Easy Peasy Tip: Use less Pasta-Water!
By tinychoices | March 7, 2009
While it’s pretty generally accepted that you are supposed to use lots of water when you boil your pasta so it has room to wiggle and not stick together, it turns out that this may be, well, EXCESSIVE.
According to the NY Times you can dramatically reduce the amount of water you use, and by doing so, contribute to some big energy savings. Check it out:
After some experiments, I’ve found that we can indeed make pasta in just a few cups of water and save a good deal of energy. Not that much in your kitchen or mine — just the amount needed to keep a burner on high for a few more minutes. But Americans cook something like a billion pounds of pasta a year, so those minutes could add up.
My rough figuring indicates an energy savings at the stove top of several trillion B.T.U.s. At the power plant, that would mean saving 250,000 to 500,000 barrels of oil, or $10 million to $20 million at current prices. Significant numbers, though these days they sound like small drops in a very large pot.
So, Team Tiny Choices! Use less water to make your pasta! if each of us commits to doing this, we can make some big energy savings!
Are you in?
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Read all of our Easy Peasy Tips!
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Photo from flickr user Mrs Mac2007 via creative commons license.
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Topics: Easy Peasy Tips |
I’ve started boiling pasta with low sodium veggie broth rather than water. More nutrients, less waste!
Wow! An actual reason for what I’ve been doing forever. I started using about half a pot of water because I got impatient for a whole pot to come to a boil!
In order to make the most of less water, consider breaking the noodles in half so you don’t have half al dente noodles. They taste just as good short.
I’m in…You can also put a lid on your pot after the pasta is in the boiling water and turn off the burner. It takes more time but your pasta will cook. So you use less water and less energy!
[…] Easy Peasy Tip: Use less Pasta-Water! Tiny Choices links to a New York Times article that shows you can cook pasta with a lot less water — and save a lot of energy — and save money on your energy bills. I’m guessing the water will start boiling a lot faster too, for impatient environmentalists! […]
Me too, nikkapotamus! I have always used as little water as possible out of simple impatience. Who wants to wait for the pot to boil? And I do break my long noodles in half so they all go into the water at the same time.
[…] Easy Peasy Tip: Use less Pasta-Water! […]
I’ve always thought is was super crazy to use that much water! I’m having pasta tonight and will definitely use lots less.