What Happens If You Boil Noodles in Chicken Broth?

Boiling noodles in chicken broth is a common cooking technique that can add great flavor to pasta dishes. However, there are some important things to know about using chicken broth when cooking noodles. In this article we’ll discuss the effects of boiling noodles in chicken broth and provide tips for getting the best results.

Why Boil Noodles in Broth?

The main reason to boil noodles in chicken broth is to infuse them with extra flavor. Plain pasta boiled in water can be bland and lack much taste on its own. But when you boil noodles in an already flavorful liquid like chicken broth, they absorb those tastes directly into the pasta. This gives you a built-in boost of savoriness in each bite.

Broth also contains gelatin from animal bones and connective tissue. As the noodles cook, some of this gelatin melts into the water and coats the surface of the pasta. Gelatin can give cooked noodles a richer mouthfeel and make the dish seem more substantial.

Finally many cooks use broth when boiling noodles for convenience. If you’re making a chicken noodle soup or similar dish you likely have leftover broth on hand that would otherwise go to waste. Simmering the pasta right in that broth streamlines the cooking process.

Tips for Boiling Noodles in Broth

While using chicken broth to cook noodles has benefits, there are some best practices to follow:

• Use enough broth: Don’t skimp on the amount of broth, or the noodles may end up sticky. For long pasta shapes like spaghetti or linguine, use 4-6 quarts of broth per pound of dried noodles. Wider noodles like lasagna or egg noodles need even more – about 8 quarts of broth per pound.

• Watch cooking times: Noodles often cook faster in broth than in plain water. Keep an eye on the pasta and taste it frequently to avoid overcooking. Take it out of the broth as soon as it reaches the desired tenderness.

• Consider salt content: Since broth already contains salt, resist the urge to salt the boiling broth or the finished dish until you’ve tasted it. You may find you don’t need any extra salt at all.

• Rinse if needed: Some broths impart strong flavors. If the finished noodles taste too intensely of the broth, rinse them briefly after draining to wash away excess flavor.

• Add other liquids if desired: For more nuanced flavor, you can use a mix of broth and water. Start with broth but add water toward the end of cooking so the noodles don’t get overly salty. Adding milk or cream can also mellow and enrich the taste.

• Use homemade broth: Boiling noodles in canned chicken broth works but making your own fresh broth is ideal. The homemade version has fresher flavor and more gelatin for better noodle texture.

How Does Broth Affect the Noodles?

When boiling noodles in broth, both the pasta and the broth influence each other:

• The broth infuses the noodles with its flavors like chicken, vegetables, and seasoning. Noodles boiled in plain water won’t pick up extra taste.

• Starches and proteins leach out of the noodles into the surrounding broth as they cook. This gives the broth more body and a slightly thicker texture.

• The gelatin in the broth coats the noodles, giving them a richer, heartier mouthfeel.

• The broth may cut down on the total cooking time for the noodles due to its saltiness and protein content.

• The noodles soak up liquid as they cook, reducing the total amount of broth remaining at the end.

• Impurities in the noodles can cloud up an otherwise clear broth during cooking. Straining out the noodles clarifies the broth again.

• Some noodles may absorb strong broth flavors too readily. A quick rinse in fresh water after draining can fix this.

So in short, the broth loses some volume but gains body and savoriness from the noodles. And the noodles get infused with concentrated, aromatic broth flavor. It’s a win-win situation for more delicious pasta dishes!

Ideal Noodles for Chicken Broth

You can boil almost any basic noodles in chicken broth to impart extra flavor. However, certain types of pasta work especially well:

• Egg noodles: The egg in the dough helps egg noodles absorb flavors from the surrounding broth. Wide ribbons or classic egg noodle shapes are ideal choices.

• Small shapes: Smaller pastas like orzo, ditalini, and pastina provide more surface area for the broth to cling to. Their bite-size pieces also hold broth flavor in each morsel.

• Pasta with ridges or holes: Rigatoni, ziti, cavatappi, and other shaped pastas drink up broth flavor in their ridges, curves, and hollows. The broth gets trapped in the pasta’s crevices.

• Asian noodles: Japanese udon and ramen noodles as well as chow mein noodles work well in chicken broth. They readily soak up rich, savory flavors.

• Fresh noodles: Handmade or refrigerated fresh pasta cooks quickly in broth. Fresh egg noodles are an especially smart choice.

Just about any noodles will gain flavor from being boiled in chicken broth. But for the very best results, go with noodles that can absorb or hold onto the most broth taste.

Dishes Perfect for Chicken Broth Noodles

Once you’ve boiled noodles in chicken broth, there are plenty of ways to use them. Here are some classic pairings:

• Chicken noodle soup: The classic! Dice cooked chicken and mix it with broth-boiled noodles, vegetables, and seasonings.

• Stroganoff: Cook egg noodles in chicken broth for beef stroganoff. The extra savory flavor balances the sauce.

• Chicken tettrazini: Boil spaghetti or linguine in broth before baking it in a creamy chicken casserole.

• Pad see ew: Use chicken broth to cook the wide rice noodles for this Thai stir-fry.

• Chicken pot pie: Put broth-infused noodles or dumplings in chicken pot pies for additional flavor.

• Udon noodle salad: Chilled udon noodles dressed with ginger dressing are perfect for summer.

• Pasta primavera: Give vegetable primavera extra depth by cooking the pasta in chicken rather than plain water.

Any recipe that includes chicken and noodles or pasta is a great candidate for using broth-boiled noodles. The possibilities are nearly endless!

While boiling noodles in plain water is fine, using chicken broth instead adds a flavor boost to all kinds of dishes. The broth infuses the pasta with savory taste and gives it a richer, heartier texture. Just be sure to use enough broth and watch cooking times closely for best results. With a little care, you can make noodles with built-in flavor and craft tastier chicken-based meals. So next time a recipe calls for boiling noodles, grab that container of homemade broth instead of filling a pot with water!