Q. Dear Umbra,<\/strong> Nate W. <\/p>\n A. Dearest Nate,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo: lucadea via FlickrYou know, I actually dropped a few pounds on a pasta diet <\/p>\n But you know what’s really nothing to laugh at (besides my <\/p>\n Since I have some better solutions to come, let’s go ahead <\/p>\n So does that just leave us waiting for the recommended six quarts of cooler tap water to <\/p>\n Secondly, here’s the real coup: You can put the pasta right <\/p>\n I wasn’t satisfied to stop there, though, as I wanted to <\/p>\n And don’t just toss that water post-cooking. Pasta water in <\/p>\n Saucily, <\/p>\n Other helpful links:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ask Umbra on <\/p>\n Q. Dear Umbra,<\/strong> Carol J.<\/strong> <\/p>\n A. Dearest Carol,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Advising loved ones on child-rearing or cleaning techniques is <\/p>\n Let’s first start by breaking down what exactly is in these <\/p>\n Plus, these wipes are utterly disposable, equaling a lot of unnecessary <\/p>\n I’m not a doctor and don’t even pretend to play one in this column <\/p>\n Spotlessly, <\/p>\n Other helpful links:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ask Umbra <\/p>\n In my April <\/p>\n Ian, rocking a rad fedora and showing off his upcycled game packaging.Hello! I wanted to say thanks, because your ideas really Ian<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dear Umbra,<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several weeks ago, you answered my 9-year-old son’s question <\/p>\n Many thanks from a grateful mom, Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n Recycling exhibit helps New Yorkers let go, get smashed<\/a><\/p>\n Ask Umbra’s DIY shampoo and conditioner video<\/a><\/p>\n Ask Umbra on the word “green,” DIY laundry detergent, and computer batteries<\/a><\/p>\n
I am a fairly active, athletic person; that being said, I love my pasta. When I
\nboil the water for my pasta, I run the tap water for about 5–10 seconds until
\nthe water becomes very hot, then fill up my pot, and set it on my glass-top
\nstove to boil. The water seems to boil almost instantaneously when I fill it up
\nwith hot water, and when I fill it up from the tap right away with cooler
\nwater, it takes longer. So, my question is: Is it more wasteful to let the
\nprecious water run to get hot for 5–10 seconds, reducing the boiling time? Or
\nis it more wasteful to fill it up with cooler water, not wasting any water, but
\nusing more electricity to boil the water? One other consideration is that I
\nlive at high altitude, and water takes longer to boil here. Thanks so
\nmuch!<\/p>\n
Redmond, Ore.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nonce. I just had to walk pasta the refrigerator, pasta the bakery, and pasta
\nthe ice cream shop. A 3-year-old told me that joke.<\/p>\n
\npasta joke)? Wasting our precious resources. Cooking noodles is one of those
\nsmall things I’m always telling you not to sweat; but conserving water and
\nenergy is a big honking thing to sweat, so I’m happy to fill you in. Plus, it
\ngives me a chance to play around in the Grist test kitchen.<\/p>\n
\nand take the letting-water-run-until-it’s-hot option off the table right now.
