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  • Know your noodles
    Know your noodles

    Asian noodles come in all shapes and sizes consisting of strands that vary in shape, width, and length (FYI: long noodles symbolize longevity). They can be thin straight sticks, flat strands, round strands, and wavy strands.

    USDA Organic, Heirloom Wheat, Non-GMO project Verified logos
    USDA Organic, Heirloom Wheat, Non-GMO project Verified logos
  • Udon, Ramen, and Soba certified organic
    Udon, Ramen, and Soba certified organic

  • 7-8 minutesUDON

    • SHAPE:
      Usually round, though sometimes oblong or square. Most varieties are about 12 inches long.

    • TEXTURE:
      Dense and chewy.

    • HOW THEY'RE USED: Often the centerpiece for hot soups, brothy Asian "casseroles," or the base of a large bowl with toppings of meat and vegetabl toppings with a light soy sauce.
      Also called: U-Dong (Korean) = kal guksu (Korean) . Cuisine types: Japanese

    7-8 minutesSOBA

    • SHAPE:
      Long, thin and round, with a beige or light brown color. The noodles come in serving-sized bunches, often with a ribbon around them. They are straight sticks like short spaghetti, about 8 to 10 inches long.

    • TEXTURE:
      Firm with an almost meaty texture that retains some bite even after cooking. Taste: Nutty flavor

    • HOW THEY'RE USED: Often the centerpiece for hot soups, brothy Asian "casseroles," or the base of a large bowl with toppings of meat and vegetable toppings with a light soy sauce. Also called: U-Dong (Korean) = kal guksu (Korean) . Cuisine types: Japanese

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    7-8 minutesRAMEN

    • SHAPE:
      When sold dried, the noodles are compressed into a brick. As they cook they unfurl to about 12 inches long, with wavy kinks and curls.

    • TEXTURE:
      Springy to the teeth, but that texture will soften after prolonged exposure to water. Ramen fans slurp their noodles as fast as possible to taste them at their textural best.

    • HOW THEY'RE USED: Slurped in soup or broken up and eaten "raw" in salads or as a quick snack. Cuisine types: Japan (though Chinese-inspired), where there are over 20 regional and textural styles of ramen noodles.