What Are Chow mein noodles and How Can I Use Them?
Here's everything worth knowing about chow mein noodles and how to pick them, what they are, how to store them, and what to use instead, plus 56 recipes to cook tonight.
Key Points
- Thin Chinese wheat noodles; the name covers a soft boil-and-fry type and a crunchy canned fried type
- Soft noodles boil 2 to 3 minutes fresh, 4 to 5 dried, then crisp in the wok
- Pull soft noodles while firm; full tenderness turns them to mush when stir-fried
- Crunchy canned noodles need no cooking; use as topping or in no-bake cookies
- Lo mein noodles are the closest swap; the difference is technique, not the noodle
What are chow mein noodles?
Chow mein noodles are thin Chinese wheat noodles, and the name covers two very different products that often get confused on the shelf. Fresh or dried chow mein noodles are soft yellow strands of wheat flour and water, usually enriched with egg, meant to be boiled briefly then pan-fried.
The crunchy canned kind labeled "chow mein noodles" is a separate thing: short noodles deep-fried until crisp, used as a topping or in no-bake cookies.
Getting the right one matters, because they are not interchangeable. The soft noodle goes into a stir-fried noodle dish. The fried crisp version belongs on a salad or in candy clusters.
Cooking With Chow Mein Noodles
Soft chow mein noodles cook fast. Drop fresh noodles into boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes, or dried for 4 to 5, until just barely tender, then drain and toss with a little oil so they do not clump.
Unlike Italian pasta, you do not want them soft. They finish in the wok.
The classic move is to crisp them. Spread the cooked, drained noodles in a hot oiled pan and let them sit so the bottom browns into a crust before you add sauce and vegetables, as in Festive Sweet & Sour Chicken.
The crunchy fried noodles need no cooking at all. Stir them straight from the can into Chow Mein Noodle Cookies with melted butterscotch, or scatter them over a Sweet & Sour Chinese Chicken Salad for crunch.
Pairing and Common Mistakes
Chow mein noodles take well to soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and scallion, plus quick-cooked vegetables like cabbage and shredded carrot. They pair with chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu.
The big mistake is overcooking the soft noodle. Boiled to full tenderness, it turns to mush the moment it hits the wok. Pull it while still firm.
The second mistake is buying the crispy canned noodle when a recipe wants the soft kind, or the reverse. If the recipe says to boil and stir-fry, you need fresh or dried soft noodles, not the crunchy can.
Substitutes
Lo mein noodles are the closest swap, since both are wheat egg noodles. The difference is technique, not the noodle: lo mein gets tossed with sauce, chow mein gets pan-crisped. Fresh thin Hong Kong egg noodles work the same way.
In a pinch, thin spaghetti or ramen noodles stand in for the soft type. For the crunchy canned noodle, crushed crispy rice noodles or fried wonton strips give similar crunch.
Buying and Storing
Read the package. Soft chow mein noodles are sold fresh in the refrigerated case or dried in cellophane; the crispy kind comes in a sealed can or tub on the shelf.
Fresh noodles keep about a week refrigerated and freeze well for a couple of months. Dried noodles last a year or more in the pantry. Once you open a can of crispy noodles, seal it tight, since they go stale and chewy within days when exposed to humidity.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup (45g)Quick facts
Where to find chow mein noodles: Chow mein noodles are usually found in the asian section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Chow mein noodles are a member of the Cereal Grains and Pasta US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 炒面的面条
- British (UK) term
- Chow mein noodles
- en français
- nouilles chow mein
- en español
- fideos chow mein
How much do chow mein noodles weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 45 grams |
| 1.5 ounce | 43 grams |
Related
Cereal Grains and Pasta
Recipes using chow mein noodles
There are 56 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Chow Mein in Chanterelle Sauce with Fresh Herbs
Vegan. I always wondered how would chanterelles taste with typical ingredients of Chinese cuisine. Now I know. Of course I wouldn't be myself if I didn't make it my way.
Harvest Party Mix
This party mix is perfect for the holiday season or whenever you have company. It is subtly spiced with pops of sweetness from the raisins and combines corn, rice, and wheat boxed cereals for a flavor and texture combination that will surely be a hit at any gathering.
Six Can Casserole
Six Can Casserole is the easiest dump-and-bake dinner you'll ever make. Canned chicken, cream soups, chow mein noodles, and melted cheddar bake into bubbly comfort food with just 5 minutes of prep.
