Rice Noodles vs Egg Noodles: The Differences, Explained | Thai Ginger (2024)

August 04, 2021
IN Thai Cuisine

Noodles may be the ultimate comfort food. They are adaptable, versatile, and delicious. Invented in China about 10,000 years ago, noodles enjoy worldwide popularity today.

Noodles come in a wide variety. Each offers its own taste and texture. From udon and soba to rice and egg noodles, there’s something for everyone.

Two popular Thai noodles are rice noodles and egg noodles. Both are staples of Thai cooking. The choice of rice noodles vs egg noodles isn’t an easy one to make.

Here’s more about both to help you decide which to try next.

Two Popular Thai Noodles

Since its introduction to the US in 1972, Thai food has rapidly become one of the most popular cuisines in America. The quintessential Thai dish is Phad Thai; a noodle stir fry served worldwide.

Traditional Phad Thai, like ours, is a combination of rice noodles stir-fried with egg, bean sprouts, onion, and fresh roasted ground peanuts in tamarind sauce. At Thai Ginger, we serve it with a fresh-cut lime.

Egg noodles are the noodle of choice in Ba Mee Hang, a delicious steamed noodle dish with garlic sauce.

What are egg noodles?

Egg noodles are long, thin noodles. As their name suggests, egg noodles contain eggs—a lot of eggs compared to other types of noodles. They are made with wheat flour, eggs, water, and salt.

Egg noodles are similar to Italian pasta, but not the same. Italian pasta is made with semolina, a coarse durum wheat flour. In contrast, egg noodles use finer milled wheat flour. You combine wheat flour, eggs, water, and salt to make egg noodles.

What are rice noodles?

Rice noodles contain mostly rice flour and water. Sometimes tapioca or cornstarch is added to improve the appearance and texture of the noodles.

Like egg noodles, rice noodles are usually long noodles. But they come in a variety of widths. Thai cooking uses thin rice noodles in many dishes. But wide noodles are used in rice noodle dishes like Thai Ginger’s Phad See Iew.

Nutritional Differences

Egg Noodles

Because egg noodles contain eggs, they have more protein than other noodles.

One cup of cooked egg noodles has about 221 calories, 3.3 grams of fat, 40.3 grams of carbohydrates, 1.9 grams of fiber, and 7.3 grams of protein.

Egg noodles have a low glycemic index score of 40, meaning they’re less likely to cause blood sugar levels to spike than foods with higher scores.

Rice Noodles

Unlike egg noodles, rice noodles are gluten-free and vegan. That’s because they contain no wheat or animal products. They can be made using red, white, or brown rice.

Rice noodles are lower in calories, fat, and protein than egg noodles. They also have more carbohydrates.

One cup of cooked rice noodles made with white rice has about 193 calories, 0.4 grams of fat, 43.8 grams of carbohydrates, 1.8 grams of fiber, and 1.6 grams of protein.

Choosing: Rice Noodles vs Egg Noodles

Noodles are important in Thai cuisine. There are many yummy rice noodle dishes. But there are also many tasty egg noodle Thai dishes.

The issue of rice noodles vs egg noodles is a matter of personal taste. And Thai Ginger can help you decide, we’re your Thai noodle experts! Try one or both at one of Thai Ginger’s locations today!

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Rice Noodles vs Egg Noodles: The Differences, Explained | Thai Ginger (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between egg noodle and rice noodle? ›

Egg noodles are usually made from eggs and wheat flour. Rice noodles are made using rice flour and water. As such, egg noodles are not suitable for those who are coeliac or gluten intolerant, as they contain wheat flour. Rice noodles, however, are safe to eat for those with gluten allergies.

What is the difference between Thai noodles and rice noodles? ›

Compared to rice noodles, vermicelli, and rice stick noodles, Pad Thai noodles are broader and thicker, giving them a chewier texture. Pad Thai noodles are used explicitly in the popular Thai dish called Pad Thai, known for its unique blend of flavors and textures.

Are rice noodles lower carb than egg noodles? ›

The nutritional profile of noodles differs depending on what is used to make the noodles. For example, one serving of rice noodles contains 44 grams of carbohydrates and 192 calories, whereas one serving of egg noodles contains 40 grams of carbohydrates and 221 calories.

Can I substitute rice noodles for egg noodles? ›

Yes! You may use rice noodles as an egg noodles alternative and vice versa. It all depends on your preference. You can also cook them together.

