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Numerous individuals believe that the only difference between Lo Mein, Mei Fun, Chop Suey, and Chow Mein is the type of noodles used. That actually makes sense because chow mein noodles are fresh, but lo mein noodles are delicate, isn’t it?
However, in reality, the main distinction among these well-known meals is how the noodles are prepared.
In this section of our article, we shall look at what makes lo mein, chow mein, and mei fun different from each other and discover a lot more about these irresistible edibles.
What is Lo Mein?
Lo Mein refers to “tossed noodles” in Chinese cooking tradition, and that is how lo mein is prepared; boil your noodles, prepare your veggies, protein, and sauce separately, then mix it all together before serving.
According to food experts, peanut butter is a typical component of many lo mein sauces, particularly vegetarian and vegan versions.
It should be noted that lo mein can be heavy in carbohydrates as well as fat and salt. This filling meal is also fast and tasty.
Types of Lo Mein:
Chicken Lo Mein
- While making one-pot chicken recipes, be sure to handle the uncooked chicken with care.
- Because lo mein cooks rapidly, prepare all vegetables ahead of time and have them ready to add to your pan or wok.
- Cut your chicken into tiny strips that can be cooked quickly using a separate cutting board or kitchen shears.
Shrimp Lo Mein
- The flavorful and delicate flesh of shrimp only needs a light seasoning.
- Shrimp cannot endure high heat for an extended period of time without becoming chewy and tough.
- Drain the noodles, add the sauce, and serve after quickly frying the vegetables and shrimp until they start to pick up.
What is Chow Mein?
Chow mein (fried) noodles are crisp strands of egg noodles that are customarily cooked in a flat pan. We would suggest choosing a pan with a sturdy bottom that can withstand the added heat.
The ideal way to prepare the noodles is to boil them until they soften somewhat, then rinse them in cold water, toss them in sesame oil, and fry them.
The thin noodles will obtain a better texture from frying, and you’ll cook them until crispy before flipping them to act as a nest for your protein and veggies.
Types of Chow Mein:
Chow mein may be made with any protein that can be thinly sliced and quickly cooked.
- While cooking chicken chow mein, handle your chicken with care to avoid sickness.
- Marinate your meat first to keep it moist.
- Vegetable chow mein is quite flexible; simply use enough sauce to coat your vegetables completely.
What is Chop Suey?
Chop suey is a dish that may be found in Chinese cuisine from various countries as well as in Chinese cuisine served in America. It is made up of eggs, meat (usually chicken, pig, beef, shrimp, or fish), and vegetables like bean sprouts, cabbage, and celery that are swiftly cooked before being slathered in a sauce that has been thickened with starch.
The Chinese-American variant of chow mein can be made with stir-fried noodles instead of rice, despite the fact that rice is typically served with it.
Chop suey is now a staple of many Asian cuisines, including American Chinese food, Filipino cuisine, Canadian Chinese cuisine, German Chinese cuisine, Indian Chinese cuisine, and Polynesian cuisine.
In Dutch Chinese Indonesian cuisine, it is known as cap cai and consists primarily of vegetables.
What is Mei Fun?
Mei fun noodles are a kind of rice noodle. This recipe calls for dried rice noodles that have been pre-cooked and then dried during the manufacturing process. All they require is a little pre-splashing before being added to soups or pan-sears.
This Chicken Mei Fun (also written mai fun in certain places) recipe is a basic home-style delicate rice noodle meal. If you’ve built a basic Chinese storehouse with only ten fittings, you should have all you need to create it.
Mei Fun tastes very mild and is a lot similar to rice. This happens to be the outcome of the rice flour used to make the noodles.
Because they allow the taste of the sauce and any ingredients you add to the dish to take center stage, these noodles are great.
The dish has an edge over other noodles because they’re more likely to be quite soft, due to the noodles’ retained freshness. It’s essential not to cook these noodles the same way you would some other types.
What Is The Difference Between Lo Mein And Mei Fun?
On the surface, both of these dishes appear to be similar owing to their use of vegetables and noodles with meat or eggs, but this is not the case.
There are some subtle differences between the meals, which may look identical on the surface, as well as one extremely noticeable change!
Read further to explore the major differences between both the dishes:
Texture
The texture of these noodles is very different from one another, and as a result, the dishes taste quite different.
When Mei Fun noodles are dried, they are rather crunchy when added to dishes. They also contain a lot of starch since they are made from rice flour, which enables them to stick together. This is not the same as Lo Mein, which has a much smoother texture. Mei Fun does not absorb the flavors of the sauce in which it is cooked, but Lo Mein does.
Taste
The flavors of the two sets of noodles change because they are created from different components. Yet, both of these noodles have a mild flavor, allowing the other flavors from the other components to dominate the meal. Mei Fun noodles are much sweeter than Lo Mein noodles.
Mei Fun noodles are also fairly mild, so they don’t overpower the meal. Lo Mein noodles are heavier and more filling.
