Rice Noodles vs Egg Noodles: Everything You Need to Know

When you think about comfort food, the first thing that pops into your mind is noodles. The warm and familiar taste will surely take all your cares away. Discover which is better between rice noodles vs egg noodles in this brand new post!

In all its variants, noodles are one of the most popular and versatile meals all over the world. In some cultures, it is even their staple food and is typically accompanied by sauces and soups in tandem to complete the ensemble.

What’s a Noodle?

Noodles are basically made from unleavened dough that has been stretched, flatly rolled or pressed out. They are then cut into different shapes and sizes to make up the varieties.

The most common type of noodles are the ones that appear as thin and long strips while the rest feature tubes, shells, waves and some that are even folded.

Noodles can be cooked in boiling, pan-frying to simply deep-frying with your favorite ingredients.

Noodle History

In the 21^st century, archaeologists came across a stoneware bowl that contained what is known to be the oldest noodles to humankind. This particular noodles date back to 4000 years ago and were located at Laija, an archaeological site in China that is nestled along the Yellow River.

According to the researchers, these original noodles were made from broomcorn millet and foxtail millet. The Chinese recognize the length of the noodles as a sign of longevity and good luck for many years to come.

The earliest written occurrences of noodles date back to China’s Eastern Han period. During the Han Dynasty, noodles were typically made from wheat dough while that Tang Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty saw the noodles cut into smaller strips and being dried respectively.

Today the debate about who had the idea of stretching unleavened bread and coming up with noodles is still going on. Speculations point to the Italians, the Arabs and as we have discussed, the Chinese.

One thing that is clear, regardless of where noodles came from, it is still the same delicious and most flexible food ever.

Rice Noodles Vs Egg Noodles

There are different types of noodles depending on the ingredients used, the processing as well as the size, form, and strand.

Rice and egg noodles are two of the most popular kind. This is because of easy preparation plus both are flexible.

Appearance, Taste, and Smell

Ideally, noodles are served in a soup or with a flavor-filled sauce. They can either be served fresh or dried.

So, what are the distinguishing features between these two famous noodles?

Rice noodles are made from water and rice flour. Most times, cornstarch and tapioca are added to take the transparency a notch higher while also working on the chewy texture. T

Rice noodles have a neutral flavor that allows them to be compatible with soups, salads, curries, grilled cuts as well as the typical stir-fry. You can make rice noodles using different rice varieties such as red rice, white rice, and brown rice.

For a healthier choice, most people use brown rice. Finally, the rice noodles are gluten-free.

On the other hand, egg noodles are made from eggs, wheat flour, salt, and water. It contains coloring or an actual egg as an ingredient to add some color, flavor, and elasticity. Manufacturers tend to add an agent that increases the PH levels in the noodles.

The higher the alkaline levels the greater the protein content in the noodles as well as the rate of water absorption. Ultimately, this inclusion helps the noodles to appear robust and chewier, which is the ideal texture for noodle enthusiasts. When the PH levels are high, the flour acquires yellow pigments, which give the noodles its color.

Let’s Talk Nutrition

Both Egg and rice noodles came for different raw ingredients. Each has its own nutritional value. Experts, however, state that regardless of your preference, be sure to look out for your portions.

Typically, having not more than one cup of cooked noodles should be sufficient without having to increase your blood sugar levels.

Egg Noodles

Egg noodles are low in carbohydrates and cholesterol as well. With these types of noodles, the nutritional value is highly dependent on the processing technique as well as the type of wheat used.

They have a medium caloric content, which translates to 210 calories for every cooked cup of egg noodles.

Further, one cooked cup also contains up to four grams of protein, 12 grams of fat and approximately 27 grams of carbs. Some of the egg noodle variants also have Folate, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B.

Rice Noodles

Rice noodles have a caloric content that does not go higher than 192 calories for every cup cooked. They have 1.20 grams of fat and 0.16 grams of protein.

