Water

Tap water is shelf-stable indefinitely. Store in clean, covered containers away from chemicals or strong odors. Bottled water should be consumed by the date on the bottle for best quality.

Use cold water when starting stocks or broths to extract maximum flavor from bones and vegetables

Let tap water run for a few seconds before using for cooking to flush out any standing water in pipes

Filtered or bottled water can improve the taste of delicate dishes like tea, coffee, and clear soups

Salt your pasta water generously (like the sea) to season pasta from within as it cooks

Use ice-cold water for flaky pie crusts and biscuits to keep the fat from melting prematurely

Adding pasta or vegetables to water before it reaches a full rolling boil, leading to uneven cooking

Using too little water when boiling pasta, causing it to stick together and cook unevenly

Adding warm or hot water to bread dough when the recipe calls for cold, affecting yeast activity and dough temperature

Forgetting to salt cooking water for pasta, potatoes, or vegetables, resulting in bland food