Noodles had its humble beginning from China and are the most liked food by people of all ages. It resembles like a thin string and softens on being cooked with spices and hot water. In earlier days, noodles from Asian countries were made out of rice flour and were known as the rice noodles. Today we have noodles of different sizes, taste, and color. Other than rice noodles, we have egg noodles, wheat noodles, and so on. Freshly prepared noodles at home can double up as a scrumptious meal at any part of the day. Noodles are of two types, the dried ones and the freshly prepared ones. To begin with, we will see some of the different types of noodles that are largely used in Asian cuisine.

Vermicelli Noodles - Vermicelli noodles are made from mung beans and are similar in texture to rice. They are dried type of noodles and come stacked in small lengthy bundles. The noodle softens on being boiled with hot water and can be used for making soups and added to salads as well. Vermicelli noodles have a bland taste and should be spiced while cooking.

Fresh Rice noodles - This noodle is made from rice paste and come in varying sizes and thickness. The thinner variety of rice noodles is best used for soups, while the thicker ones are stir fried with vegetables. The life shelf of rice noodles are for a maximum of 6- 8 days and should be cooked in boiling water for just about 5 minutes. It should not be refrigerated, as the noodles would stick to one another.

Dried rice noodles - They are different from the fresh rice noodles and are a lot thinner. This type of noodles should be cooked in boiling water and drained off before adding them to soups, salads or any other dish. With the addition of spices, the dried rice noodles are an excellent appetizer with stir fried vegetables.

Hokkien noodles - These noodles are made from wheat and have an added flavor with the addition of egg. Like the fresh rice noodles, the Hokkien noodles have to be consumed within a week. They come in different sizes and can be cooked with rice and vegetables. As the noodle is made from wheat, they soften very easily on being boiled with water and are yummy to taste as well.

Chow mein noodles - They are another type of noodles and much similar to the Hokkien type. Being made from wheat and egg, they cannot be over cooked and are available in two different varieties, dried and fresh. They can be added to soups and salads and are perfect for an evening meal.

Noodles in general have to be cooked in hot boiling water for over 5-10 minutes and should be completely drained from water before adding them to the main dishes. It is best to add them to the dish at the last minute to avoid them from getting too soggy. Noodles taste better with the addition of sauce and vegetables. It gets a creamy coat and the crunchiness of the vegetables.