What Are Glass Noodles? Here's Everything You Need to Know (2024)

See what these transparent noodles are all about!

By Ariana Phillips Tessier

What Are Glass Noodles? Here's Everything You Need to Know (1)

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If you make a dish with glass noodles, you'll see right away how they got their name: Glass noodles are clear like glass once they're cooked. But what are glass noodles, exactly? Well, glass noodles, also called cellophane noodles or bean threads, are long, thin noodles commonly used in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Filipino, and other East and Southeast Asian cuisines. They're made from the starch of mung beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and/or tapioca and they look almost translucent when you cook them. Glass noodles taste similar to wheat pasta, but they’re slightly softer and heavier than, say, angel hair pasta, which is their closest Italian relative in shape and size. Because glass noodles don't contain wheat flour, they're usually gluten-free. (Always check ingredient labels to make sure that your glass noodles are produced in a gluten-free facility.) Keep scrolling to learn more about glass noodles and how to cook them.

Glass noodles are sold dried in packages, and you'll usually find them among the shelves with other Asian noodles, like rice and soba noodles. (You can also easily find the noodles online.) Glass noodles are long and thin and white or tan in color—they won't turn clear until they're cooked. They're great in stir-fries and salads—they soak up tons of flavor.

Are glass noodles healthy?

Despite not being made with flour, glass noodles are nutritionally similar to white flour–based pastas. (Each 1 cup serving of cooked glass noodles has 160 calories and 39 grams of carbohydrates, whereas the same amount of cooked spaghetti has 200 calories and only 24 grams of carbs.) Glass noodles are not a great source of fiber, protein, or vitamins, but they do offer a gluten-free alternative to flour-based pastas (again, be sure to check your package labels).

What Are Glass Noodles? Here's Everything You Need to Know (3)

How do you cook glass noodles?

Glass noodles actually do not need to be cooked in boiling water. The easiest way to prepare them is to pour boiling water over them in a heatproof bowl and let them sit for 10 to 15 minutes until softened before draining. (Check the label for instructions.) If you do choose to boil them, they will only need a quick 3 to 5 minutes.

What dishes can I make with glass noodles?

Glass noodles are very popular in East and Southeast Asian cuisines and are often served in both hot and cold preparations such as soups, hot pots, stir-fries, spring rolls, and cold salads. If you can't find them, you can usually use rice vermicelli (for chilled salads or spring rolls), soba noodles (for dishes like stir-fries) or angel hair pasta (for most soups) in their place. None of these substitutes will have the same translucent appearance, but they can be used in a pinch. Glass noodles are often served on the bottom of a dish with the sauce, vegetables and protein on top—and it's not mixed together until the last minute. (Glass noodles soak up liquid easily!) Try them in Ree Drummond's Veggie Stir Fry, Thanksgiving-inspired Leftover Turkey Spring Rolls, or these Shrimp Spring Roll Noodle Bowls!

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What Are Glass Noodles? Here's Everything You Need to Know (2024)

FAQs

What Are Glass Noodles? Here's Everything You Need to Know? ›

Glass noodles—also referred to as cellophane noodles, bean thread noodles, or fensi—are packaged dry and usually white or a light tan color. Once they are cooked, the noodles become transparent and look like glass, hence their name.

Are glass noodles unhealthy? ›

Are glass noodles healthy? Despite not being made with flour, glass noodles are nutritionally similar to white flour–based pastas. (Each 1 cup serving of cooked glass noodles has 160 calories and 39 grams of carbohydrates, whereas the same amount of cooked spaghetti has 200 calories and only 24 grams of carbs.)

What are glass noodles made of? ›

'flour thread'), sometimes called glass noodles, are a type of transparent noodle made from starch (such as mung bean starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, tapioca, or canna starch) and water. A stabilizer such as chitosan (or alum, illegal in some jurisdictions) may also be used.

Why are glass noodles so good? ›

Glass noodles are especially great at absorbing flavor. To infuse yours, you can reconstitute them in a savory sauce of chicken stock, soy sauce and sugar. Or you can soak them in warm water first, and then add them to a hot stir-fry.

Do glass noodles taste like normal noodles? ›

On their own, glass noodles don't have much flavor. They are bland with the slightest chew and a tinge of starchy sweetness. The noodles soak in the nuances of the dish, so if put in spicy broth the glass noodles will be savory with some heat.

What is the healthiest noodle to eat? ›

6 Healthy Noodles You Should Be Eating, According to a Dietitian
  • Whole-Wheat Pasta.
  • Chickpea Pasta.
  • Veggie Noodles.
  • Red Lentil Pasta.
  • Soba Noodles.
  • White Pasta.
Jul 13, 2023

Which is healthier, glass noodles or rice noodles? ›

Glass noodles are lower in calories and GI.

This is because they can absorb a lot more water than rice and wheat noodles; so a plate of cooked glass noodles actually contains less carbs because there's more water in it. They are also lower in glycemic index than rice or wheat noodles.

What is another name for glass noodles? ›

Glass noodles—also referred to as cellophane noodles, bean thread noodles, or fensi—are packaged dry and usually white or a light tan color. Once they are cooked, the noodles become transparent and look like glass, hence their name.

Are glass noodles high carb? ›

Though they aren't completely devoid of carbohydrates, glass noodles are significantly lower in carbs compared to traditional pasta.

Are sweet potato noodles glass noodles? ›

While sweet potatoes are a good source of dietary fiber and have antioxidant properties, the glass noodles are just sweet potato starch noodles stripped of their nutritional benefits.

Are glass noodles anti-inflammatory? ›

Glass noodles are sugar-free

By reducing sugar in your diet, you can help lower your cholesterol, blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and more. Because of this, glass noodles are often recommended to those with diabetes.

Do you need to soak glass noodles before cooking? ›

water. Soaking the dried mung bean vermicelli in room temperature or warm (not hot or boiling) water ensures that they don't soften too quickly. This also makes sure that they stay springy and chewy even after stir-frying! These noodles are very delicate and can easily become mushy from hot temperatures.

How long do glass noodles last? ›

Unopened glass noodles can lasts for about 2 years from the production date if stored properly. Once the package is opened, they can be kept for around 2-3 months. But, don't rely strictly on these timeframes, always check the expiration date mentioned on the package.

Is glass noodle healthy? ›

Glass noodles are fat-free and great for weight-loss diets. Reducing fats in your meal will combat obesity, cardiovascular disease, and several other metabolic disorders. Cellophane noodles are also a great source of iron. Getting enough iron in your diet ensures that oxygen is transported through the body.

Can dogs eat glass noodles? ›

Can dogs eat noodles? Dogs can eat noodles but only as a special treat. Noodles are not very well suited to a dog's nutritional needs. Even though they are not toxic to dogs, they can contribute to weight problems due to the high content of carbohydrates.

Are glass noodles the same as pad thai noodles? ›

While they are both Thai dishes and are also both stir fries, pad woon sen uses glass noodles, while pad Thai uses rice noodles.

Which noodle is unhealthy? ›

Ramen noodles are a high-sodium food. Consuming too much sodium can negatively impact your health and has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stomach cancer and stroke.

Are japchae noodles healthy? ›

Traditional japchae is already a relatively healthy dish, with the inclusion of so many antioxidant and fiber rich vegetables: red bell pepper, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, onions, spinach, carrots.

How many calories are in Korean glass noodles? ›

Japchae Korean Glass Noodle Stir Fry
Nutrition Facts 1 servings per container Serving size 4 oz Calories per serving 249Amount/serving% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6.5g34%
Saturated Fat 0.8g4%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 39.7mg0%
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