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Rice noodles are not with the pasta. That single fact saves most people a lap of the shop.
Which aisle are rice noodles in?
Dried rice noodles are in the world food aisle of UK supermarkets, on the shelf with the Chinese and Thai ingredients near the soy sauce and curry pastes. They are not with the Italian pasta. Fresh rice noodles, where a store carries them, sit in the chiller with the fresh egg noodles.
Where to look, supermarket by supermarket
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose all stock dried rice noodles in larger branches. Work through these spots in order.
- World food aisle, Chinese and Thai section. Flat packets near the soy sauce and curry paste. The usual spot.
- Straight to wok and pouch noodles. Often a separate bay in the same aisle, holding ready softened noodles.
- The chiller, with fresh noodles. Where fresh rice noodles live if the store carries them.
- Free from bay. A few stores group rice noodles with gluten free products, since they contain no wheat.
Aisle numbers move between branches of the same chain, so the section is a better instruction than a number. Convenience format shops often carry only the straight to wok pouches.
How to find the exact aisle in your store
Search the product in the supermarket app before you go. The Tesco Grocery and Clubcard app shows product location and live stock for the branch you select, and can sort a shopping list into aisle order. It beats walking the world food aisle twice.
Which width to buy
| Noodle | Width | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Vermicelli | Very thin, like hair | Singapore noodles, salads, spring rolls |
| Thin flat | About 3 mm | Pho and other noodle soups |
| Wide flat | About 10 mm | Pad thai and drunken noodles |
| Ho fun | Very wide, often fresh | Beef ho fun and other wok fried dishes |
Match the width to the dish. Vermicelli in a pad thai turns to mush, and wide noodles in a salad are unpleasant to eat cold.
What to ask a member of staff
Say rice noodles and add Thai or Chinese. Asking for noodles on its own points people at the instant ramen or the dried egg noodles, and asking for vermicelli alone sometimes sends them to the Italian pasta shelf.
Asian supermarkets
A Chinese, Vietnamese or Thai grocer is the better trip if you cook with them often. Every width is stocked, packets are far bigger and cheaper, and you also get fresh ho fun sheets and fresh vermicelli that the supermarkets never carry.
Fresh noodles sit in the chiller near the tofu. Buy them the day you plan to cook, since they stiffen fast in the fridge.
Buying rice noodles online
Dried rice noodles are light, cheap to post and keep for a year or more, so they are one of the easiest Asian ingredients to buy online. Multipacks from Asian grocers work out well below supermarket prices. Fresh noodles do not post well.
Storing them
Dried rice noodles keep in a sealed packet in the cupboard for months. Fold the bag over and clip it, since they absorb smells. Fresh rice noodles keep only a few days in the fridge and are best used the day you buy them.
Frequently asked questions
Where are rice noodles in the supermarket?
In the world food aisle with the Chinese and Thai ingredients, not with the pasta. Straight to wok pouches are often in a separate bay in the same aisle, and fresh rice noodles are in the chiller.
Are rice noodles gluten free?
Usually yes, since they are made from rice flour and water. Check the packet, because a few products blend in wheat starch and most are made on lines that also handle wheat.
Do you boil or soak rice noodles?
Soak, for most dishes. Cover them in just boiled water for a few minutes until bendy but still firm, then drain and rinse. Boiling turns them to paste in the wok.
Do all supermarkets sell rice noodles?
Larger branches of the main chains do, usually in one or two widths. Small stores often carry only straight to wok pouches. An Asian grocer stocks every width and costs less.
What is the difference between rice noodles and rice vermicelli?
Vermicelli is a rice noodle, just the thinnest one. Rice noodles is the general term and covers everything from hair thin vermicelli to wide ho fun sheets.
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- Rice noodles. A pack that keeps in the cupboard until you need it.
