No, Noodles And Chow Mein Are Not The Same! See How.
Image Credit: Noodles

Whenever we visit a Chinese or any other restaurant, we see noodles and chow mein in different rows but still, many of us use these terms interchangeably. Both are written separately because they are different. I think this came as a shock to you but it is the truth. Let us tell you the difference between chow mein and noodles. 

 To start with, the main difference between noodles and chow mein is that one of them is the base product while other is the output. In simple terms, noodles are made up of dough but chow mein is made when these noodles are fried. Noodles are actually made up of dough and then boiled before being used in the final product. The dough is cut into long thick and thin strings. When these dough strings are boiled, they became softer and become easy to digest.  

When these noodles are fried in oil, they become crispier and become chow mein which means ‘fried’ and ‘noodles’ respectively. They are tossed and fried in oil, served with added vegetables and sauces. There are a variety of ways in which chow mein is cooked around the world. But let us tell you that commonly known chow mein varieties are Canadian Chinese, Carribean style and American Chinese, and others. Noodles are simpler as they could be cooked plain and served with a sauce while chow mein is a bit fancier. I hope now you have known about the difference between noodles and chow mein and got rid of your confusion, right?

On a happy note, let us tell you a quick recipe of how to make noodles at home from scratch. Have a look at it. Believe me, you would not want to miss it. 

Ingredients 

  • 3 cups of all-purpose flour 
  • ½ tsp salt 
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten 
  • Half a cup water 
  • 1 tbsp oil 

Method 

  • Take a deep bowl and add 2 cups of flour and salt. 
  • Make a well in the center. Add eggs and water. 
  • Gradually mix with hands or a wooden spoon and combine a dough. 
  • Combine the mixture into a ball and knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes or until smooth.  
  • You can add the remaining flour if required to prevent the dough from sticking to the surface or hands. 
  • When done, divide the dough into three parts. 
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out each section into a thin paper-like sheet. 
  • Dust flour on the top to prevent it from sticking. 
  • Now, trim the edges and flour both dough sides. 
  • Roll the dough properly. 
  • Now, cut into ¼-inch slices. 
  • Unroll the noodles and keep them on paper to let them dry before they are cooked. 
  • Meanwhile, take a bowl and add water to it. 
  • Add salt and let the water boil. 
  • Now add 1 tbsp oil and drop the noodles into the water. 
  • Cook until the noodles for 7 to 10 minutes or tender.  

Let us know if there is any cooking ingredient you are confused about and want us to clear your confusion. Enjoy!!