\nAfter space heat—that is, heating your entire home—water heaters are the
\nlargest household energy consumers. And there are more efficient means of
\nheating such a small amount of water that also don’t let natural resources just
\nrun down the drain (I don’t suppose you had a bucket there each time to catch
\nexcess water?).<\/p>\n
\nboil on the stovetop before adding our pasta? Not necessarily. First off, you
\ndo not—I repeat, do not—need six
\nquarts of water to make a bowl of pasta. Yes, I know that’s what it says on the
\nbox. Grist’s own food guru, Tom Philpott<\/a>, and
\nfood-science writer Harold McGee<\/a> both concur that six quarts are overkill. About a quart and a half should do
\nthe trick (I actually used even less for mine).<\/p>\n
\ninto the cold water! That’s right. You don’t need to boil the water first. Pop
\nyour pasta in, put a lid on the pot (contains the heat), and stir as needed to
\nprevent sticking. This method produced the same delectable rotini for me as the
\nboil-first method, saving water (ta-ta, six quarts) and energy, and it was
\nreally no extra effort.<\/p>\n
\ngive you options, plural. I’m not
\nsure how the cold water method works at high altitude, or if there’s any
\ndifference at all, but let’s say you decide to stick with the boil-first
\nmethod. We know from my previous column
\non boiling water for tea<\/a> that the electric kettle is No. 1 in water-heating
\nefficiency. Thusly, how about getting your pasta water started in an electric
\nkettle? Once it’s boiling (or nearly boiling) pour it over your pasta in a pot,
\nand then pop the lid on. Turn the burner on to keep the water’s momentum going,
\nand voila. Cooked pasta in 10 minutes (or however long your particular type of
\npasta takes)—which reminds me of yet another energy-saving tip: You don’t have
\nto leave the stove on for the duration of the cooking time. Turn off the burner
\na few minutes before the pasta is finished, leaving the lid on. The pasta will
\ncontinue to cook in the pot.<\/p>\n
\nrestaurants is liquid gold—used as a sauce thickener. While you may not be able
\nto replicate the starchy water made from boiling order after order of
\nspaghetti, you can still try mixing some pasta water in with your next batch of
\nhomemade tomato sauce. Or you can just let the water cool to room temperature
\nand use it to give your houseplants a little hydration.<\/p>\n
Umbra<\/p>\n
\nwater conservation<\/a>
Ask Umbra on
\nboiling water for tea
<\/a>Ask
\nUmbra on water heaters<\/a>
Ask Umbra on
\nwaiting for warm water<\/a><\/p>\n
My granddaughter uses Clorox Disinfecting Wipes constantly on everything. She
\nhas a 2-year-old son, who is asthmatic and seems to have a somewhat compromised
\nimmune system. The least little trigger can set him off into an asthma
\nattack, which on occasion has developed into pneumonia and resulted in hospital
\nstays. She is obsessed with certain hygiene, and I tend to think she overdoes
\nit. Plus, she tends not to wipe off the kitchen counters with a dishrag before
\nshe uses the wipes, which leaves scum on the counters. Please help me with
\nrecommendations I can pass on to her. Thanks! <\/p>\n
Scottsdale, Ariz.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\na slippery slope indeed, as is giving this question a definitive answer.<\/p>\n
\nwipes. A couple of the key ingredients<\/a> are alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl
\nammonium chloride (whew, glad I didn’t get those words in my fourth grade
\nspelling bee). The production of these compounds results in harmful dioxins,
\nwhich can cause cancer, immune system problems, and reproductive issues.
\nAdditionally, the ingredients themselves can cause skin irritation, headaches,
\nand respiratory issues. In short, these chems are not a good thing to have around a child who’s
\nalready having his share of breathing problems, methinks.<\/p>\n
\nwaste. One swipe, and then into the trash bin—sad. Not to mention the fact that
\nthey are packaged in a plastic bottle, which is a big petroleum-sucking no-no
\nin my book.<\/p>\n
\n(though I do look mighty authoritative wearing a stethoscope), so I’m not going
\nto try to diagnose whether your great-grandson’s condition warrants the kind of
\ndisinfection these wipes offer, harsh though their ingredients may be. Try
\nreferring his mom to my April
\n12 column<\/a> on sanitizing counters with white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide
\n(in two separate bottles). The combo kills almost all Salmonella, Shigella, and
\nE. coli bacteria. However, if whiter,
\ngrime-free surfaces are all your granddaughter is after, then our friends vinegar,
\nbaking soda, and castile soap<\/a> along with a reusable dishcloth and a little
\nelbow grease should do the trick.<\/p>\n
Umbra<\/p>\n
\non bleach<\/a>
<\/a>Ask
\nUmbra on green cleaning<\/a>
<\/a>Ask Umbra
\non having kids<\/a>
Ask
\nUmbra on mini-dilemmas<\/a><\/p>\n
\n5 column<\/a>, I responded to 9-year-old Ian’s question about eco-friendly
\npackaging for his newly designed card game. In return, I received a package
\nthis week with a handmade thank-you card from Ian, a lovely letter from his
\nmom, and pictures of Ian and his completed product, which I wanted to share
\nwith you guys.<\/p>\n
\nhelped! My updated format looks great, and it’s eco-friendly, not to mention
\ncheap. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.<\/p>\n
\nabout creating eco-friendly packaging for a game he’s invented. Your reply
\nthrilled him—<\/strong>he was surprised that he got a reply. It made his day. He ended up
\nrethinking his packaging and created drawstring bags out of a variety of
\nleftover fabrics. It significantly lowered his costs, taught him sewing skills,
\nand added an element of personalization to each game. And eco-friendly to boot!<\/strong><\/p>\n
Gwyn R.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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