Chow Fun vs Mei Fun: What Is The Difference?
Chow Fun vs. Mei Fun, is there a difference? Actually, there are many differences, the biggest one being the type of noodles. Mei Fun is made with thin rice noodles, while Chow Fun is made with flat and wide rice noodles.
Chinese noodle dishes are getting more popular globally, and for foreigners, it can be hard to distinguish between different types. That’s why you should read this post and learn more about Chinese noodles.
Table of Contents
Chow Fun Vs. Mei Fun
Although they might seem like the same thing to someone who doesn’t know better, Chow Fun noodles and Mei Fun noodles are completely different. As already mentioned, these two dishes use completely different types of noodles.
Appearance
Mei Fun is made with thin noodles that you need to stir fry or cook in a broth. It is served with vegetables and meat. On the other hand, Chow Fun is made with stir-fried flat rice noodles served with seafood, vegetables, and meat.
Cooking Style
Speaking of meat, Mei Fun is usually served with thinner slices of meat, while Chow Fun is served with thick cuts.
Mei Fun uses dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, and other Asian condiments. Chow Fun, on the other hand, uses thick sauces and condiments.
Since both Mei Fun and Chow Fun noodles are made of rice flour, they are more fragile than typical wheat flour pasta, such as spaghetti or ramen noodles. That’s why you shouldn’t cook them for too long. Otherwise, they will fall apart, especially Mei Fun noodles which are really thin.
Mei Fun noodles often come in a single folded strip that you need to break apart before cooking, while you don’t have to do that with Chow Fun noodles.
Nutritional Value
Chow Fun and Mei Fun noodles have similar nutritional value, with similar amounts of carbs, fiber, and proteins. However, these dishes can be quite different in nutritional value depending on the other ingredients and condiments.
Flavor And Texture
Without condiments, these noodles taste the same because they are made of the same flour. However, with condiments and other ingredients, Mei Fun And Chow Fun dishes taste completely different.
When it comes to texture, they are completely different, with or without any other condiments and ingredients. Mei Fun noodles are a type of rice vermicelli noodles, which means they are easier to grip and overall have a more satisfying texture than Chow Fun noodles.
What Is Chow Mein Vs. Chow Fun?
Chow Mein is a dish made of Chinese egg noodles, while Chow Fun is made of rice noodles. Chow Fun is usually made in a wok, while Chow Mein noodles are pan-seared.
Chow Mein has five times more calories than Chow Fun. This difference is so drastic because Chow Mein uses much more oil than Chow Fun, and egg noodles are more packed with calories than rice noodles.
However, Chow Fun and Chow Mein can have similar nutritional values, depending on the veggies and meat used in the recipe.
Chow Fun noodles are gluten-free since rice flour contains no gluten. On the other hand, Chow Mein noodles are made from wheat flour; hence, they aren’t gluten-free.
Chow Mein noodles are usually cooked for longer than Chow Fun noodles, and they won’t fall apart as easily as rice noodles because the gluten keeps them from breaking apart.
Which Is Better, Mei Fun Or Lo Mein?
One of the main differences between Mei Fun and Lo Mein is the thickness of the noodles. Mei Fun noodles are much thinner than Lo Mein noodles, which means they cook more quickly and have a lighter texture.
Lo Mein noodles are thicker and have a chewier texture, which some people prefer. Another difference is the flavor of the dish. Mei Fun is typically made with a light sauce, while Lo Mein is made with a heavier sauce. This means that Lo Mein has a stronger flavor than Mei Fun.
So, which is better? It really depends on your personal preference. If you prefer a light and delicate flavor, then Mei Fun might be the right choice for you. If you prefer a stronger and chewier texture, then Lo Mein might be the better option.
Which Is Healthier, Lo Mein Or Chow Fun?
Chow Fun is a type of Chinese noodle that is made from rice flour. It is commonly stir-fried with vegetables and meat and can also be served in soups or stews.
Lo Mein, on the other hand, is an egg and wheat flour noodle that is often boiled or steamed. It can also be stir-fried but is more commonly found in soup dishes.
If you’re trying to watch your calorie intake, then Chow Fun noodles would be the better option since it contains fewer calories than Lo Mein.
However, if you’re looking for a dish that is higher in protein, then Lo Mein noodles would be the better choice since it contains more protein than Chow Fun.
Summary
So, Chow Fun Vs. Mei Fun, what’s the difference? The most obvious difference is in the thickness of the noodles since Chow Fun is made with thick rice noodles, and Mei Fun is made with thin noodles.
These two dishes are made with different ingredients and condiments, and naturally, they have different textures. The cooking style is also similar but not completely identical.
When you first start exploring Chinese cuisine, it can be hard to learn to distinguish different types of noodles and noodle dishes. However, with time, you can become an expert; you just need to experiment and find which noodles you like the most!
Are you familiar with these stir-fried noodles? Which variety is your favorite? Share in the comments!