What are the healthiest types of noodles? ›

Best Pastas You Can Eat
  • Whole-Wheat Pasta. 1/10. Also called whole-grain pasta, this type of pasta keeps the bran, endosperm, and germ of the grain together. ...
  • Chickpea Pasta. 2/10. ...
  • Legume-Based Pastas. 3/10. ...
  • Soba Noodles. 4/10. ...
  • Rice Noodles. 5/10. ...
  • Quinoa Pasta. 6/10. ...
  • Vegetable Noodles. 7/10. ...
  • White Pasta. 8/10.
Aug 23, 2022

What's healthier egg fried rice or noodles? ›

Steamed or boiled rice is healthier for many reasons, not least because noodles tend to be cooked in sauce. Fried rice will also often contain soy sauce or other flavour enhancers, so treat with caution.

Can you use egg noodles instead of rice noodles for Pad Thai? ›

With egg noodles, you should cook them until al dente according to the package instructions and then add them in when you would the rice noodles according to the Pad Thai recipe instructions. Most likely, you'll boil them in water for a few minutes, drain them and then add them to the stir fry pan.

Do egg noodles spike blood sugar? ›

This is because egg noodles are high in carbohydrates (40 grams per 1 cup serving) compared to white pasta (30 grams per 1 cup serving). Egg noodles also have a moderate glycemic index and a higher glycemic index than pasta meaning egg noodles are more likely to cause blood sugar spikes.

What kind of noodles do Thai people eat? ›

In addition to rice noodles, there is starchy bami, made from wheat, much like Chinese egg noodles, and wun sen, a light and chewy cellophane noodle made from mung bean starch.

Do rice noodles spike blood sugar? ›

Rice noodles, made from refined rice flour, have a high glycemic index. On average, a 1-cup serving of cooked rice noodles contains approximately 40-45 grams of carbohydrates. This means they are rapidly digested and can cause a significant increase in blood sugar levels.

Are rice noodles good or bad carbs? ›

Carbs. Regular spaghetti noodles are made with semolina, which comes from durum wheat. Like traditional pasta, rice noodles are a good source of complex carbohydrates, with 41.8g of carbs per serving.

Which is healthier, rice or noodles? ›

The main differences between refined (white) pasta and white rice are in the amount of calories, fiber, and protein in each. Pasta contains more calories, more fiber, and more protein than rice. However, many healthier varieties of pasta and rice are available that are more nutritious than their refined counterparts.

What is the difference between stir fry egg noodle and rice noodle? ›

Texture: Fresh rice noodles offer a soft and slightly chewy texture, while egg noodles, especially when stir-fried, can be more robust and have a denser bite. Fresh noodles, irrespective of their type, always bring a unique texture to dishes. Taste: Egg noodles have a richer taste due to the presence of egg yolk.

Are lo mein noodles and rice noodles the same? ›

Rice Noodles vs Lo Mein

Lo mein noodles are made of wheat flour, water, and egg. Rice noodles are made with rice flour and water. If you're looking for a slippery noodle to absorb the flavor of your sauce or broth, then rice noodles are the right choice for you.

What kind of noodles are in pho? ›

Thin rice noodles: Pho is traditionally made with thin rice noodles, such as these. In order to prevent the noodles from overcooking in the broth, it's traditional to cook pho noodles separately on their own.

Is rice noodle healthier than regular noodles? ›

Notably, rice noodles have fewer calories and significantly less fat than wheat noodles. Compared with spaghetti squash noodles, rice noodles offer similar amounts of fiber and fat — but many more calories and carbs.

Is lo mein rice or egg noodles? ›

Despite their differences, chow mein and lo mein dishes are both made with Chinese egg noodles, which are wheat flour noodles with egg added. While lo mein requires fresh egg noodles, chow mein can be made with either fresh or dried egg noodles.

Are egg noodles healthier than regular noodles? ›

Are Egg Noodles Healthy? Egg noodles can give you extra nutrients that regular pasta won't, though they also lack in some areas compared to pasta. Still, you don't have to choose only one. Add both to your pantry for a well-rounded diet and supplement each with vegetables, proteins, and other sources of nutrients.

Are rice or egg noodles used in ramen? ›

Originally from China, these long, yellow, egg noodles are the main ingredient in ramen; a dish so popular in Japan that there are museums dedicated to it. Japanese ramen noodle soup consists of a huge bowl filled with a broth (which is typically seasoned with salt, soy sauce, ramen, and/or tonkotsu pork bone stock) ...

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