This holiday season, many of us will be making our favorite recipes for soups, stocks, sauces and other dishes that demand the finest culinary finesse – but we may unknowingly be using a base ingredient that can compromise the truest taste: untreated tap water.
Here’s how taste can be affected:
- Unfiltered tap water – Water that comes from a municipal water supply is safely regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); however, nearly every water source contains some level of contaminants* that are addressed by adding commonly used disinfectants like chlorine. Traces of chlorine can produce an unpleasant taste and odor that can taint your water-based recipes; steam used for cooking vegetables, rice and pasta; and even ice cubes used to chill beverages.
- Unsoftened hard water – Residents on private or community well systems are subject to hard water that may contain a number of odor- and taste-altering impurities*. For example, sulfur found in some hard water sources contributes to a “rotten egg” smell; iron or copper can produce a metallic aftertaste; and water that flows over rocks, soils and vegetation sometimes contains a salty or bitter taste.
Stir Up Solutions…
If mixing your favorite beverage with stale-tasting ice cubes or dumping chlorinated water into your grandma’s chicken noodle soup isn’t on your recipe card, consider making the most of your tap water. Your local Culligan dealer can provide a free, on-site water analysis to determine which in home solution is best for you. This might include…
- A system targeted to filter your home’s drinking water for optimal taste and purity
- A solution that softens your water with smart technology to save salt, energy and money
- A 2-in-1 total home system that filters chlorine and softens water throughout your home
…and Help Spare the Environment
Optimizing the taste of your food with quality water also has other “green” benefits that extend to the environment. For example, using softened water can provide the following advantages:
- Longer equipment lifespan – Minerals such as calcium and magnesium that are dissolved in your tap water tend to settle out when hard water is heated and evaporates. These minerals accumulate, corrode and clog water-using appliances (i.e. dishwashers, coffee makers, steamers) and other devices, causing increased energy use, a shortened lifespan and premature equipment disposal. Soft water can help eliminate these issues and extend the life of your appliances.
- Less detergent – Removing spots, stains and scale caused by hard water from your cookware and dishes requires scrubbing with detergents and other harsh chemicals. The more stubborn the residue, the more cleanser required – contributing to unnecessary environmental waste. Soft water helps detergents to lather better so cleansing is easier and less soap is needed.
This holiday season treat yourself to quality water. Not only will you save time cleaning the dishes, but you’ll help save the environment while creating better tasting food to share with the ones you love.
*Contaminants and impurities are not necessarily in your water.
