How to Reuse Rice Cooking Water: 8 Tricks for The Kitchen and The Rest of The House to Avoid Waste

Have you prepared a rice salad or some arancini with a stringy heart? Don't throw away the rice cooking water, for goodness sake. It may seem like a poor and useless waste but in the kitchen everything can have a second life and rice cooking water is no exception: we are in fact talking about a compound rich in mineral salts, vitamins and starch that, with conscious reuse, can help us in a completely natural and sustainable way, inside and outside the kitchen. Just like pasta, rice cooking water has a beneficial and nourishing effect on skin and hair, but also on plants we grow at home: here are eight clever and effective ways to reuse rice cooking water.

1. Dough

In small quantities, rice cooking water can be used to make bread, pizza, rustics and savory pies. Taking into account the amount of salt needed for your preparation, we can use rice cooking water as a liquid component of the dough: you will obtain leavened products that are elastic and easy to work with, as well as tasty and nutritious.

2. Soaking Legumes

A risotto for lunch and a legume soup for dinner? Don't throw away the rice cooking water, let it cool and use it to soak chickpeas, lentils and beans which will be hydrated and ready to use. Be careful though: the rice cooking water is useful for soaking but not suitable for cooking.

3. To Prepare Salt Dough

To play with the little ones, you can use the rice cooking water to prepare salt dough: all you have to do is add flour and oil and, in a few steps, the salt dough will be ready for an afternoon of fun at no cost.

4. Hair Care

Rice cooking water can help you take care of your hair: thanks to the good presence of starch, the cooking water will make your hair soft and shiny, especially if dry and damaged. To get an immediate result, just use the rice cooking water to prepare a poultice, let it act for 15-20 minutes and then simply proceed with a delicate shampoo and rinse.

5. Cleansing and Skin Care

Acne or dry skin problems? Do not throw away rice cooking water, it can become a precious ally in your daily facial care. Rice starch has a soothing effect and acts naturally against excess sebum on the skin: prepare a simple compress to apply on your face, leave it on for a few minutes and rinse with warm water, in a few days you will have smooth and well-hydrated skin.

6. Glass And Dishwashing Detergent

While still hot, rice cooking water can be an excellent natural detergent for dishes, pots and pans: the rice starch released into the water has the power to attract dirt and dissolve it in a few seconds, thus obtaining a degreasing effect. If you prefer to eliminate dirt and bad smells in the kitchen without the aid of chemical products, cooking water can be incredibly useful: you can also prepare a homemade detergent by putting the cooking water in a spray bottle and use it to eliminate streaks and stains from glass and surfaces.

7. Natural Fertilizer

As long as you have not used salt during cooking, rice water can become an excellent natural fertilizer for plants and aromatic herbs in your garden. Once cooled, pour the rice cooking water directly into the soil: the plants will benefit from the presence of mineral salts and vitamins and will grow in a healthy and natural way, without the need to resort to chemical fertilizers.

8. Foot Bath

Not only in the kitchen, but also in the bathroom, rice cooking water can surprise us, in this case for a regenerating and relaxing foot bath. If you suffer from swollen and heavy legs, pour the rice cooking water still hot into a basin, add a few drops of essential oil and enjoy a well-deserved moment of relaxation and self-care.