Frozen noodles facts for kids
| Alternative names | Chilled noodles |
|---|---|
| Type | Noodle |
Frozen noodles and chilled noodles are super quick and easy noodles. You can buy them frozen or chilled, and they are ready to eat in just a few minutes! Unlike dried noodles, these often come with other tasty ingredients like vegetables, meat, and soup broth. They are a popular choice for a fast meal.
Contents
What Are Frozen and Chilled Noodles?
These special noodles are designed to be cooked very quickly. You just need to put them in boiling water for about 20 to 60 seconds. Frozen noodles usually take less than two minutes to thaw and cook.
Some common types of noodles that are sold this way include:
- Udon: Thick, chewy Japanese noodles.
- Chinese-style noodles: Many different kinds, often used in stir-fries or soups.
- Soba: Thin Japanese noodles made from buckwheat.
Most frozen noodles are already boiled before they are frozen. Raw frozen noodles are less common because they can sometimes dry out when stored for a long time.
How Are They Made?
Making chilled and frozen noodles starts with boiling them perfectly. They are cooked until the outside is very moist (about 80% water) and the inside is a bit less moist (about 50% water).
- Chilled Noodles: After boiling, these noodles are quickly put into their packages and then kept cool in a refrigerator, usually between 4°C and 10°C (39°F and 50°F).
- Frozen Noodles: These noodles are frozen very fast using a method called flash freezing. This often happens at super cold temperatures, like -40°C (-40°F), for about 30 minutes. This quick freezing helps keep the noodles fresh for a long time, sometimes up to a year!
Both chilling and flash freezing help the noodles stay good by changing their starch. This process makes them last longer on the shelf. Sometimes, frozen noodles are packaged first and then flash frozen.
Who Buys Them?
Frozen and chilled noodles are very popular around the world. In 2001, chilled noodles made about ¥400 billion yuan in sales, and frozen noodles made about ¥70 billion yuan. A big part of these sales comes from restaurants that buy them directly from factories. This is because these noodles are so quick and easy to prepare, which is perfect for busy kitchens.
Why Choose Frozen Noodles?
Frozen noodles have some cool advantages over dried noodles. They often end up less sticky, firmer, and thicker when cooked. This is because of how they are processed.
Chilled noodles are also very convenient, but they don't last as long as frozen or dried noodles. After about two weeks in the fridge, chilled noodles can start to clump together.
Scientists have studied how the texture of these noodles changes over time. In one study from 2001, researchers found that both frozen and chilled noodles lost some of their perfect texture the longer they were stored. However, raw frozen noodles (cooked after thawing) kept their texture much better than noodles that were cooked before being frozen.
