How to Cook Noodles

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Co-authored by Thuong Tan

Last Updated: July 26, 2024

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Noodles make a hearty, delicious side dish or main meal. You can whip them up in five minutes and enjoy with butter and cheese, or dress them up with a special sauce when you have guests over. They're wonderful in soups and casseroles, too. Different types of noodles require different cooking methods, but they're all equally easy to prepare. Read on to learn how to cook wheat or egg noodles, rice noodles, mung-bean noodles, or buckwheat (soba) noodles.

Preparing Noodles Perfectly

Heat a large pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt.
Add the noodles to the boiling water and cook them until they’re tender.
Taste a noodle to see if they’re done. Then, drain the water.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Cooking Wheat or Egg Noodles

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Fill up a big saucepan and place it on a burner over high heat.
This helps flavor the noodles and helps the water boil at a higher temperature, reducing the cooking time.

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Place the noodles in the boiling water. If you have long, thin noodles, like spaghetti, you might need to break them in half to fit them all in the pot.
- Don't add the noodles until the water has come to a rolling boil, or they'll end up getting soggy and mushy.
- Add the noodles gently so you don't splash hot water back onto your skin.
Boil the noodles until tender. Depending on how thick the noodles are, you may need to boil them from anywhere from 5 minutes to 12. Read the instructions on your noodle package to determine the correct time.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Thuong Tan
Noodle Expert

Expert Interview. 28 January 2021.}
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Test to see whether the noodles are done. Pull out one noodle with a fork or slotted spoon. Taste the noodle. It should be soft enough to easily chew, but still have a bit of bite, meaning the noodle is 'al dente.' You can also try these other ways of testing whether the noodles are done:
- Toss a noodle against the wall. If the noodle sticks, it's ready.
- Look at the ends of the noodles. If they're white compared to the rest of the noodle, they need more time.
- Hold the noodles up with a fork. If they swing easily back and forth, they're done.
Pour the noodles into a colander to drain the water away.
Stirring in just enough oil to finely coat the noodles keeps them from sticking together.
Wheat and egg noodles are delicious with plain butter, olive oil, and salt and pepper. You can also use them as part of a casserole, add them to soups, or top with pasta sauce.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Cooking Rice Noodles

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Soak dried rice noodles in cold water for 30 minutes. This softens the noodles to prepare them for cooking.
- If you're using fresh, rather than dried, noodles, you can skip the soaking step.
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Add the noodles to the boiling water. The boiling time will vary according to the style of the rice noodle. They cook very quickly, and are ready when they're just soft.
- Rice stick-style noodles should boil for about 5 minutes.
- Vermicelli-style rice noodles will need to boil for only about 2 minutes.
Pour them into a colander to drain the hot water.
Use the noodles in salad or soup. Deep fried rice vermicelli is also a popular dish. These noodles can be shaped into a bird's nest presentation when freshly removed from hot oil.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Cooking Mung Bean Noodles

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Mung bean noodles shouldn't be boiled; they need only to soak in hot water.
Leave them for about 15-20 minutes, until they become soft.
Pour the noodles into a colander to let the hot water drain.
These noodles can be added to soups, stews and stir-fries.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Thuong Tan
Noodle Expert

Expert Interview. 28 January 2021.}

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Cooking Buckwheat (Soba) Noodles

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Add a pinch of salt to the water.
This prevents the noodles from overcooking.
It should take 5 - 7 minutes. The noodles should still taste a little chewy when they're finished. Be careful not to cook the noodles too long, as they become mushy very quickly.
During the summer, the Japanese like to eat soba noodles in a cold broth; during the winter, warm broth is often used. They're delicious with a light dressing and grilled vegetables or fish.

Yotam Ottolenghi, Chef and Restaurateur

Be openminded in the kitchen. "I'm a firm believer that the world should be your oyster when you're cooking. People should open themselves to other cuisines – there are a lot of hidden secrets all over the world."

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How long do you boil noodles for?

Thuong Tan
Noodle Expert
Thuong Tan is a Noodle Expert and the Founder of Noodelist, a food startup producing plant-based instant noodles. Thuong holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Marketing from Haaga-Helia, University of Applied Sciences, and an MBA in Luxury Brand Management from IFA Paris, Polimoda/Shanghai University. Noodelist’s mission is to produce premium plant-based moroheiya noodles that are nutrient-dense, texturally pleasing, and environmentally friendly.

Thuong Tan

Noodle Expert

Expert Answer

It totally depends on the type of noodle you're making and how hot the water is. You can generally tell by the texture of the noodles. Some people use the "does it stick to a wall" trick. You can always just taste a single noodle, too.

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Question

What can I top fresh noodles with?

Thuong Tan
Noodle Expert
Thuong Tan is a Noodle Expert and the Founder of Noodelist, a food startup producing plant-based instant noodles. Thuong holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Marketing from Haaga-Helia, University of Applied Sciences, and an MBA in Luxury Brand Management from IFA Paris, Polimoda/Shanghai University. Noodelist’s mission is to produce premium plant-based moroheiya noodles that are nutrient-dense, texturally pleasing, and environmentally friendly.

Thuong Tan

Noodle Expert

Expert Answer

The possibilities are basically endless. Any kind of protein can work. You can also just top with fresh herbs and spices for a simpler dish. Beansprouts, mint leaf, and coriander, are personal favorites of mine, but feel to be creative!

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If I am adding noodles to a soup, is there any way to keep them from becoming mushy the next day?

Community Answer

Noodles generally keep cooking as long as they are hot. To prevent noodles from going soft, they should be cooled as soon as they are done cooking. You should also wait until the soup is done cooking before adding the noodles. Keep in mind that noodles containing egg will probably hold their shape better than those without.

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Tips

Always use a branded company's noodles when want to cook at home...never use an ordinary broth as they contain harmful substances.

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Noodles can be found in many places, including the noodle/pasta/fast meal areas of your usual supermarket (or the international food area), Asian grocery stores and online food stores. You can also make your own noodles, such as plain noodles, Asian noodles or Ramen noodles.

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The time you cook the noodles depends on you. Do you like them Italian style? 8 minutes is the max. Want it less cooked? Try cooking under 8 minutes. Want them over cooked? Go over 8 minutes.

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