Rice noodles are made from rice flour and water, while lo mein noodles are made from wheat flour. Rice noodles are white or yellow in color, while lo mein noodles are usually a yellow or brown in color. The difference between the two types of noodles is largely in the ingredients used to make them.
The main ingredient for lo mein noodles is wheat flour, while rice noodles are primarily made with rice flour.
Lo mein noodles are also generally cooked to a softer consistency than the chewy texture of rice noodle dishes.
Thicker lo mein dishes can take up to 10 minutes to cook, while thinner bowls only require about five minutes cooking time on high heat or three minutes on medium-low heat. Rice noodle dishes generally only take one minute to cook.
So you decide which one you want! There’s no wrong decision here!
Basic Differences Between Rice Noodle and Lo Mein
The difference between rice noodles and lo mein noodles is largely in the ingredients used to make them. The main ingredient for lo mein noodles is wheat flour, while rice noodles are primarily made with rice flour.
Lo mein dishes can take up to 10 minutes to cook, while thinner bowls only require about five minutes cooking time on high heat or three minutes on medium-low heat. Rice noodle dishes generally only take one minute to cook.
Cooking Tips
Rice noodle dishes are traditionally made with rice noodles and a number of other ingredients. You can make this recipe your own by adding in your favorite vegetables, such as onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms. To make this dish more like lo mein, add in some soy sauce and sesame oil to the recipe.
Lo mein dishes are typically made with wheat noodles and a number of other ingredients.
For a classic lo mein dish, you’ll want to stir fry the noodles first before adding in vegetables and protein. Once you’ve mixed all the ingredients together, it’s time to add sauces or garnishes. You can use soy sauce or oyster sauce for an authentic flavor.
Varieties of Rice Noodle Dishes
Rice noodles come in a variety of dishes. Rice noodle soup is a popular dish in southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The dish consists of rice noodles in a broth with chunks of meat and vegetables.
Chinese rice noodle dishes can also be made with vegetables or meat and often contain soy sauce, sesame oil, chopped green onions, and vegetable oil. One popular dish is called lo mein which consists of stir-fried lo mein noodles with various meats and vegetables mixed in with the noodles.
Varieties of Lo Mein Dishes
Lo mein dishes are typically served with a variety of toppings, which can include vegetables, eggs, and meat.
Some popular types of lo mein dishes include: stir-fried lo mein, garlic noodles or fried noodles, chicken lo mein or lo mein with chicken.
Conclusion
The next time you’re craving some noodles, it’s important to know the difference between the two contenders.
While they’re both made with wheat flour and water, rice noodles are made with rice flour and water, while lo mein noodles are made with wheat flour and egg.
So if you’re looking for gluten-free noodles with a naturally chewy texture, go with rice noodles. If, on the other hand, you’re craving some crispy noodles, go with lo mein.
And now that you know the difference, there’s no need to limit yourself to just one dish!
