Our Best Cooked Water
Food52
Photo by Getty Images
- Serves
- 4
- Prep Time
- 4 Hours
- Cook Time
- 20 Minutes
Here at Food52, we believe in cooking thoughtfully, and with joy. Nothing makes us happier than finding a new recipe or method of cooking that expands our knowledge and creates a pathway to making our home cooking even better. With that said, we firmly feel that the best way to become a great home cook is to really nail down cooking basics. And what could be more of a building block than classic cooked water? Many of our favorite cooking memories involve standing at the stove with family, holding a wooden spoon for the first time, and watching a pot boil. Nothing brings us greater delight than seeing those tiny bubbles multiply and froth from the bottom of the pot, fueled by the insatiable heat of the stove below. Cooked water creates tender strands of pasta, perfectly hard-boiled eggs, blanched vegetables, and so much more. Note: if you don’t have time to make your own ice, store-bought can be sourced.
Ingredients
- 3 cup (709.7 grams) water, filtered
- 2 1/2 teaspoon (9.3 grams) flaky sea salt, such as Maldon
- 1 ice cube, finely grated, to garnish (store-bought or homemade)
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Directions
- Step 1
Make the frozen water: In a glass measuring cup, allow 3 cups of water to come to room temperature, about 5 minutes. Transfer to 2 square ice cube trays of your choice. Place in the freezer on an upper rack and let set until frozen, about 4 hours, or up to overnight (an instant-read thermometer should register 32°F).
- Step 2
Cook the water: Heat the oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment. Transfer the frozen water to the sheet pan, evenly spacing out the cubes. Roast in the oven until the frozen water is just barely melted, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Step 3
Carefully transfer the warmed water to a medium pot fitted with a candy thermometer. Add the salt. Heat on medium-high, until steam begins to rise from the pot, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook, without stirring, until the water is boiling and the thermometer reads 212°F.
- Step 4
Transfer to a soup bowl, using a ladle. Garnish with the grated ice. Serve immediately. Happy April Fools' Day!