Because lo mein noodles absorb the taste of the sauce that is put on them, they blend into the flavor of the meal better than Mei Fun noodles.
Ingredients
The components used to manufacture both sets of these noodles are significantly different. Lo Mein noodles are created from eggs and wheat, which gives them the yellow color you see. These noodles do not contain gluten, although Mei Fun noodles do. Water and rice are used to make Mei Fun noodles. To soften, they are dried and boiled in boiling water.
It’s fantastic that Mei Fun noodles are gluten-free since it allows folks who suffer from the condition a wonderful meal to order at their neighborhood Chinese restaurant!
Accompaniments
While both of these varieties of noodles are frequently served with similar components, you may switch up the meals based on what items work best with them.
Both noodles work well in stir-fries and soups with protein, veggies, and a sauce. Because the sauce is absorbed by the noodles, Lo Mein is frequently served with a more liquid sauce.
Mei Fun noodles pair nicely with spring rolls, but Lo Mein pairs well with crisp veggies and mushrooms.
Appearance
The look of Mei Fun and Lo Mein noodles is one of the most noticeable contrasts. Lo Mein noodles are thicker and yellower in hue.
They are also absorbent, thus their appearance will vary based on the color of the sauce. Mei Fun noodles are white and thinner than Lo Mein noodles.
While the accompaniments to these meals are extremely similar, with both frequently served with a form of protein and some veggies, the noodles distinguish them.
What Is The Difference Between Chow Mein And Lo Mein?
You’ve most likely heard of the popular Chow Mein dish. Many Americans request it as a side dish with their Chinese meal or Chinese takeaway.
This dish employs the same noodles as Lo Mein, but they are much thinner and can be fresh or dried.
The primary distinction between them is how they are cooked. Lo Mein, as previously said, is cooked before being added to the dish and then combined with the rest ingredients to finish cooking.
What Is The Difference Between Chop Suey And Chow Mein?
Chop suey is eaten with boiling noodles or rice, whereas chow mein is a nest of thin fried noodles. Nonetheless, each of these recipes has vegetables, a sauce, and, if desired, a protein.
Brief Difference Among Chop Suey, Chow Mein, Mei Fun, and Lo Mein
All of these dishes start with chopped vegetables, may include a protein composed of meat, and are finished with sauce. They take little time to build and are simple to customize.
| Dish | Type of Dish | Texture | Size |
| Lo Mein | Tossed Noodles | Soft | Thin, Long, Short Grain |
| Mein Fun | Rice Noodles | Dried | Long Noodles |
| Chow Mein | Fried Noodles | Crispy | Thin |
| Chop Suey | Sauce Over Rice | Sticky Rice | Short Grain |
Is Mei Fun Healthy?
The Mei Fun noodles are a rather bland component of the dish and are neither healthy nor unhealthy. The additional ingredients and how they are prepared will largely determine how healthy the Mei Fun meal is for you.
The meal will become more nutrient and sodium-rich if veggies are added to the dish or if the noodles are stir-fried with sauces.
Is Mei Fun Like Ramen?
Similar to quick ramen, the makers of Mein Fun prepare the food before deep-frying it to create a cake. They are frequently served at festivities because of their high cost due to their premium ingredients and labor-intensive preparation. They are frequently served in a sizable mound in stir-fries in Chinese banquet venues.
What Is In Singapore Mei Fun?
Singapore Mei Fun is a fantastic meal. Mei Fun noodles are used in a stir-fry recipe. Veggies, shrimp, and chicken are frequently included as supplementary ingredients along with a variety of other kinds.
This dish’s flavors come from curry powder, which also gives it a kick and a wonderful yellow color.
Is Chop Suey Healthy?
This dinner may be substantial and healthful when prepared with an abundance of veggies. It’s important to note that anything with soy sauce or a heavy sauce may include a lot of salt.
If you are sensitive to salt, use caution when making sauces. If carbs are a concern for you or your guests, prepare your chop suey veggie and protein dinner first, then let each diner choose how much noodles or rice they want.
Is Chow Mein Healthy?
Sauces can increase the salt and fat content, whilst noodles are heavy in carbs and may include gluten. The food is then deep-fried. If you’re trying to cut carbohydrates, any dish containing noodles might not be the ideal choice.
This, on the other hand, is an excellent meal. It could be worth it to save your carbohydrates for your chow mein!
Is Lo Mein Healthy?
However being bad for your health, the simple carbohydrates in the noodles are fantastic for assisting with weight loss. The customary oil-based sauce that is offered with lo mein ups the calorie, salt, and fat level of the dish.
Conclusion
So now you are fully informed about Chop Suey, Chow Mein, Mei Fun, and Lo Mein. While Chow Mein, Mein Fun, Lo Mein, and Chop Suey are quite similar to one another, they are ultimately distinct foods.
They are prepared differently, have different histories, and use different components. Lo Mein, Mein Fun, Chop Suey, and Chow Mein are all distinct dishes despite their similarities.
