How Hard Water Affects Your Holiday Baking
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) tells us that 85% of the United States is a hard water area. Hard water contains high amounts of calcium carbonate and magnesium and is not necessarily harmful to your health. However, this mineral-rich water can have particularly damaging effects on your home and lifestyle.
How do I know if I have hard water?
There are a number of ways you can check if you have hard water. The fastest way to see if hard water is a concern in your home is to look for the effects of hard water.
- Soap scum on showerhead
- Residue on washed glasses
- Stains in your toilet tank
- Skin/hair feels dry or covered in residue
How does this affect my baked goods?
If you plan to do any holiday baking this year, you’ll want to take your water quality into consideration. Water with high levels of certain minerals can drastically alter the chemical interactions that occur when baking. These interactions are crucial to your recipe. Cooking is an art, baking is a science. You know what I mean if you’ve ever mis-measured a single ingredient and ruined the whole dessert.
Here’s what to look out for if you suspect that hard water is affecting your baked goods.
- The fermentation process of yeast is slowed.
- Fruits and vegetables are dull.
- Dough becomes rubbery or unusually tough.
Get back to baking with Kinetico water
Aquarius is an authorized Kinetico water systems dealer. Our team of highly-trained water experts can assess your homes water quality and create a unique plan for your water, home, and lifestyle. Get a free in-home water test.