Halloween Chocolate Spiders
This is a fun recipe for you to make with your kids, and your kids will love these chocolate coated spiders!!
Noodle Nibbles
Crispy toasted chow mein noodle snack tossed in butter, soy sauce, and hot pepper sauce. A crunchy, savory party nibble baked in just 15 minutes.
Granola Gorp *
Baked granola gorp trail mix with chow mein noodles, peanuts, dried apricots, raisins, and chocolate chips. Crunchy, sweet, salty, and totally customizable.
Snack Mixes
One base recipe, five crunchy flavor combos: Tropical, Barbecue, Hot & Spicy, Herbed Pecan, and Curry. Baked cereal snack mix for parties, game day, or straight-from-the-oven snacking.
Noodle Nests
No-bake chow mein noodle nests with melted marshmallows, butter, and jelly beans make a fun Easter or spring treat kids love to shape with their hands.
Easter Egg Nests
Easter egg nests made with chocolate-coated chow mein noodles shaped into bird's nests and filled with jelly beans. A no-bake Easter treat kids can help make.
Jelly Bean Noodle Nests
No-bake jelly bean noodle nests made with chow mein noodles, melted marshmallows, and butter. Fun Easter treat kids can shape and fill with colorful jelly beans.
Butterscotch Drops
Three-ingredient no-bake butterscotch drops made with melted butterscotch chips, salted peanuts, and crunchy chow mein noodles. Salty, sweet, and crunchy little clusters that take 5 minutes to make.
Creepy Crawly Spider Cookies
No-bake Halloween spider cookies with melted chocolate, crispy rice cereal, coconut, and chow mein noodle legs. A spooky-fun treat kids love to make and devour!
Chicken Salad Asian-Style
Crunchy Asian chicken salad loaded with toasted almonds, sesame seeds, water chestnuts, and crispy chow mein noodles in a sweet vinegar dressing. No cooking required.
Freezer Mix Chow Mein
Freezer mix chow mein turns a pre-frozen beef-mushroom base into a soy and ginger stir-style sauce with Chinese vegetables, ready in 30 minutes over chow mein noodles or rice.
My Tuna Casserole
Classic tuna noodle casserole with cream of mushroom soup, canned mushrooms, and crunchy chow mein noodles on top. A nostalgic American comfort food dinner ready in 40 minutes.
Spiders
Halloween chocolate spider treats made with melted chocolate chips, crunchy chow mein noodles, and M&M eyes. Three-ingredient no-bake party snack kids can make themselves.
Chinese Cashew Tuna
Bring memories of China into your kitchen with this delicious recipe that uses cream of mushroom soup, bean sprouts and cashew nuts.
Festive Sweet & Sour Chicken
Sweet and sour chicken stir-fry with pineapple chunks, red bell pepper, water chestnuts, and a tangy ketchup-brown sugar glaze served over crispy chow mein noodles.
Hearty Noodle Casserole
Freezer-friendly beef noodle casserole loaded with cheddar cheese and cream soups, topped with crunchy chow mein noodles and cashews for a satisfying Midwestern classic.
Kohl's Oriental Stir Fry
Beef stir fry with mushrooms, bean sprouts, snow peas, green beans, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts in soy sauce. A loaded wok dinner served over rice or chow mein noodles.
Oriental Shrimp Salad
Asian-style shrimp salad with bean sprouts, water chestnuts, and crunchy chow mein noodles in a soy-ginger mayonnaise dressing. A cold, crunchy seafood salad.
Oriental Meatballs Crunch
Asian-style crunchy meatballs mix ground beef with water chestnuts and soy sauce, then coat them in crushed chow mein noodles for a deep-fried crunchy shell. Retro party appetizer.
Cold Noodles in Spicy Peanut Sauce
Spicy cold peanut noodles with soy sauce, hot bean sauce, garlic, and sesame oil tossed with chow mein noodles. Ready in 25 minutes for a quick Chinese-inspired weeknight dinner.
Oriental Noodles & Meatballs
Asian-style noodles and meatballs with beef-pork meatballs seasoned with ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and mushrooms, served over chow mein noodles in a savory soy-beef broth glaze.
Halloween Chocolate Haystack Spiders
Crispy chow mein noodles coated in melted chocolate and shaped into spooky spider clusters. These no-bake Halloween treats take just 15 minutes to make.
Oriental Chews
No-bake Oriental chews made with toasted chow mein noodles and coconut mixed into melted chocolate and butterscotch chips with slivered almonds. Crunchy, chewy, and sweet, these set on wax paper in minutes.
