Food - Drink
Can Leftover Pasta Water Be Saved For Later?
By KAREN HART
Pasta is a staple in most American households, but you may not know that the pot of water left over after boiling your pasta can be just as versatile. This starchy liquid should be on your list of bonus ingredients to never throw away, and it might surprise you that your pasta water can be stored in the fridge for later use.
Pasta water is perfect for stirring into pasta sauce to create a silky-smooth texture, and can even add depth to soups and pizza or bread dough. In fact, this salty and starchy water is one of the best "binders" you can use to emulsify and unite the other ingredients in a dish, though there are a few tricks to saving it for later.
Pasta water doesn't spoil, since it's made of just starch, water, and salt; however, this doesn't mean you can keep it in the fridge forever. You shouldn't save pasta water for longer than 2 to 3 days, since it can become a breeding ground for bacteria, so use your pasta water quickly for the best and most convenient results.