A common question I get from people following a vegan or vegetarian diet is “do noodles contain milk?”
It depends on the noodles; if you are referring to pasta noodles, they are likely to be free from milk. Many other kinds of noodles are water, salt, and flour or contain limited other ingredients. However, they might call for milk or cream in the dough, so be cautious.
In this article, we’ll cover a couple of kinds of noodles and whether they are free from milk and dairy or not.
Do Pasta Noodles Have Milk?
Pasta noodles are made using durum wheat and water and sometimes include eggs. That means there’s no milk in them.
Remember that pasta tends to be served in its dry form, so it’s unlikely that something as wet as milk will be added to the dough.
Do Pasta Noodles Contain Dairy?
Pasta noodles are usually free from dairy too, but you should be a little more cautious about this if you are eating fresh pasta, especially of the stuffed variety.
Fresh pasta might contain milk or cheese-based sauce or filling, making it unsafe for anyone with lactose intolerance.
It is also worth noting that some pasta contains eggs, so if you’re vegan, check the ingredients list before purchasing any.
According to TheKitchn, it’s common for fresh pasta to be made using eggs and flour rather than water and flour.
Although eggs aren’t considered dairy, they make fresh pasta off-limits for vegans.
Is There Milk in Rice Noodles?
Healthline says that rice noodles don’t usually contain any milk or dairy. They are similar to pasta noodles but incorporate rice flour and water instead of durum wheat and water.
That means they’re milk and dairy-free.
Once again, however, you need to be wary of the sauces served alongside rice noodles, as these could contain milk.
If you make your favorite dish at home, you could consider using rice milk instead of dairy milk, as this shouldn’t affect the flavor significantly.
Alternatively, you might want to try quinoa milk, which has a nutty taste that may go well with rice noodles.
Can You Order Noodles Without Milk?
If you need to avoid milk for health reasons, it’s always a good idea to check with the chef before ordering any noodles.
The noodles themselves may not contain milk or dairy, but they might come with a sauce that does.
Conclusion
Noodles tend to be made using flour, water, and salt, so they’re usually a safe option for people looking for a milk-free meal.
However, some noodle sauces will have dairy in them, so be cautious, especially when ordering noodles from a restaurant.
If you’re making noodles at home, check pre-packaged sauces carefully.
