It’s worth noting that wheat-based noodles differ from pasta in that they are made with a softer variety of wheat. The durum wheat used in pasta creates a firmer end product than silky noodles with their characteristic soft texture, which also cook more quickly than pasta.
Naturally, the type of noodle you choose determines how you cook and eat it. It’s always best to refer to the cooking directions given on the product’s packaging—cooking time may also differ according to the manufacturer.
Noodle dough tends to have plenty of salt already added to help develop the softer protein and bind the dough. This helps to preserve the noodles once dried. Therefore there is no need to add salt to the cooking water. The other main difference is that pasta is extruded (like squeezing toothpaste from a tube) whereas noodle dough is rolled and then cut.
Soaking vs. Boiling
To rehydrate dried noodles, either soak them in boiling water off the heat, then drain and cook, or add them to a large saucepan filled with boiling water or flavored broth.
When cooking noodles in advance, such as before adding to a stir-fry, the noodles can be cooked and drained, then placed in a bowl of ice-cold water to stop the cooking process. Once cool, drain well and toss in a little toasted sesame oil until needed.
To check whether the noodles are cooked, remove a piece of noodle from the pan, cool momentarily, and then taste to make sure that it’s tender. It’s hard to undercook noodles, but easy to overcook them, so keep that in mind if you will be adding cooked noodles to a stir-fry.
When adding to a wok or saucepan, first heat the wok or pan to a high temperature, then add the oil. Always lift and toss the noodles instead of trying to stir them in the pan. This helps retain the texture.
Serving Noodles
Noodles are served in a huge number of ways, generally in a hot broth with a dipping sauce or stir-fried with vegetables, meat, or fish, or cold in a salad with a dressing.
The etiquette of eating noodles depends on the country in which you are eating. In China, it’s not acceptable to bite off noodles when eating but a slurping action is the norm. The chopsticks are used to help the noodles into the mouth.
The etiquette of eating noodles depends on the country in which you are eating. In China, it’s not acceptable to bite off noodles when eating but a slurping action is the norm. The chopsticks are used to help the noodles into the mouth.
