Introduction
If you were short on time, what would you grab to start cooking? Let us make a wild guess! Perhaps, a pack of noodles? Today, noodles are a staple food all over the world. If we asked you—what is the difference between chow mein vs lo mein noodles, would you be able to give us an answer?
You might draw a blank to this question. We totally get you. Given the variety of Asian cuisines, it might be challenging to know which is what.
In fact, most people assume that they mean the same thing. After all, you might think, ‘they are just noodles!’ Sadly, that’s far from the truth. Chow mein and lo mein are indeed different. This brings us to the second myth that people buy into about these Noodles.
Most believe the difference between the two is in the type of noodles used to make them. However, the main distinction is something else—it is in the cooking method!
Read more: Can you feed your dog french fries?
Table of Contents
- What is Chow Mein?
- What is Lo Mein?
- What is the Cooking Method for these Noodles?
- What is the Difference Between Chow Mein and Lo Mein?
- How to Make Chow Mein and Lo Mein at Home?
- What Are the Other Variations of Chow Mein?
- What Are the Other Variations of Lo Mein Recipe?
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions about Chow Mein vs Lo Mein
If you were looking for a detailed distinction analysis between the two, this is the right post for you! We will cover the meaning, origin, main differences, preparation techniques, recipes, variations, and more.
We know that it’s a tall order list. But a true foodie is also someone who is a culinary champ of sorts! By the time you grab your next plate of steaming hot chow mein or lo mein, you’ll be a noodle expert. So, let’s break it down!
What is Chow Mein?
If your friends tell you about their love for stir-fried noodles, they are talking about Chow Mein. The word ‘Chow’ means stir-fried, while the term ‘Mein’ means noodles.
Put together, it is called stir-fried noodles. In Chinese, it is written as 炒麵. Additionally, the pronunciation for Chow Mein is ‘chow-meyn.’
Chinese immigrants introduced stir-fried noodles to the rest of the world. Today, Chow Mein Noodles are a household dish! This is what Chow Mein Noodles look like:
To give a brief overview, you’ll find two types of Chow Mein. These are Steamed Chow Mein and Crisp Chow Mein.
Steamed Chow Mein – In Steamed Chow Mein, ingredients like vegetables or meat are tossed in the noodles while it is being stir-fried. Initially, the noodles are deep-fried at high heat and then stir-fried. In the end, we add a light sauce coating to the dish.
Crisp Chow Mein – In Crisp Chow Mein, the crunchy noodles serve as a base for additional ingredients like vegetables or meat. Basically, you pat and press the noodles while frying and then add the toppings over it.
Additionally, in Chow Mein Noodles, attention is always on cooking the noodles to perfection. Vegetables, meat, and sauce are just complementary ingredients. They are used sparingly and should never overpower the noodles!
Fun Fact: Do you know about the show Gilmore Girls? The mother-daughter duo were known for their infamous appetite for takeouts!
Evidently, the ladies would frequently order their Chinese food from Al’s Pancake World. In fact, there is a cookbook dedicated to just all the food mentioned in the scenes of Gilmore Girls.
It is called ‘Eat Like A Gilmore’ by Kristi Carlson. Interestingly, there is a quirky Chow Mein Recipe in the cookbook called Chicken Chow Mein Sandwich. Well, Lorelai and Rory would definitely approve!
What is Lo Mein?
Let’s now talk about the other sibling, Lo Mein Noodles. The word ‘Lo’ means tossed, while the term ‘Mein’ means ‘noodles.’
Essentially, it is tossed noodles. In traditional Chinese, it is written as 撈麵/撈麪. The pronunciation for the word is ‘loh-meyn.’
You’ll notice that Lo Mein Noodles are softer than Chow Mein Noodles. This is because Lo Mein is just tossed and not fried like Chow Mein.
Just like Chow Mein, Lo Mein Noodles find its origin in Ancient China. It started as a wheat flour noodles dish. This is what Lo Mein Noodles look like:
Lo Mein Noodles usually have bits and pieces of vegetables and meat. Lo Mein imitates the texture of traditional noodle soup.
