Noodles and Pasta are usually words used interchangeably, as most people believe they are the same thing. While both are made from a type of dough, they can widely differ. The dough is usually rolled out, flatted and shaped into different types of pasta and noodles. There’s many different types and many ways to prepare them, which is why they’re highly favored throughout the world.
Today we’d like to talk about how Pasta and Noodles are different, and which ones are the best tasting and best for you.
Continue reading to learn more!
- Are Noodles and Pasta the Same?
- How many types of Noodles are there?
- What is the best Noodle?
- Are Noodles good for your health?
Are Noodles and Pasta the Same?
Noodles and Pasta are very similar, but technically no they are not the same. Pasta is characterized by the coarse flour the pasta dough is made with. This is typically semolina durum wheat flour. You can learn more about semolina in our blog: Semolina Pasta: Why it’s Better
A Noodle is made from flour milled from common wheat, and can sometimes even contain egg in its dough. Another key difference is in the process in which they are made. They are typically made by performing a “Sheeting” process. In this process, the dough is rolled out flat into a sheet and pulled through a cutting machine. In the cutting machine, the dough is sliced into individual strands.
This is a very different process compared to pasta. Pasta is created by an extrusion process. This means that once the semolina flour is mixed with water and made into a dough, the dough is then pushed or extruded through dye or clay moldings. This is why pasta can come in shapes like bow ties and large tubes shape pasta such as elbow macaroni. Noodles are springy long ribbons like Ramen or Udon. One of our favorite pasta shapes without a doubt is our Alligator shaped pasta.
Pasta can be made fresh and cooked immediately, but is most commonly dired and sold as a dried good that requires boiling. Once boiled, pasta should be “Al Dente” meaning that it should still be firm but tender.
Noodles are more known for coming in many different ways such as fresh, dried, parboiled, steamed, and deep-fried. Rather than having an “Al Dente” texture, they are more chewy, light and bouncy.
How many types of Noodles are there?
There’s an endless amount of types of Noodles in the world. The oldest history of them dates back to 4,000 years ago in China, so it’s safe to assume they originated in Asia. Each region of Asia creates noodles and noodle dishes differently, so there is really a limitless list of the different types of them. Noodles are usually served with broth or light sauces such as Ramen, Udon, Vermicelli, Wonton and Cumian. As they rose in popularity around the world, other countries made them into their own versions such as Saimin in Hawaii.
Wikipedia has a list of some famous ones here.
What is the best Noodle?
The best noodle is one that best captures your sauce or sits well in your broth. For example, long pasta noodles will be able to capture fresh tomato sauce very well. Thin and springy noodles can be coated in olive oil and toppings easily. Thick and flat noodles can pair really well with meat, cheese, and cream sauces like fettuccine alfredo. Shaped noodles such as wonton noodles can sit well in both broth and meat sauces.
At Dagostino’s our favorite noodle is the vermicelli noodle. In fact we like it so much we made our own using semolina wheat. Our vermicelli pasta is great for soups, gumbos, yaka mein and if you’re extra creative you can even make it into an elevated mac and cheese.
Find Some of our favorite pasta recipes and pasta dishes here.
Are Noodles good for your health?
Evey food can fit into your diet when consumed in moderation. Always consult your doctor before changing your diet. Noodles are a main pillar in many people's diets all over the world. Of course, some pastas and noodles will be more healthy than others, especially considering how they’re prepared. For instance, pasta salad with veggies and light olive oil will be much healthier than raviolis filled with cheese and topped with meat sauce.
Some of the main benefits of consuming noodles is Vitamin B and sustained fullness from the Carbohydrates. You can read more about the health benefits of pasta in our blog: Is Pasta Healthy?: Keep Carbs and Lose Weight
Buon Appetito! We hope this small guide helps you learn the tasty difference between noodles and pasta.