The low protein value is due to that fact that rice noodles have no principle protein ingredients.

Further, every cooked cup has 21.91 carbohydrates and 1.80 grams of fiber. They also have a higher folate content that the egg noodles with the inclusion of vitamins and minerals.

The Big Question

Seeing that noodles are on the top of the ‘favorite food’ list for a significant number of people, it is important to know which type will be suitable for you.

Rice noodles are ideal for the gluten intolerant people as they are gluten-free. If you are diabetic, you can go for rice noodles as they are a good source of carbohydrates. The body will convert these carbs into energy.

However, mind your portions of excessive carb intake. It can potentially increase blood glucose levels. Balance this meal with protein-based meals or non-starchy vegetables.

If you are looking to lose weight, you need to keep away from excessive carbs and fats. Same goes for those who are bodybuilding, you can also opt for rice noodles as they present more nutritional benefits.

Regardless of the type that you select, it is very important to ensure that you check the individual ingredients to get the right product for you.

Preparation Tips

Each menu requires a thorough preparation to make it special. Here are some tips in preparing egg and rice noodles.

Rice Noodle Tips

When preparing rice noodles, you can start off by soaking them in room temperature or cold water for up to 15 minutes. Move to boil them briefly until they are supple. If you want to stir-fry, rinse the rice noodles with cold water, then hot water until al dente.

Proceed to incorporate your spices and seasoning while keeping in mind that these noodles have a neutral flavor.

This means that you can pair it with any accompaniment and still make a memorable meal. Some seasonings that go well with these noodles include light soy sauce, white pepper, and sesame oil among others.

Egg Noodle Tips

For egg noodles, they are full of flavor and are typically ideal for stir-frying. They are firm and can resist the tossing and heat levels of your wok.

Keep the thick noodles for your creamy sauces and the thin ones for the dryer stir-fries. Cook in a pot of boiling water for up to 15 minutes until al dente. Egg noodles go well with lean proteins, saucy stews, and soups.

What Are The Best Noodles? Homemade Noodles.

No matter what kind of noodles you prefer, they will taste the best when you make them yourself at home. Unfortunately, not everyone has time to deal with making noodles, which is why I have an interesting solution for you.

What would you say if someone or something did for you delicious aromatic noodles made of 100% natural ingredients, no preservatives and other unnecessary substances? The device that I would like to show you here is very popular among fans of all kinds of noodles and pasta.

With Philips Pasta Maker, making pasta or noodles will be child’s play for you.

How to do it?

1. First you choose the right shaping disc depending on what shape you want to give to your noodles.
2. Select the appropriate button responsible for making rice noodles.
3. Put rice flour into your pasta maker and other ingredients listed in this recipe (video below). Of course, you can choose a different type of flour depending on what type of noodles you make.
4. The device automatically calculates the amount of ingredients needed to make a portion of noodles. Thanks to the weight which is inside the device, your pasta maker will inform you when exactly you should stop pouring flour and other ingredients.
5. Then start the process of making noodles and slowly add the right amount of water. How much water? The device will calculate and give you the amount of water that is appropriate to the amount of flour you have just poured.
6. That’s all, now just wait a few minutes until your fresh and natural noodles are ready.

Unfortunately, this device has one drawback, it is not cheap. If you are a fan of noodles or just want to eat natural and healthy things, treat it as an investment. Certainly on the store shelf you can find a lot of different pastas, but their quality or composition leaves a lot to be desired.

That’s why I recommend you this device.

Summary

After reading this article, you can now separate the stereotypes from what is real about egg and rice noodles. This  means that despite your health status, you can include this versatile meal into your menu without worrying about any implications.

Remember, despite the type of noodles you go for, it is imperative for you to religiously mind your portions as well as check the list of ingredients.

Do you love noodles? Do you often prefer the rice or egg noodles for your meals? Talk to us in our comment box below and tell us how you love pairing your noodles.

We would love to hear from you!