Typically, every ingredient in the dish is generously coated with sauce. Between both, the latter is the saucier one.
The sauce used for Lo Mein ranges from soy sauce to oyster sauce. Sometimes, while preparing the dish, dark brown sugar is added to the mix for taste.
The noodles used for preparing Lo Mein are fully cooked. So, all you have to do is toss the noodles in with the other additional ingredients (like vegetables and protein) in a wok until it’s thoroughly heated!
Fun Fact: October 6th is fast approaching! Do you know the importance of this day? It is the National Noodle Day in the United States!
How can you celebrate this day? Profess your love for noodles by cooking Lo Mein for your family members. And if you don’t have time to cook, head to a good restaurant in town for a delicious treat!
Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for Lo Mein and Chow Mein, let’s see what goes into their preparation.
What is the Cooking Method for these Noodles?
The ingredients used for Chow Mein and Low Mein are the same, but their cooking method is different. Here’s how these noodles are prepared!
So, How is Chow Mein Prepared?
Remember, we mentioned that Chow Mein is stir-fried. So, we will use a wok for cooking Chow Mein. There are three steps involved in the process :
Step 1– First, we need to soften the noodles. What do we do? Boil or par-boil the noodles and then drain the water! Once this stage is over, we move on to showcase our wok skills.
Step 2– Pour the hot oil into the wok and keep it at medium flame. Usually, people add chopped onions and ginger to the mix. Once it turns brown, move on to add other ingredients.
These additional ingredients can be anything you like—vegetables, meat, tofu, spices, etc. Keep stir-frying the elements and add the sauce of your choice!
Step 3– Finally, to finish cooking, we add the boiled noodles to the wok. In the end, you’ll have crispy-looking Chow Mein Noodles! Don’t forget, the additional ingredients in Chow Mein are typically kept minimal.
What Type of Noodles Can We Use To Cook Chow Mein?
For Chow Mein, we use egg noodles. Egg noodles are made with the help of wheat flour and eggs. These noodles are typically yellow and roundish.
You can purchase fresh, dried, or ready-to-fry egg noodles to make Chow Mein Noodles. If you are short on time, go for ready-to-fry or pre-cooked egg noodles. Since fresh and dried egg noodles are uncooked, you must boil them before frying.
However, if you’re a vegan or don’t really like egg noodles, you can replace them with alkaline or ramen noodles. You won’t get the authentic taste of Chow Mein, but it will still taste delicious!
Is It Chow Mein? How Can I Tell?
If you are confused about the noodles dish that you are having, here are a few pointers that could help you:
- If it is steamed Chow Mein noodles, the dish will be quite oily.
- If it is crisp Chow Mein noodles, the dish will be crispy and crunchier.
- One of the most important distinctions between Chow Mein and Lo Mein is—the sauce is lightly applied to the noodles and never overpowers them.
- Remember that the spotlight is on the noodles. So, vegetables and other additional ingredients are minimal and complimentary.
Secondly, How is Lo Mein Prepared?
Lo Mein is prepared in a slightly different way. Read along to learn more:
As we mentioned before, Lo Mein is the saucier sibling. In a way, we can say that the highlight of Lo Mein is its sauce! Again, there are just three steps involved in this process:
Step 1: For preparing Lo Mein plain, we first need to cook the noodles fully. Here, the noodles and ingredients are cooked separately.
Step 2: So, while the noodles are being cooked, we stir-fry the lo mein vegetables and meat. Then, we add lo mein sauce to the mix and toss everything around for some time.
Step 3: Right before serving, we add the boiled noodles to the ingredients. Since we toss and don’t fry the noodles, Lo Mein tends to be softer than Chow Mein.
What Type of Noodles Can We Use To Cook Lo Mein?
Like Chow Mein, we use egg noodles to prepare Lo Mein Noodles. However, unlike Chow Mein, Lo Mein tastes the best only with fresh noodles. If you want to cook takeout style, Lo Mein, try to steer clear of dried noodles.
