Save This Paste With Water
Reheating leftover pasta can be tricky. Sprinkling a little water on it can help relax, but if you really want to spice up a piece of tough, dried noodles, you’ll need to save some water for your pasta.
This tip from Food52 makes a lot of sense. Just as a starchy liquid can be used to make creamy sauces (no cream), it can breathe new life into a sad pile of noodles by providing moisture and helping everything to re-emulsify.
The next time you cook pasta, pour at least a cup of water into a jar or other sealable container. Then, when you’re about to reheat the pasta, add a couple tablespoons (or more) of starchy water, then gently heat everything in a skillet on the stove, stirring occasionally, until the food returns to its former shine. (You can also use a microwave, just cover it loosely and stir every 30 seconds until it’s hot.)