Conservation of water in the kitchen: the nutritious way
Water awareness is often on people’s minds in the scorching summer heat and we all look at the timer for outside watering, tenderly carry buckets of water to our potted plants and hang flower baskets, helping them deal with the intense heat. There are so many ways we can all reduce water waste just in the kitchen, all year long, in fact, we dedicate an entire chapter to the topic in our Trash Talk – It’s Easy To Be Green book series. Today, we are going to mention just a few things that are very easy to start doing in the kitchen and that can have a big impact on the way water is used.
Let’s take a closer look at cooking water. We are talking about the water used to boil potatoes, poach eggs or cook pasta. That water is full of nutrients and it would be a huge waste if we put it down the drain. Here’s what we can do instead: In the winter, cover with a lid and place the pot of water on a rack to cool. This keeps that valuable heat in your home. Then pour through a fine strainer into a container and store in the refrigerator. This liquid can now be used to thicken dog food. Alternatively, add it to the compost bin where the moisture, starches, and nutrients will only benefit the compost. It can also be used to water outdoor plants, 2 feet from the base of any evergreen tree or shrub.
In the summer, you’ll want to do this a little differently: Place the covered pot outdoors on a rack to cool, keeping the heat out of the house. Once completely cooled, use as suggested above or for any thirsty outdoor plants.
Other types of steamed or boiled vegetable cooking water can also be used in the same way as above, however they are much more valuable when used as a base for making homemade stock or stock. Reserved water can be used to cook dried beans and wild rice mixes. Alternatively, it can be used in place of water when using canned soup concentrates or when reconstituted dehydrated vegetables. It’s easy to freeze reserved waters, however, be sure to pre-measure the liquid and label the container well.
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