If you are confused about what fresh noodles are, remember that you’ll find them in the fridge section of a supermarket! These types of noodles have the best texture required for Lo Mein.
However, if you are a vegan and aren’t really concerned about ‘authentic’ style cooking, you can definitely try using other types of noodles. This could be ramen, rice, dried noodles, or even spaghetti!
Is It Lo Mein? How Can I Tell?
You might be confused between Lo Mein and Chow Mein. Here are a few pointers to help you know the difference-
- Lo Mein noodles have more additional ingredients like vegetables and protein.
- The standout feature of Lo Mein noodles is that it is generously coated with sauce.
- Lo Mein is saucier or liquid-y than Chow Mein. But, remember that it is not greasy.
Read more: Read this complimentary guide on how to hold chopsticks
What is the Difference Between Chow Mein and Lo Mein?
By now, you know that the main difference between the two is how they are cooked. However, that’s just one point!
Here are five points that will help you get a better understanding of Chow Mein and Lo Mein.
Our five-point analysis is based on the origin, type of noodles, health & nutrition, taste & sauce, and finally, the cooking and wok technique used.
Here’s a deconstruction of the noodles:
1. Origin—
Let’s talk about the origin of Chow Mein and Lo Mein. There is a similarity here, as both originated in China. However, this will still help in your understanding of Asian cuisine.
A] Chow Mein
We don’t really know when Chow Mein started. However, there is enough evidence to suggest that the dish probably originated in Northern China.
The English word Chow Mein comes from the Cantonese term ‘Chǎomiàn’. Basically, it stands for stir-fried noodles. It was only in the 19th century that the western world got a taste of Chow Mein.
During the California 1849 Gold Rush Era, Chinese immigrants brought Chow Mein to the United States. Soon, the dish started popping up on the menu cards of different restaurants, and it became a household name.
However, as the dish became popular in the U.S., it was heavily modified to suit the American palate. This change made Chow Mein more of a meat, thick-gravy noodles dish.
B] Lo Mein
Lo Mein is a dry variation of soup noodles. Just like Chow Mein, Lo Mein originated in Northern China. We can say that the Chinese population has had noodles for over 2,000 years now.
You’ll see that both Chow Mein and Lo Mein originated in Northern China. There is a reason behind this. Northern China is known to harvest wheat crops. Since both Lo Mein and Chow Mein are made using wheat noodles, we can speculate that they originated in Northern China.
The word Lo Mein comes from the Cantonese word, ‘Lōu mihn.’ By now, you know that it means stirred or tossed noodles. Between 1910 – 1930, the United States saw a boom in Chinese restaurants.
Due to the strict immigration laws in the 20th century, most Chinese immigrants had to work in the eatery business. With this boom, the popularity of noodles like Lo Mein and Chow Mein really took off.
However, just like Chow Mein, Lo Mein was also heavily Americanized. Traditional Cantonese Lo Mein is just tossed with a thin sauce. Contrarily, American Lo Mein is usually stir-fried with soy sauce and other seasonings.
2. Type of Noodles —
Chow mein and Lo mein are both made using egg noodles. If you don’t know, egg noodles are made using wheat flour noodles and added eggs! However, there are variations in texture between both noodles.
A] Chow Mein
As Chow Mein noodles are cooked with other ingredients, you can use either fresh or dried noodles. You have to parboil dried noodles for 5 to 6 minutes. Chow Mein noodles are not too soft, just cooked enough. Evidently, Chow Mein noodles are thin, oily, and crispier than Lo Mein.
B] Lo Mein
To have the best Lo Mein, it is recommended to use fresh noodles. To cook fresh noodles, you must boil them for 2-3 minutes. Additionally, the noodles are coated with sauce. Hence, Lo Mein noodles must be at least 1/4th inch thick to absorb the sauce.
3. Nutrition —
Let’s look at the health and nutritional difference between Chow Mein and Lo Mein. If you have questions like, ‘Is Chow Mein or Lo Mein healthier?’, these nutritional facts will give you an answer!
A] Chow Mein
Chow Mein has a nice crispy and crunchy texture. This is made possible by stirring and deep-frying the noodles.
Hence, the nutritional information varies a bit from Lo Mein. For protein, we usually add meat to the noodles.
We have noted down the values for every cup of Chow Mein noodles. Here’s a table showing the nutritional facts related to Chow Mein:
| Nutrition Summary | Per Serve |
| Calories | 407 kcal |
| Fat | 50 % |
| Carbohydrates | 30% |
| Protein | 20 % |
Additionally, here’s a look at Chow Mein’s Vitamin Profile. We have measured the daily value vitamin percent of one cup of Chow Mein:
| Vitamin | Daily Value % |
| Calcium | 5% |
| Iron | 20% |
| Potassium | 9% |
| Vitamin A | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 20% |
B] Lo Mein
Lo Mein noodles are soft, smooth, and thick. We fully cook them before tossing it with other ingredients in the wok. Since they are lightly tossed and stirred, they are less fried than Chow Mein noodles.
We have noted down the values for every cup of Lo Mein noodles. Here’s a table showing the nutritional facts related to Lo Mein:
| Nutrition Summary | Per Serve |
| Calories | 310 kcal |
| Fat | 35% |
| Carbohydrates | 46% |
| Protein | 19% |
Here’s a look at Lo Mein’s Vitamin Profile. We have measured the daily value vitamin percentage of one cup of Lo Mein:
| Vitamin | Daily Value % |
| Calcium | 3% |
| Iron | 12% |
| Potassium | 7% |
| Vitamin A | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 10% |
Alternatively, here’s a comparative visual analysis of the nutritional difference between the two:
Finally, here’s a visual representation of the Vitamin Profile of both:
4. Sauce & Taste —
The difference in cooking methods gives them distinct flavors. Here’s a difference in the taste and sauce used for the two.
A] Chow Mein
The sauce used for Chow Mein is extremely light! In fact, little to no sauce is required to make Chow Mein. Remember we stated that the spotlight is on the noodles? Everything else is just complimentary. Additionally, Chow Mein is quite dry compared to Lo Mein.
So, the sauce has to be thin in consistency. For Chow Mein, oyster sauce, sweet soy sauce, and dark soy sauce are just some of your options.
Chow Mein is heavily-fried, so it has a more flavorful taste. It is quite crunchy and has a yolk-like flavor.
B] Lo Mein
Unlike Chow Mein, Lo Mein is heavily doused in sauce. Almost all the ingredients in Lo Mein are coated with it. Even the noodles used for Lo Mein are thick and sturdy. They are parboiled and absorb the sauces quite easily. Additionally, they can support the weight of the sauce.
Usually, Lo Mein sauce is prepared using dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, salt, and ground white pepper.
As far as the taste of Lo Mein is concerned, the sauce is the standout feature. The noodle is soft, thick, and chewy and the taste is sweet and savory.
5. Cooking & Wok Technique —
Last but definitely not least is the cooking method for Chow Mein and Lo Mein. This is the main differentiating factor between the two which will help you identify your noodles dish.
A] Chow Mein
The cooking method separates Chow Mein from Lo Mein. For Chow Mein, we have to soften the noodles first. So, we soak the noodles in hot water. Once this is done, we must fully cook the noodles in the wok. Hence, we add the noodles with the other ingredients and stir-fry it!
As far as the wok technique is concerned, everything is stir-fried in Chow Mein. So, we add oil to the wok, fry, and stir it to make Chow Mein.
B] Lo Mein
For Lo Mein, everything is done separately. Unlike Chow Mein, Lo Mein Noodles are not fully cooked along with other ingredients.
Evidently, we thoroughly cook the noodles and keep it aside. Then, we mix the noodles with the other ingredients and slightly toss it!
Since the noodles are cooked before they are mixed, there isn’t much to do with the wok. As for the technique, all you have to do is toss the noodles with the other ingredients instead of frying it.
Read more: Read this guide to know if you can feed your dog cashews.
Here’s an infographic to make it easier for you to understand the difference:
How to Make Chow Mein and Lo Mein at Home?
It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get cooking. We are going to make a simple dish at home. Take it up as a DIY challenge. Let’s go!
A] Chicken Chow Mein Recipe
Chicken Chow Mein is perhaps the most popular chow mein dish out there! Don’t get intimidated by the presence of meat. It is a simple dish and won’t take more than 10 minutes to cook. Here are the 6 easy-peasy steps required to make the recipe.
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients and Utensils
There is nothing more annoying than searching for your ingredients and utensils after you’ve started your cooking process.
We suggest you run an inventory check and place everything that you need right in front of you! Here’s a list of all the ingredients you’ll need to make this chow mein chicken dish:
Ingredient List
- 150 grams of medium egg noodles
- 300 grams of chicken breast fillets (slice it into strips)
- 1 sliced red pepper (remove the seeds)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Sesame oil
- 1 spring onion (sliced)
- 150 grams of bean sprouts
- 2 tablespoons of light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of cornflour
- 1 tablespoon of groundnut oil
- 1 teaspoon of chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon of five-spice powder
Once you have a hold of these ingredients, it is time to get going!
Step 2: Time To Cook the Noodles
First, you need to cook your noodles in boiling water according to the instructions on the packet. This should take you 2-3 minutes. Once you are done, drain the water and rinse the noodles under cold water.
Drain the water one last time and then sprinkle sesame oil over the noodles. We don’t want the noodles to stick to each other! So, sprinkle sesame oil over the noodles and mix it with your fingers.
Step 3: Add Chicken Strips to the Mix
Now, you need to place the pair of sliced chicken strips in a bowl. Add and mix a bit of soy sauce, chili sauce, and five-spice powder to the chicken strips. Once done, add some cornflour to it!
Step 4: It All Goes in the Wok
You can finally grab your wok and heat it until you see small smoke wisps. Then add the groundnut oil and chicken strips to the utensil. Stir it for 3-4 minutes until the chicken turns slightly brown.
Step 5: The Final Touch
Once the chicken strips are taken care of, you can add the remaining ingredients. Start by adding red pepper, bean sprouts, and spring onions. Additionally, remember to stir the wok after you add every ingredient.
Finally, add some soy sauce, sesame oil, and ground black pepper to finish your cooking!
Step 6: Chicken Chow Mein Served
We’ve reached our final step! You can place the noodles in a bowl and serve it to all your guests! Alternatively, you can watch this recipe video by The School of Wok for chicken chow mein:
Simply Delicious Chinese Chicken Chow Mein Recipe | Wok Wednesdays
What Are the Other Variations of Chow Mein?
If you are not really a fan of Chicken Chow Mein, don’t fret! There are many variations of this traditional Chinese dish. Some popular variations include chow mein shrimp, chow mein beef, chow mein fun, etc.
You can customize your Chow Mein by adding any of these ingredients according to your liking. Here’s an overview of these dishes!
1] Shrimp Chow Mein: If you are a pescatarian, you will definitely love Shrimp Chow Mein. This classic Chinese dish can be made within 30 minutes. All you need is egg noodles, juicy shrimp, vegetables, and a few sauces.
Additionally, Chow Mein Shrimp is a complete meal in itself. You’ll get the required protein from the shrimp, carbohydrates from the noodles, vitamins from the chow mein vegetables.
2] Beef Chow Mein: Another favorite variation is the Beef Chow Mein. Most people love Chow Mein Beef for its delicious flavor. You’ll find this to be a popular dish in Chinese Restaurants.
It is characterized by soft noodles, savory meat, and an addictive sauce that coats the dish. Finally, it is packed with veggies, and you can easily customize the dish. Vegetables for Chow Mein that you can add are carrots, mushrooms, cabbage, celery, bean sprouts, etc.
3] Chow Mein Fun: You might assume that Chow Fun and Chow Mein mean the same thing. Don’t worry; most people mix up the two.
This is because they have a similar name and appearance. But, chow mein and chow fun are pretty distinct. However, unlike Chow Mein, Chow Fun is made using rice noodles. The noodles are white, thick, and flat. Moreover, the dry-frying technique for this dish gives it a smokey flavor.
B] Beef Lo Mein Recipe
If you are not in the mood for Chow Mein, you can try cooking Beef Lo Mein Noodles. Cooking Lo Mein Beef will take longer than Chicken Chow Mein. Additionally, the first and second step remains the same for both beef lo mein and chicken chow mein recipe.
We estimate that the cooking time will be around 30 minutes. We can wrap our beef lo mein recipe in 6 steps! Here we go!
Step 1: Grab The Ingredients and Utensils
Our first step remains the same. Make sure to get a hold of everything before you start cooking. Here’s a detailed list of ingredients that you’ll need to make Beef Lo Mein Noodles.
Ingredient List
- 226 grams of Lo Mein Noodles
- 2 teaspoons of soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 shredded carrot
- 1 minced clove garlic
- 2 chopped spring onions
- ½ cup shredded cabbage
- 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce
- ¼ of sesame oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon of cornstarch
- 255 to 340 grams of flank steak
Step 2: Time To Cook the Noodles
First, you need to cook your noodles in boiling water according to the instructions on the packet. This should take you 2-3 minutes. Once you are done, drain the water and rinse the noodles under cold water.
Drain the water one last time and then sprinkle sesame oil over the noodles. We don’t want the noodles to stick to each other! So, sprinkle sesame oil over the noodles and mix it with your fingers. Set it aside for some time.
Step 3: Slice The Meat
Now, you need to slice the beef steak into thin strips. Remember to cut perpendicular to the fibers. After this, take out a bowl and mix the oyster sauce and cornstarch in it. In the end, add the beef strips to the bowl and let it marinate for 30-60 minutes.
Step 4: To The Wok
You can now move to heat the wok. First, keep it at medium-high heat. Now add 2 tablespoons of oil. After this, you can add the beef strips to the wok and stir-fry it for some time. Finally, take out the strips from the wok and set it on a tissue so that the extra oil gets absorbed.
Step 5: The Final Touch
We are almost done! Right away, start adding carrots, garlic, cabbage, and spring onions to the wok. Remember to add them one by one. Additionally, stir-fry every ingredient for some time before adding the next one.
When the vegetables get crispy, you can add the noodles and beef into the wok. Finally, sprinkle soy sauce and some sugar over your noodles. Also, don’t forget to stir all the ingredients.
Step 6: Beef Lo Mein Served
Your Beef Lo Mein Noodles are all ready to be served. If you are feeling a bit fancy, you can add chopped spring onions as a garnish over your noodles! Alternatively, you can watch this video to cook Lo Mein Beef noodles:
Beef Lo Mein | Takeout Style Lo Mein | Authentic Lo Mein | Chinese Noodles
What Are the Other Variations of Lo Mein Recipe?
Just like Chow Mein, Lo Mein, too, has many variations. The popular Lo Mein dishes include chicken lo mein, shrimp lo mein and pork lo mein. Here’s a brief overview of these variations:
- Chicken Lo Mein: If you are looking for a versatile Lo Mein dish, then you should definitely try cooking Lo Mein Chicken at home. We use egg noodles, chicken breast, and vegetables topped with savory sauce to make this dish. It is a protein-packed dish and can be easily made within 15 minutes.
- Shrimp Lo Mein: Another substitute for chicken is shrimp! It gives Lo Mein a distinct flavor. You have to use raw, peeled medium-sized shrimps for this recipe (don’t forget to remove the shrimp tails). For veggies, you could try adding some color to the dish with red, yellow peppers, zucchini, bean sprouts, chopped basil, etc.
- Pork Lo Mein: Another great Lo Mein variation is the Pork Lo Mein recipe. There is not much of a difference between the Pork versions.
Here, we just cook Lo Mein using pork pieces, colorful veggies, and savory sauces. If you are able to take the heat, you could consider sprinkling some chili flakes on top of Pork Lo Mein!
Conclusion
If you have made it to the end of this post, then you definitely deserve a pat on the back! You’ve successfully mastered the difference between chow mein vs lo mein noodles. It is quite likely that all this food talk has made you hungry.
What could be better than trying out the homemade Chow Mein or Lo Mein recipe mentioned in this post? We are confident you’ll be able to prepare an Asian takeout-style dish in no time!
Read more: Read this article to know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop!
Frequently Asked Questions about Chow Mein vs Lo Mein
Chow Mein Noodles are crunchy. This is because of the way they are cooked. As we mentioned, Chow Mein essentially means ‘stir-fried.
If you were confused between Lo Mein vs Chow Fun, remember that chow fun uses a different type of noodles. While Chow Fun is cooked using rice noodles, Lo Mein is made using egg noodles.
Lovers of Asian food are often divided between the two. However, objectively speaking, there is no noodle dish that is ‘better’ than the other. It all depends on your personal taste!
If you love crunchy and crispy noodles, you’ll prefer Chow Mein. Contrarily, if you love soupy and saucy noodles, you’ll go for Lo Mein.
The taste preference between Lo Mein vs Chow Mein varies from person to person. If you want noodles that focus on the sauce, you’d opine that Lo Mein tastes better.
Whereas, if you like your noodles to be low on sauce, you’d go with Chow Mein. Whatever suits your taste buds will be the better option for you.
It is easy to differentiate between Shrimp noodles. Lo Mein is made using fresh egg noodles, sauce, and vegetables. Shrimp Chow Mein is a combination of fresh or dried egg noodles, vegetables, and raw and peeled shrimp with extremely light sauce.
Lo Mein is simply tossed or stirred noodles. It uses vegetables, thick noodles, and a distinct sauce. Chicken Chow Mein, on the other hand, is heavily stir-fried. Also, we add protein in the form of chicken along with other veggies. Additionally, the noodles used are thinner, crispier, and crunchier than Lo Mein.
Since we stir-fry Chow Mein noodles, they tend to be on the thinner side. For Lo Mein, the noodles are doused in sauce. So, Lo Mein noodles are chewy and thick.
Subgum is taken from the Cantonese word, ‘Sap gam’, which means numerous or varied. It is a popular dish that originated in Southern China and consisted of a mixture of seafood, meat, vegetables, and spicy sauce.
From a health standpoint, we can say that between Chow Mein and Lo Mein, the latter is healthier. The reason is that the noodles used for Lo Mein are not heavily-fried; they are simply tossed with the other ingredients. Finally, Lo Mein does not use as much oil as Chow Mein.
The main difference between the two is in their cooking method. Though they are made with the same egg noodles, the way they are cooked is different. Chow Mein is stir-fried, whereas Lo Mein is just tossed noodles.
Between the two, Chow Mein is crispier. This is because of the cooking method used for Chow Mein. To cook Chow Mein, we stir-fry the noodles.
Whereas Lo Mein is relatively smooth and chewy. Additionally, we douse Lo Mein in the sauce, which gives it a delicious flavor. Contrarily, the sauce is kept at the bare minimum for Chow Mein.
You might get confused between dishes like Chow Mein vs Lo Mein vs Chop Suey! Let us help you out. When Chinese Immigrants came to America, they created Chop Suey specifically for the American Market.
Initially, the dish contained bean sprouts, meat, etc. Over the years, other ingredients like noodles, vegetables, rice, meat, and sauce were added. In Chop Suey, you’ll get a bit of everything!
Whereas Chow Mein is a dish that started in China. Unlike Chop Suey, Chow Mein only uses noodles. Depending on where you live, you’ll find a different version of Chow Mein. Ingredients used for Chow Mein are noodles, vegetables, sauce, and meat.