Mysterious Disintegrating Udon noodles
A few weeks ago, I had a very strange experience making udon noodles. Almost instantly after adding the dried noodles to boiling water, and giving a slight stir, they began to break apart. After a few minutes, there was not a single piece longer than one inch. They didn't taste much like udon either, as they were not in the least bit plump or firm.
This was a different brand than I've used before, and they were labeled "organic". We assumed they were just bad noodles (they tasted somewhat of soggy cardboard), and threw them out.
Last night, I was trying to make udon once again, from a different pack (of a different brand). The same thing happened: noodles broke up, and tasted bland and mushy. The only thing this brand had in common with the previous pack is that they are both labeled "organic", and they were both in a cabinet for several months. One brand was American, but the other label was mostly in Korean. Also, I think my wife bought both of these packages, whereas I've always bought them before.
So, my multipart question is:
- Has anyone had this happen with any kind of noodle before? Any explanation?
- Is there some difference in "organic" udon that makes it do this? Some additive that is omitted? I don't have another package in front of me right now to compare, but my two failed packages only contain wheat flour and salt. How could that be wrong?
- Could the age of the noodles caused this? I've never seen old spaghetti noodles fall apart like this...
- Should my wife be banned from buying udon noodles?
Best Answer
Organic merely tells you that the wheat that was grown, was grown in a more environmentally friendly way, ie. without the aid of pesticides. That on its own will have no effect on noodle stability.
They may be poor quality noodles, have gluten level issues, are they also wholewheat, do your regular udon have some form of strengthening additive like with ramen? Many noodles have kansui added, or whatever passes for that chemically (sodium carbonate) added to strengthen the dough. Of course it may not have been kneaded enough, too old, too dry.
Pictures about "Mysterious Disintegrating Udon noodles"
Why is my pasta disintegrating?
If pasta is added to water that is not at a full boil, or is cooked at a temperature that does not keep the water at a continuous boil, the pasta will absorb too much of the water and become soft and mushy.Why do my udon noodles fall apart?
Continue to knead the dough with your hands in the bowl until it comes together \u2013 it shouldn't be so dry that it falls apart or too wet that it is sticky. If it's too dry and crumbly, add a tsp more water, only till the dough ball comes together. Don't worry if it's not very smooth at this point.Why is my udon mushy?
When making stir-fried noodle dishes such as Yakisoba noodles and Yaki Udon, noodles often get mushy and sticky easily. Besides, vegetables get over-cooked losing their fresh crispy texture when you don't cook efficiently and properly. Here are cooking tips to make those noodle dishes including Yaki Udon.How do you keep udon noodles from breaking?
Udon Noodles: How to Keep Them Separated and Prevent Clumping If you aren't planning on using them right away, toss them with a light drizzle of oil to keep them from sticking to one another. This should help to keep the udon noodles apart and prevent them from drying out and clumping together during cooking.dk losing his braincell while guessing what's inside the box (ft udon noodle)
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Answer 2
- Add the dried udon to a lot of salted boiling water ( even for small quantities of udon you need a lot of water )
- When it comes to a boil add a cup of cold water
- Do this again everytime it comes to a boil . Repeat this till the udon is cooked. This help the dried udon absorb more water without getting overcooked and then disintegrating.
You can then serve the udon cold or hot. Enjoy your noms
Answer 3
If the first brand was Eden, I can confirm that those are awful udon. Nothing like the real thing. I can't remember them actually disintegrating, but I kind of wish they had so I hadn't bothered to eat them.
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