Before cooking, soak in hot, warm, or cold water, depending on what you are making. The noodles become softer and stickier as the water temperature rises because they soak up more water. This leads to some general guidelines for what types of dishes require what kinds of soaking. For casseroles (where the noodles’ water may be baked out), soak in hot water For re-cooked dishes, like Thai spring rolls, use warm water. Noodles for stir-fried dishes should be soaked in cold water to prevent them from becoming overly sticky. When the noodles are opaque and soft (like cooked spaghetti), the soaking process is complete. After the noodles are cooked they will become clear. When soaked in soup or water for a prolonged period of time, high-quality noodles shouldn’t continue to expand.
Cellophane noodles, bean thread noodles, transparent noodles, and glass noodles are additional names for clear noodles. Vermicelli is the most widely used size in Thai cuisine, though linguine and other sizes are also available. The noodles are white (not off-white like rice vermicelli) in color. They come dried in small and large bundles. The one I purchase comes in a bag with 8 tiny bundles (2 oz.) inside. each). Each bundle is good for a dish.
FAQ
What are those transparent noodles called?
Most people are familiar with bean thread vermicelli, also referred to as mung bean vermicelli, as glass noodles or cellophane noodles.
What are those clear Asian noodles?
Fensi, also known as cellophane noodles (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: fns; lit. The transparent noodle known as “flour thread” is made of starch (such as mung bean starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, tapioca starch, or canna starch) and water.
What are transparent Chinese noodles called?
Glass noodles are packaged dry and typically white or a light tan color. They are also known as cellophane noodles, bean thread noodles, or fensi. The noodles get their name because when they’re cooked, they turn transparent and resemble pieces of glass.
What are clear Thai noodles called?
Glass noodles, also referred to as cellophane noodles, fensi, or bean thread noodles, are typically used to make Pad Woon Sen. They magically turn clear like glass once cooked.
