Is Chow Mein Gluten-Free? (2024)

FAQs

Are Chow Mein noodles gluten-free? ›

Chow Mein is traditionally made with wheat noodles, so if you are out a restaurant it is extremely likely that chow mein would NOT be gluten-free. However, if you're making chow mein at home there is at least one brand of gluten-free chow mein noodles available.

Despite their differences, chow mein and lo mein dishes are both made with Chinese egg noodles, which are wheat flour noodles with egg added. While lo mein requires fresh egg noodles, chow mein can be made with either fresh or dried egg noodles.

Lo mein is not usually gluten free. Even if the sauce is thickened with gluten free cornstarch, like many are, conventional soy sauce is made with wheat, so it's not gluten free. Of course, this recipe for gluten free lo mein is made with tamari or gluten free soy sauce, and rice noodles or other gluten free noodles.

Panda uses ingredients that contain all the major FDA allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, soy and wheat). Panda prepares its entrees fresh with shared cooking equipment and therefore allergens could be present in any entree. Panda Express does not have any vegetarian or gluten free dishes.

Sadly, most store-bought egg noodles are not gluten-free as they often contain wheat flour. However, there are a few exceptions to the rule as gluten-free products become more readily available. You can now find brands that create specially made gluten-free egg noodles and pasta.

Largely this is a matter of personal taste since both dishes can be made to your preference. If you prefer lightly sauced noodles with some crunch and vegetables with some snap, chow mein might be the way to go. If you like a more comforting noodle with richly flavored sauce, lo mein may be the better option.

Regular soy sauce is not gluten-free. Wheat is a primary ingredient in soy sauce, which surprises many people who are new to gluten-free diet. There are several gluten-free soy sauce options available that use rice instead of wheat.

Pad Thai is usually gluten-free, but not always. Pad Thai traditionally uses rice noodles (which are gluten-free), but some restaurants use soy-sauce (which may contain wheat) and sometimes fish sauce is added to pad thai (and a few brands of fish sauce contain wheat).

Are pho noodles gluten-free? ›

While the rice noodles and meat in pho are naturally gluten-free, the soup can come into contact with gluten during its preparation. For example, if the soup is cooked in a pot that was previously used to make a wheat-based soup, traces of gluten can be left behind and transferred to the pho.

Avoid wheat noodles and soy sauce. Be careful of contamination if dishes that contain gluten are cooked in the same pan as your food. Rice is gluten free and rice noodles are a great alternative to wheat noodles, so ask if these are available.

Eliminating gluten is the only way to treat celiac disease, an allergic reaction to gluten that damages the lining of the small intestine. However, as part of a new diet fad, many people are going gluten-free to lose weight.

In general, avoid the following foods if you have celiac disease: Cereals, breads, or other grain products that include wheat, rye, barley, or oats. This includes white or whole-wheat flour (including cookies, crackers, cakes, and most other baked goods), semolina, couscous, bread crumbs, most pastas, and malt.

“Properly balancing the starches, proteins and hydrocolloids is essential.” Aaron Reed, senior food technologist, Cargill, echoed that bread is the hardest product to replicate when developing a gluten-free product.

Lo Mein and Chow Mein

Both are made from wheat flour and egg, and they're cylindrically shaped, like spaghetti, but a bit thicker, closer to 1/4 of an inch.

No. Both lo mein and chow mein are made with Chinese egg noodles—wheat flour noodles with egg added. The package should say wheat and eggs. Look for or ask for “rice noodle lo mein” or make your own lo mein with rice noodle.

Depending on your preference, you can also make these noodles wider, narrower, thicker or thinner and either use them to make stir fry rice noodles or noodle soups. Many store bought fresh flat rice noodles have wheat flour in it so it's not gluten free.