When you strain what do you do with it? I did mac and cheese (AGAIN) , but this time I broke up a pack of ramen noodles into the dogs food bowl - I strained the mac water into the ramen while the water was still hot and it cooked the ramen. The dog loves the starch taste.

I don't strain mac - I just put enough water in to start with (1 3/4 cups for a "standard" M & C) so that the pasta cooks and there's enough liquid left to make the sauce - chuck in the cheese packet and a dabble of olive oil and you're got to go.

I didn't used to strain it - until Sarbar got me try it. It makes a difference. I also add Nido and a lot of folks don't do that either. Besides, the dog seems to like it and it is an easy way to cook twice with the same water.

I chuck Nido in if I have it, that does make a difference, neat trick making ramen with it, but aside from that i figure draining hot water just means I wasted fuel <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hot chocolate. Or soup.

Unless I'm dying of thirst and walking in the desert under a blazing sun, I use it to dowse a fire, water a plant or dump in a cat hole. If it was life and death, I would drink it. But I don't desert hike. Oh! can you refilter it through your MSR? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />