Exploring the Benefits, Recipes, and Usages of Soy Sauce

Ash water is a beneficial ingredient when used correctly. This article will provide you with more information about ash water.

1. What is ash water?

What is ash water?

Ash water is a mixture made from burned wood and firewood. The process involves stirring the mixture and allowing the ash to settle down, and then filtering out the water. This resulting water is known as ash water. Nowadays, ash water is produced using stricter processes to remove impurities and harmful chemicals. The mixture is commonly referred to as chemical ash, with names such as Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) or Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). Ash water is available in various forms including liquid, tablet, and powder.

2. Uses of ash water

Ash water is widely used in many fields, including industry, cooking, baking, and cleaning.

In industry

Ash water is an ingredient that helps soap form a harder, more solid or liquid form.

In cooking

Uses of ash water in cooking

Ash water has several effects in cooking, including whitening, maintaining the color and freshness of food for a longer period, and creating crispness and chewiness in dishes. Additionally, ash water is used in the process of making noodles to ensure they are soft and not dry.

In baking

Ash water is an important ingredient in baking as it helps make cakes softer, more delicious, and visually appealing. Throughout history, our ancestors would add ash water to various types of cakes such as , , , banh gai, to enhance the taste, aroma, and texture of the cakes.

Reference: How to make tre leaves from ash water for Tet holidays

In cleaning

Ash water is useful for whitening, removing stains, and addressing issues such as yellowing on kitchen utensils like pans and pots. It can also help solve drainage problems.

3. How to make ash water

Step 1: Burn wood or fruit peels to collect the ash. Use a filter to remove impurities and harmful substances from the ash.

Burn wood or fruit peels to collect ash and use a filter to collect clean ash

Step 2: Place the filtered ash into a clean container. Add water and stir well. Cover the mixture and leave it for 2 days.

Put ash water into a container and cover it for 2 days

Step 3: Place a muslin cloth on the filtering part and pour the mixture that has been covered for 2 days to filter out any residue and collect the water.

Filtering ash water

Step 4: Cover the water overnight and then remove any remaining residue to collect the ash water.

Ash water

Note: At this step, the ash water has an alkaline concentration, so it is advisable to wear gloves when handling it for safety purposes.

4. Ways to use ash water

You can soak rice in ash water to make the resulting cakes softer and more delicious.

Soaking glutinous rice in ash water

Mixing ash water with soap can effectively remove stains, yellowing, and dirt.

5. Precautions when using ash water

Associate Professor Nguyen Duy Thinh from the Institute of Biological and Food Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology emphasizes that “ash water, being alkaline, can cause severe burns similar to concentrated acid if accidentally ingested and even has the potential to harm the body.” Therefore, it is important to handle ash water with caution. If ash water splashes into your eyes, rinse them immediately with water. If it spills onto your skin, rinse with water multiple times and then apply lemon or vinegar to balance the pH level.

Whether it is traditional ash water or industrial ash water, it is advisable to wear gloves to avoid burns due to its high alkaline content.

Precautions when using ash water

Keep ash water out of reach of children.

In baking, ash water should only be used to soak rice. After soaking, discard the ash water and rinse the rice with clean water before grinding it into flour.

Store ash water in a glass container and avoid contact or storage in aluminum containers as it can corrode them.

It is important to note that ash water is highly flammable, so store it in a dry, ventilated area away from the kitchen.

These are the basic information about ash water that we have shared with you. Remember these details to effectively and safely use ash water.