During the course of 2020 many people have been faced with the prospect of isolation – staying within their living spaces, sometimes with their families and sometimes without. For those lucky enough to have access to food delivery services, the task of feeding themselves and their loved ones was considerably simplified. However, that sort of diet soon becomes extremely boring – and not exactly healthy. However, possibly as a reaction to the monotony of take out more and more people confined to their homes have discovered the joys of cooking and are even now exploring the wonders of global cuisine.
These newly minted home chefs are continually searching for ways to make their culinary creations more inventive, better tasting and even more healthy – and they may be missing a very simple way to achieve those goals – by cooking using filtered water.
There are a variety of reasons to use filtered water in the kitchen – here are only a few.
Hygiene and Safety
Safety in this day and age is something that many people are more and more concerned with. Our focus on hygiene has also meant that we are far more aware of the dangers of contamination of our water. Contaminated water when used to prepare something as simple as a salad can affect the health of every member of the family. Bacteria, viruses and protozoa in our water can all cause serious illness – and these can often be present in water that is sourced from wells and other natural sources. Leaching of nitrates and arsenic into groundwater can also cause both short and long-term health problems. Households that obtain their water from natural sources need to pay careful attention to the decontamination of water – and should probably be using an advanced home filtration system.
However, groundwater is not the only source of contaminants. Older homes have plumbing systems that can also leach contaminants into the tap water. One of the most common of these contaminants is lead. Lead in water can be extremely dangerous to adults (think kidney problems and high blood pressure, as well as mental impairment) – but it is especially harmful to children and infants who can experience mental and physical developmental issues when exposed to lead contamination during meals.
How Does Water Affect Taste?
There is also the simple matter of taste. Although most tap water in the U.S. is by-and-large safe to drink straight from the faucet, it has often been treated with chemicals that can alter the taste of the water – and sometimes the taste can be altered to such an extent that it actually interferes with the enjoyment of the food and other refreshments that have their origins in the kitchen. Taste altering chemicals such as chlorine can be filtered from the water with a home filtration system and provide better experiences when drinking coffee and tea for instance. Filtered water also allows baked goods to shine and prevents pasta from picking up a chemical taste which can ruin even the most carefully prepared dishes. Cleaning fruit and vegetables with unfiltered water can also negatively affect taste.
The solution to the above problems is to pick up either a faucet water filter, or if you’d like a more full comprehensive solution, invest in a home filtration system. These are available in many variants – and they deliver different levels of filtration. If you are in the market for a home filtration unit make sure that the make and model that you are considering is suitable for your family’s unique needs.
