount of salt you use in your dough recipe.
Adding richness to gravies and stocks
Whenever making stock, gravy, or other sauces, rather than instinctively reaching for the tap, consider whether using leftover starchy water could bring a new, rich element to the table.
Thickening soups
Pasta water makes a great base for soups, and it's also a natural thickener, meaning you can produce a luxurious mouthfeel without using gelatine, xanthan gum, or other thickeners.
Soaking legumes for a more complex flavour
Soaking chickpeas, kidney beans, or any legumes in starchy water imparts a unique depth of flavor that plain tap water simply can't achieve.
Steaming vegetables
One of our favourite ways to use up leftover pasta water is to steam vegetables with it. It not only helps season the veggies as they cook but lends some inimitable richness too.
Upping your poaching game
Similar to steaming, leftover pasta water adds an extra dimension when poaching pork belly, chicken, salmon, or any protein.
Doing the washing up
We're perfectly comfortable with our trusty bottle of Fairy washing up liquid, but some people reckon pasta water makes a good natural detergent.
Bonus tip
Many liquids that are often discarded can be repurposed just like pasta water. The oil from a jar of sun-dried tomatoes, the liquid from a can of chickpeas (aquafaba), and the pickle juice from a tub of beetroot all have the potential to add a unique layer of flavour to a wide range of dishes.