Tips for cooking rice noodles

Rice noodles are an integral part of many Asian dishes. It is quite hearty, with a delicate texture and a slightly sweet taste. Because rice noodles are quite fresh, they are often a great base for noodle dishes, soups, salads and side dishes – they are perfectly infused with sauces, as well as the taste and aroma of other ingredients. If you know how to properly cook rice noodles, your menu will be very diverse! Let’s discover all the secrets of cooking rice noodles at home together.

How much water do you need?

The amount of water required depends on the quantity of noodles being cooked. The key is to maintain the right proportion—three times more liquid than noodles. For instance, if you plan to cook 150-200 grams of noodles, you’ll need 450-600 milliliters of water.

How long should rice noodles be cooked?

It all depends on what dish you are going to use it for. We will suggest several options on how to cook rice noodles:

• For salad. Place the noodles in a sufficiently large pot and pour freshly boiled water over them. Give them a gentle stir with a wooden or plastic spatula to prevent sticking. In five minutes, drain the noodles in a colander and rinse them under cold running water. Then, add them to a bowl with other ingredients and gently mix them together.
• For soup. When preparing soup, drop the noodles into boiling salted water and cook them for approximately four minutes. Drain them in a sieve and rinse them with cold running water. We recommend placing the cooked noodles in bowls first and then adding the hot broth.
• For stir-fries and noodle dishes: Rice noodles do not require cooking in this case. Simply pour boiling water over them and let them soak for about five minutes. Then, transfer them to a sieve or colander to drain the excess water. Once drained, combine the noodles with your desired sauce, stir-fried vegetables, seafood, or meat, and stir-fry them for an additional two minutes. Cover the pan with a lid and allow the flavors to meld.

Should you add salt?

Yes, adding a small amount of salt is recommended to enhance the flavors. However, be mindful that rice noodles are not particularly fond of salt. A pinch or two will suffice, especially if you plan to mix the noodles with other savory ingredients.

How can you prevent the noodles from sticking together?

Another little trick that will come in handy after cooking. When the Asian noodles have already been removed from the stove, put them in a colander and drain the excess. Now wash everything in cool running water and add very little oil. This will prevent the noodles from sticking together, and even after a certain amount of time, you will be able to add loose noodles to the desired dish.

Now you know how to cook wide rice noodles. Be sure to use our Asian recipes to surprise your loved ones with delicious Asian dishes!