8 Great Difference between Chow Mein and Lo Mein (In Tabular Form)
Table of Contents
What is the difference between chow mein and lo mein?
The two popular dishes tend to confuse a lot of people. Many people end up using the name interchangeably. But these two dishes are quite different.
The core difference between chow mein and lo mein is that chow mein is a stir-fried noodle whereas lo mein is a tossed noodle.
Comparison Table: Chow Mein vs Lo Mein
| Basic Terms | Chow Mein | Lo Mein |
| Description | Noodles are soaked in hot water before stir-frying to cook the noodles. | Noodles are cooked fully before they are mixed with meat, vegetables, and sauce |
| Literal Meaning | Stir-fried noodles | Tossed noodles |
| Texture | Crispy | Soft |
| Alternative Name | Chao Mian | Lo Mian |
| Noodle Shape | Either flat or round | Round |
| Appearance | Dry noodle dish | Sauce noodle dish |
| Origin of the names | Chinese language | Cantonese dialect |
| Types | Chicken chow mein Shrimp chow mein Pork chow mein Soy chow mein Panda express chow mein | Vegetable lo mein Chicken lo mein Shrimp lo mein |
What Is Chow Mein?
Chow Mein is a Chinese noodle cooked with a unique recipe and technique. The dish is highly nutritious and this is the reason behind its popularity.
The name chow mein is derived from the Chinese language to mean stir-fried noodles. The preparation of the noodles is quite simple and very fast.
Chow Mein is prepared by soaking the noodles in hot water before stir-frying. The stir-frying is the process that helps to cook the noodles completely.
The cooked noodles are served without sauce. Hence they tend to be dried noodles. They are normally fried in the hot Chinese wok.
What Is Lo Mein?
Lo Mein is another unique noodles that are popular due to their taste and texture. The noodles are highly valued among China-American food enthusiasts.
The name Lo Mein is derived from Cantonese dialect. These two words literally mean tossed noodles.
Low Mein is fully cooked before being mixed with meat, vegetables, and sauce in the wok. They are mixed and tossed.
The noodles tend to be quite soft and mouthwatering. Some common types of sauce noodle dishes are shrimp lo mein, vegetable lo mein, and chicken lo mein.
Main Difference between Lo Mein and Chow Mein In Point Form
Similarities between Chow Mein and Lo Mein
Frequently Asked Questions about Chow Mein and Lo Mein
- Is Chow Mein or Lo Mein Healthier?
Chow Mein, it has a low content of saturated fats and a low amount of calories. It is regarded to be healthier than lo mein.
- Is Lo Mein Or Chow Mein Better?
The taste depends on personal preference. There is no winner between the two types of noodles. Lo mein is soft and chow mein is crispy.
- Does Chow Mein Taste Like Lo Mein?
Chow mein has a chewy texture and fried flavor whereas lo mein is stir with vegetables and mixed with proteins at the end of the process. The texture of the lo mein is soft. Hence the taste of the two foods is quite different.
- Can I Use Spaghetti Noodles For Lo Mein?
Yes. The spaghetti will make a tasty noodle dish though it does not contain egg ingredient as in lo mein.
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Comparison Video
Summary
The main difference between chow mein and lo mein is that low mein is a sauce wet noodles while chow mein is a crispy and crunchy noodle. Both are healthy in Chinese traditional foods.
More Sources and References
- Facts on Lo Mein and Chow Mein. Livestrong
- Chow Mein and Lo Mein. Pinterests
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