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Don't Throw It Away

8 Uses for Pasta Water – Don’t Throw It out

Pasta water
Pasta water should not be thrown away straight away Photo: Getty Images

January 7, 2025, 4:39 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

Pasta is a perennial favorite in the kitchen. It is quick to make – but after cooking, pasta water is simply thrown away. However, it’s actually far too good for that! Because pasta water is a real all-rounder in the household.

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Germans love pasta! In the 1990s, 4.6 kilograms of pasta were eaten per person per year – in 2020, it was already 9.5 kilograms, according to the Association of German Grain Processors and Starch Manufacturers. As soon as the pasta is ‘al dente,’ the pasta water is poured away – but it can still be reused. There are many uses for pasta water, as it is a versatile household remedy.

1. Remove Moss and Weeds

Hot pasta water is a good helper in the garden – because it can be used to combat moss and weeds. Simply pour the hot water directly onto the affected area. The starch in the pasta water blocks the plant pores, and the above-ground parts of the plant are scalded. In the end, all you have to do is pull the root out of the ground – this will prevent moss and weeds from sprouting again.

2. Watering Flowers

Pasta water is rich in minerals – and plants need them to grow. You can use it to water your vegetable patch or flower pot, but the water should cool down first and be lukewarm at most. Only then should the plants be watered with it, as hot water could damage them. You should also pay attention to the salt content – too much salt is not good for the plants.

3. Do the Dishes

You can also reuse pasta water for washing up – it helps with encrusted pans and burnt pots. The starch it contains dissolves even stubborn stains. It is best to soak the dishes in the hot pasta water immediately after use – everything can then be rinsed with clean water.

4. Clean the Drain

Even a blocked drain can be unblocked with pasta water. Pour the hot water down the drain and then work on the blockage with a plunger. The pasta water dissolves greasy deposits through the heat alone. Pouring the pot water down the drain regularly will also prevent future blockages.

5. Baking Bread or Thickening Sauces

Good bread or pizza dough requires water and salt, among other things. Both are contained in pasta water – so you can use cooled pasta water instead of tap water. The starchy pasta water is also ideal for thickening sauces and soups, as well as for pestos and dips. These become particularly creamy and smooth if a little pasta water is stirred in during cooking.

6. Soaking Pulses

Soak lentils, beans, chickpeas, and other pulses for a few hours before cooking. This not only shortens the cooking time but also makes them easier to digest, explains the Federal Center for Nutrition. This is because the indigestible carbohydrate stachyose, which is responsible for flatulence, passes into the soaking water. If you use pasta water for this, pulses also taste even more aromatic.

7. Making Glue Without Chemicals

You can also reuse pasta water for handicrafts. It can be used to make glue. Add 60 grams of flour to 200 milliliters of boiling pasta water. The mixture then just needs to cool down. Then, pour the viscous mixture into screw-top jars and use it as craft glue.

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8. Wellness for Hair and Feet

A foot bath with fresh pasta water is said to help with swollen feet and relieve pain. And thanks to the minerals it contains, the skin also becomes more supple. Pasta water is also ideal for the head. It can be used as a treatment. Simply massage it into your hair, leave it on for 10 minutes, and then wash your hair as usual with shampoo. This provides shine and texture.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

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