The majority of us pour potato water down the drain after we’re finished boiling potatoes — but we shouldn’t! We’ll show you ways to use the leftover water in the garden, kitchen, and household.
The water potatoes are boiled in is usually poured away directly after cooking. But you can still use the starchy broth in many ways. During cooking, many valuable ingredients from the potatoes (including minerals) are transferred into the water.
If you’re worried about solanine, don’t be! The potato tuber itself contains only a small amount of it. Plus, you can always peel the potatoes before cooking. Here are some ways to use up that leftover starchy liquid!
1. Use Potato Water to Water Your Plants
Potato water contains minerals such as magnesium, iron, and phosphorus. Not only do these benefit the human body, they’re also great for plants. It’s an ideal natural fertilizer that supports growth and flower formation. Just let the liquid cool down before pouring it into a watering can. It will provide your plants with important nutrients and may even help to get rid of aphids.
Please note: if you want to use the water as fertilizer, don’t salt it when boiling the potatoes. Most plants are very sensitive to salt in the soil.
2. Hot Potato Water as a Weed Killer
The worst part of tending a garden is the constant need to weed. If you’re tired of the struggle, use hot potato water as a homemade weed killer and pour it on the unwelcome growth directly after boiling. The heat from the water fights the visible parts of the weeds. The starch, on the other hand, clogs the plant pores and causes weeds to die. This just leaves you with the roots to remove from the soil.
So that you know, many plants that are considered weeds can be beneficial. Dandelions, for example, contain many vitamins. You can use the leaves for salads and the edible flowers to make dandelion honey.
3. Cleaning
If you have potato water left over after cooking, you can use it as a cleaning agent. Clean frying pans and plastic surfaces with the hot liquid. Simply moisten a sponge or cloth with water and wipe the surfaces thoroughly. You may need to rinse with clean water to remove any starchy residues.
You can also use the hot water to unclog your drain. Pour it into the drain to rinse away any dirt and grime.
4. Cooking and Baking
Did you know you can use potato water in the kitchen? Stir the water directly into soups or sauces to make them more flavorful. If you want to try something different when baking bread, you can replace the liquid ingredient with the starchy water to give your loaf a nice potatoey flavor.
Tip: If you’ve salted the water when boiling potatoes, adjust your bread recipe accordingly.
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