Alkaline water has proved itself to be wonderful for drinking and cleaning. But recently it has come to light that water at a pH level of 8-9 benefits the cooking process too in various ways. Water is a fundamental component of any recipe, and changing the type of water will significantly impact the dish. In this article we will explore how alkaline water when used for cooking, alkaline water enhances flavors and has various health benefits. So let’s have a look how alkaline water for cooking enhances flavors and health benefits for us people. It will give us an understanding of how and why we must incorporate it in our dishes.
Enhancing Flavors in Cooking
Alkaline water is becoming increasingly popular among professional and home cooks due to its capacity to enhance flavor in food. Due to its mildly sweet and smooth taste, alkaline water can make the dining experience more pleasurable.
Alkaline water helps in enhancing flavors by balancing and mellowing out the flavors of acidic ingredients such as tomatoes, citrus fruits or vinegar.
Tenderizing and Marinating
Studies have shown that alkaline water holds great potential when it comes to treating meat with it. Its slightly higher pH allows protein and connective tissues in meat to break down. This makes the meat more tender than usual and easier to chew, giving a surreal experience to the diners.
It has been found that the use of alkaline water in marinades enhances the texture and flavors of meat dishes. This is really beneficial for those parts of meat which usually require a longer time to cook.
Baking done using alkaline water
The natural chemical processes that take place during baking are all fueled by water, which also regulates the temperature and consistency of our dough.
A recipe’s texture and rise are largely impacted by water. For instance, preparing bread using alkaline water might provide a crumb with a softer, more delicate texture.
A few key roles that water plays in baking are-
- Hydrating the starch granules to start the dough-making process.
- Releasing gluten by a reaction with the proteins in flour.
- Regulating yeast fermentation’s rate, etc.
Now, the use of alkaline water in place of normal water will largely affect these steps in a beneficial way.
Food preparation done using Alkaline water has health benefits
We are slowly understanding how the use of alkaline water for cooking enhances the flavors. But what if the very first step of cooking also involves the use of alkaline water?
We all know that we must wash our fruits and vegetables before eating. This process removes any remaining bacteria or contamination from it.
It will really be beneficial for us if we start using alkaline water in this most basic step of food preparation. This will help remove all the unwanted surface chemicals.
It further helps in removing strong bad odors from our food such as the foul smell of seafood etc. Alkaline water even helps to fight off the bitter taste in various of our foods.
Using alkaline water to enhance flavors of beverages
The impact of alkaline water is even seen in the preparation of our day to day beverages. It helps in reducing the bitter taste of the coffee, when brewed using alkaline water. It helps fight off the acidity the coffee carries with it. This makes our everyday cup of coffee much more smoother and enjoyable.
Alkaline water even helps enhance the taste of our beverages. Not just coffee, but when used in smoothies, iced teas, cocktails etc. it really boosts their taste and feel.
One wonderful way of incorporating alkaline water in our regular beverages is by using alkaline water ice cubes.
Alkaline water when used in soups and stews
Alkaline water can further even enhance the taste and nutritional benefits when used in soups and stews. It helps tenderize and hydrate those meat and vegetable pieces better. This helps the meat to get better incorporated in the soups and stews which gives it an extra depth of flavor.
Alkaline water boosts the mineral content of the soups. This really enhances the nutritional value it holds while also giving it that extra kick of flavor.
Cooking vegetables with alkaline water enhances the flavors
Alkaline water can be used to cook, steam, boil or wash vegetables when preparing food. It helps in each of the said aspects in a beneficial way.
Washing vegetables with alkaline water helps remove the extra bacteria and contaminants on it. It also helps in getting rid of that unwanted bitter taste.
Steaming, boiling and cooking vegetables with alkaline water helps them to get better hydrated and cook beautifully. It withholds the vegetable’s natural hues and vibrancy. This makes the dish look visually tempting.
But alkaline water not only makes the food visually tempting, when used in cooking it also enhances its flavors and the nutritional values of it. It helps the vegetables in maintaining their nutritional value while adding to it as much as it can.
So, when using alkaline water for cooking, it enhances the overall feel of it. It not only makes the food taste better but also visually appealing. It makes sure that in doing all this, to also maintain the healthy nutrition the food holds. We all must make sure to incorporate alkaline water in our daily cooking to get all the benefits that we can from it.
