- Boil a pot of water, then turn off the heat.
- Add rice noodles to the pot, or pour the boiling hot water over the noodles in a wide bowl, covering them completely.
- Swish the noodles around briefly to separate.
- Soak the noodles for 6 to 10 minutes, until tender but still chewy.
- Drain the noodles.
Worry no longer if you’re wondering how to make perfect rice or vermicelli noodles for dishes like Pho, Pad Thai, and spring rolls — we’ve got the simplest method for you, plus a few extra hints!
Compared to other types of noodles made from wheat, rice noodles are more delicate and fragile. So, it is easier to over cook them. You won’t ever overcook or undercook noodles again if you use my method and advice!
In Vietnamese cuisine, we use rice noodles for many dishes. For instance, because Vietnamese Spring Rolls are so hydrating to eat in the summer, we use these delicate rice noodles to make Vietnamese Summer Rolls.
Bán Tht Nng, a grilled pork noodle bowl, is probably something you’ve seen and eaten before if you’ve been to a Vietnamese restaurant. Totally delicious!.
For Stir-Fry Dishes or Soups
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- If you want to use the rice noodles in cool noodle dishes, such as salads and bean dishes, boiling is a particularly good option. For flat rice noodles used as wrappers, boiling the noodles is also advised.
2 Place the noodles in a pot or heat-resistant bowl. Dry rice noodles are very brittle, so they must be handled carefully if you do not want to break them into tiny pieces.
- Although they are not brittle when fresh, rice noodles are not cooked in boiling water. The majority of the time, they are steamed or added to recipes without first being soaked.
3 Pour boiling water over the noodles.[5] Unlike wheat noodles, rice noodles are not boiled in water over direct heat. Instead, they must be covered with boiling water and allowed to cook off the stove.
- Allow the noodles to soak for 7 to 10 minutes to fully cook them, gently stirring them every 1 to 2 minutes to help them loosen. The noodles are done when they are completely limp. While thick, flat rice noodles may take longer than 10 minutes to cook, thin, thread-like noodles may take less than 7 minutes.
- If you intend to use the noodles in another dish, remove them earlier from the heat. If you intend to further cook the noodles in other hot dishes, you should remove them when they just start to separate. This will only take a few minutes.
- Before cooking the noodles in boiling water, pre-soak the noodles in lukewarm water to make them chewier. Noodles should be soaked in lukewarm water until they are just beginning to soften. Cook for 2 more minutes in boiling water after draining, or until the center is chewy but not hard.
4 Toss the noodles with sesame oil. Tossing the rice noodles with sesame oil will prevent them from clumping together or drying out, which is ideal if you plan on serving them on their own or in cold dishes.[6]
- If you are adding the rice noodles to another cooked dish right away, omit this step.
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1 Let the noodles sit out for a while. If the noodles are over-soaked but not mushy or falling apart, you can dry them out somewhat by allowing them to air dry. They will not return to their fully dry state, but they will become partially dry.
- Drain the rice noodles. Pouring the contents of the bowls through a colander is the simplest way to accomplish this.
- Lay the moist noodles out flat. Put them on a sizable plate or platter in a single layer. Give them at least 30 minutes to dry in a place without any drafts.
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- Drain the noodles by pouring them through a colander.
- Put the noodles in a dish made for the microwave, and then heat on high for 5 to 10 seconds. The resulting noodles will by chewy.
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If you’re just learning to make Asian dishes that call for rice noodles, like pad thai or perhaps a soup or stir-fry, it can be very confusing. Because rice noodles, like Italian pasta, come in various sizes and cook at various rates, there is no one-size-fits-all method for cooking them. And sometimes those packages lack cooking instructions altogether or have confusing instructions written in an unfamiliar language.
So, you may have questions. Do rice noodles need to be soaked before cooking? Should they be soaked in hot or cold water? We have the answers. Heres how to prepare rice noodles perfectly. Vermicelli, flat rice noodles, and the wider, broad flat noodles that are frequently found fresh and used in dishes like pad see ew, can all be prepared using these tried-and-true methods.
Many Asian dishes frequently contain rice noodles as an ingredient. Being gluten-free allows you to use dried ones in a variety of ways, making them a great and practical pantry staple to keep on hand. However, you’ve probably had some disappointment with rice noodles because, if they’re not cooked properly, they can quickly become completely inedible mush.
Community Q&ASearch
Community Answer You can boil the noodles for 7-10 minutes to fully cook them. 
Community Answer Boil them in water for a few minutes. Depending on thickness, flat usually takes less time, with or without salt. Taste to see if it is undercooked. When done, wash with cold water or pour into a strainer. Community Answer There is no reason why you couldnt do that, as the rice noodles are plain in flavor, and will match well with many other flavors. It is not a traditional combination but home cooks are free to experiment and find their own preferred dishes! Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
FAQ
How do you cook thin vermicelli rice noodles?
Bun/Thin Rice Noodle/Rice Vermicelli Soak the rice vermicelli in water for 10 minutes, then drain. 7 cups of water in a large pot should quickly come to a boil. Add the noodles and boil for 2-3 minutes. Stir gently with chopsticks to prevent sticking.
How long boil thin rice noodles?
Bring three to four quarts of water to a boil in a 6- to 8-quart pan over high heat. Cook rice noodles for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until just barely tender to the bite. Drain. Rinse thoroughly if not using right away to prevent the noodles from sticking together, then drain once more.
How do you cook thin dried noodles?
Bring a saucepan of water to boil on the stove. Drop noodles into boiling water, cook until just tender. Drain and serve. Advice: Use this technique to prepare soba and thin egg noodles.
Do rice noodles have to be soaked before cooking?
Prior to stir-frying, dried noodles must be soaked in boiling water to soften them. Since they will cook while frying, fresh rice noodles, which are available at Asian grocery stores, don’t need to be soaked before being added to a stir fry.
