How to Cook Rice Noodles
There is no single “right” way to cook dried rice noodles. There are several different but similar methods, and when you start cooking rice noodles fairly regularly youll settle on a method that you like best.
Ive also noticed that some brands of rice noodles soften faster than other brands. If you find a brand you like, keep buying that brand and soon youll figure out exactly the right soaking time for your favorite rice noodles.
Here is the most common method for cooking dried rice noodles, often the method listed on rice noodle packages:
Many home cooks and chefs have slightly different methods that they prefer.
Other Cooking Methods:
Hot water, longer soak: Some recipes, like this one for Pad Thai, use hot tap water (not boiling) and soak the noodles for up to 30 minutes. The noodles cook slightly slower, making it less likely theyll get too soft.
Cold water, longer soak: Use cold water and soak the noodles even longer. This could take several hours or more but youre less likely to end up with over-soaked noodles.
Quick Boil: Boil the noodles for 2 to 6 minutes, then rinse in cold water. Careful with this method, as the noodles can easily over-cook.
Types of Rice Noodles
Rice noodles are an ingredient in basically all Asian cuisines. They are sold fresh and dried. In most grocery stores in the United States, dried rice noodles are most common. In Asian markets you’re more likely to also find fresh rice noodles in the refrigerated section.
Each country has a variety of names for rice noodles, depending on the size and shape of the noodles. However, in most grocery stores in the US they are labeled simply as “rice noodles” or “rice stick” noodles.
The main difference between all types of rice noodles is the width of the noodles.
The packaging rarely says exactly what size the noodles are. Luckily, the packaging is usually transparent so you can see the noodles for yourself! The brand “A Taste of Thai” has a good visual of all 4 widths of noodles that they sell.
4 common types of rice noodles
Although not traditional, you can also find brown rice noodles in grocery stores. Brown rice noodles are very similar in flavor and texture to regular rice noodles. Brown rice noodles can be cooked and prepared exactly the same way as regular rice noodles.
Place all your rice noodles in a deep mixing bowl, trying to snap as few of them as possible as you remove them from the package (always a challenge for us). Bring a good amount of water to boil. Pour the boiling water over the rice noodles until they are completely submerged.
Rice noodles are much more delicate and fragile than their wheat noodle counterparts. This actually makes them so easy to prepare that we hardly think of it as cooking.
Once the noodles are tender, drain them and run them under cool water to stop the cooking. Toss them with a bit of sesame oil to keep the noodles from sticking to each other if you’re not going to use them right away.
• If the noodles will be used in a stir-fry dish like pad thai, you definitely want to under-cook them a bit. They will absorb more moisture and cook the rest of the way through once in the stir fry. If your noodles are perfectly cooked to start, they will turn to mush in the stir fry. Trust us, we’ve done that more times than we can count!
Every minute or two, give the noodles a stir to loosen them up. When they are completely limp, give them a taste to see if they’re cooked through. The thread-like vermicelli noodles used in spring rolls will cook through in just a few minutes. The flat rice noodles might take upwards of ten minutes depending on thickness. Pay attention and test the noodles frequently because they’ll become mushy if they overcook.
FAQ
Do I need to soak rice stick noodles?
- Boil a pot of water.
- Turn off the heat.
- Add rice noodles to the pot, or pour the boiling hot water over the noodles in a wide bowl, covering the noodles completely.
- Swish the noodles around briefly to separate.
- Soak the noodles for 6 to 10 minutes* until tender but still slightly firm and chewy.
How do you cook Sun luck Maifun rice sticks?
How long do you soak rice sticks?
