Don't Toss That Potato Water The potatoes release their starchy goodness into the water as they are cooked. The potato water can then be used as a substitute for milk and it makes your bread deliciously moist. As well, it can be used as a thickener that is naturally gluten-free.
Health benefits of Potato Water
Perhaps the best part is that potato water is packed full of added nutrients extracted from the potatoes themselves! Nutrients like vitamins B and C, potassium and fiber, and phytonutrients like carotenoids and flavonoids which are thought to promote good overall health.
To add starch in a “green way”, save the water you boil your potatoes in. Starchy water will spur the release of plant nutrients in the soil so it makes a great addition.
Drinking potato juice is one of the lesser known uses of the said vegetable and drinking it would not make you healthier but guilt-free too! Loaded with several minerals and vitamins, potato juice is surprisingly useful in lowering the cholesterol while eliminating wrinkles and fighting back pain as well.
'Starchy water is good for growing all types of plants, whether they be veggies, flowers, fruits or even weeds. ' Gena says that this trick 'cannot harm your plants in any way' and that she can't think of 'any plants that wouldn't benefit from being watered with pasta water'.
That said, it's not advisable to keep pasta water in the refrigerator for more than 2-3 days, as it could encourage bacteria. If you want to store your leftover pasta water for longer, pour the liquid into ice cube trays and freeze it.
The starchy H20 provides beneficial nutrients that help plants grow. Just be sure to avoid using pasta water that has been seasoned or salted. Do you have excess seasoned pasta cooking water on hand? Save it for your sauce!
Mix 3 tablespoons of potato juice with 2 tablespoons of honey, and apply the concoction all over your face and neck. Wait for 10 minutes for the pack to dry before rinsing it off. Honey moisturises the skin, and potato lightens. Repeat this daily for results.
Potato juice is a hydrating ingredient and it is especially beneficial for dry and flaky skin, as it helps in retaining the skin's natural moisturising and hydrating properties. It is also known to soothe skin that is suffering from conditions such as eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and more.
Using potato juice regularly will restore collagen, which is required for the proper growth of hair strands. Collagen is the building block of hair and this protein is very essential to ensure faster hair regrowth. Potato juice also helps in making the growth of hair follicles better.
You can thicken a broth, soup, or stew by using potato water rather than plain water, again avoiding using flour if you are eliminating gluten. Some people even like to turn potato water into a broth by adding celery salt, black pepper, and a little bouillon. Don't toss the potato water–look for ways to put it to use.
Potato starch can improve digestive and colon health
As resistant starch ferments, it feeds the healthy bacteria inside the colon as it converts into short-chain fatty acids. Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that forms during this process — it plays an important part in the cells of the colon.
Potato juice is a traditional home remedy for heartburn or gastritis. Because certain protein building blocks in the juice neutralize the gastric acid, the juice can alleviate acid-related symptoms.
Add enough cold water to cover the tops of the potatoes. Add ½ to 1 teaspoon salt to the water. Turn the burner on high and bring water to boiling. Reduce the heat to medium-low or low.
“Salting the water not only seasons the potato, but it also allows it to boil to a hotter temperature. This in turn cooks the potatoes' starch more thoroughly, resulting in a more creamy texture [for mashed potatoes],” says Sieger Bayer, Chef and Partner at The Heritage.
Benefits of applying potatoes to skin
They help improve complexion, moisturise skin with their astringent properties and further tones and tightens the skin. Whether you eat them, juice them or use them topically, potatoes can help improve the appearance of your skin and can help nourish and revitalise the skin.
Here are the benefits of potato juice for the face:
Potato juice can help you get rid of under-eye circles and wrinkles, reducing puffiness around the eyes. It can lighten and brighten the skin. It is known to retain moisture in the skin. They are known to reduce skin inflammation that causes acne.
Potato and Lemon Juice benefits for skinPotatoes are natural bleach for the skin. They have the right properties that reduce blemishes and dark spots.
Potato peel is very effective to remove dark spots or blemishes from the skin. The azelaic acid present helps to brighten the skin and lightens any dark spots on the skin. Potato also contains bleaching components like catecholase which aids in removing sunspots or any other scar from the skin.
They help to relieve dark circles:
The antioxidants in potatoes can help to lighten dark under-eye circles. Apply potato slices to the area for about 15 minutes, then rinse away.
If placed down your drain, they will be exposed to water and will become large and sticky. Then, they will cling to your pipes and form a clog. Similar to pasta and rice, flour, cornstarch and oatmeal tend to get gummy when wet. They become like cement, blocking your pipes and resulting in a plumbing emergency.
Like pasta water, water used from cooking or washing rice is high in starches and great for plants, especially succulents.
The cooking water from both potatoes and rice provides valuable nutrients to orchids: Rice water provides a good source of vitamin B; potato water contains calcium and potassium. Save the water from cooking potatoes and rice, and store it in the refrigerator.