Turkey Crunch
Turkey crunch casserole with leftover turkey, cream of mushroom soup, vegetables, and crispy chow mein noodles on top. A retro one-dish dinner that uses up holiday turkey in 45 minutes.
Popcorn Haystacks
Chocolate popcorn haystacks with popped corn, peanuts, and chow mein noodles coated in melted chocolate chips. A 4-ingredient no-bake snack kids can help make, ready in 15 minutes.
Asian Style Tuna Casserole with Chow Mein Noodles
A simple and scrumptious tuna casserole made with chow mein noodles and bean sprouts.
Chocolate Chow Mein Clusters
Chocolate chow mein clusters bind crunchy chow mein noodles with melted caramels, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. A no-bake retro candy ready in 20 minutes.
Caramel Crispy Treats
No-bake caramel crispy treats made with chow mein noodles, marshmallows, and a peanut butter caramel drizzle. Crunchy, chewy, and done in 30 minutes. Makes 24.
Tuna Noodle Casserole Bread
A bread machine loaf that bakes tuna noodle casserole flavors right into the dough. Canned tuna, cream of mushroom soup, chow mein noodles, celery, and onion in a sliceable yeast bread.
Favourite Chocolate Spiders
Chocolate spiders: a no-bake 3-ingredient Halloween candy made with melted chocolate chips, salted peanuts, and crispy chow mein noodles. Drop, chill, eat. Spooky shaped clusters in 15 minutes.
Chinese Chow Mein Loaf
Ground beef, rice, celery, and onion baked in a creamy mushroom and celery soup base, topped with crunchy chow mein noodles. A hearty, old-fashioned casserole that feeds a crowd on a budget.
Sweet & Sour Chinese Chicken Salad
"Chinese" chicken salad by David Cassidy, adapts to serve any number of people.
Chicken Chow Mein Casserole
Cubed chicken with mushrooms, water chestnuts, red pepper, and slivered almonds in a creamy soy-mushroom sauce, topped with crunchy chow mein noodles and baked bubbly. Retro comfort in one pan.
Chow Mein Casserole
A retro ground beef and rice casserole with mushrooms, soy sauce, and crispy chow mein noodles stirred in at the end. Easy weeknight comfort food that bakes in one dish with zero fuss.
Chow Mein
Veal chow mein casserole baked with tomato soup, Worcestershire sauce, and bean sprouts, served over crispy noodles. A retro American-Chinese comfort dish.
Nick Cassoni's Turkey Crunch Casserole
Turkey crunch casserole with slivered almonds, mushrooms, celery, and chow mein noodles on top. A 40-minute leftover turkey recipe that works equally well with chicken or ham.
Andrea Cassoni's Ting-a-Lings
No-bake chocolate butterscotch clusters with crunchy chow mein noodles and cashews. Four ingredients, 10 minutes, four dozen pieces - no oven required.
Chinese: Golden Crown Restaurant House Specia
Restaurant-style chow mein with crispy noodles, shrimp, chicken, BBQ pork, and colorful vegetables in savory oyster sauce. Recreate your favorite takeout at home in one hour.
Chow Fun Noodles
Chow fun noodles stir-fried with shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, and crunchy vegetables, seasoned with shoyu and aji chiles. A Hawaiian-style noodle dish ready in 30 minutes.
Chow Mein Candy Clusters
No-bake butterscotch chow mein candy clusters with salted peanuts. Only 3 ingredients melted in a double boiler and dropped on wax paper. A classic holiday candy that kids love to make.
Oriental Hamburger Casserole
Retro microwave hamburger casserole with ground beef, cream of mushroom and chicken soups, rice, soy sauce, and crunchy chow mein noodles. Classic 1970s weeknight comfort food.
Aloha Chicken
Say hello to this simple recipe that will help you make a succulent chicken dish everyone will remember.
No-Bake Butterscotch Haystacks
No-bake butterscotch haystacks with peanut butter chips and chow mein noodles. A four-ingredient candy that melts in the microwave and sets on the counter.
Baked Tuna Chow Mein Casserole
Canned tuna meets cream of mushroom soup and crunchy chow mein noodles in this retro microwave casserole. A nostalgic weeknight dinner that comes together in 30 minutes.
Baked Tuna Chow Mein Casserole
Canned tuna meets cream of mushroom soup and crunchy chow mein noodles in this retro microwave casserole. A nostalgic weeknight dinner that comes together in 30 minutes.
