Noodles are always a tricky subject with gluten-free diets, especially when they are as popular as udon noodles. It always pays off to check into how they will affect gluten intolerances.
Udon noodles are not gluten-free. Their ingredients include wheat flour, a known source of gluten, and there are no alternative ingredients for making Udon noodles. To keep a dish gluten-free the noodles must be substituted with a safe option such as GF rice, soba, glass, or kelp noodles.
Keep reading to learn why it’s best not to risk your diet for udon noodles and how they lead to cross-contamination concerns. We will also look into a few popular udon noodle substitutions that are safe for a gluten-free diet.
Udon Noodles and Gluten-Free Diets
Udon noodles are thick noodles, usually round or square, popular in Japanese dishes. Like many Asian foods, they’re pretty popular in western dishes, and they’re a common pasta used in Japanese cuisine.
You see them often on Japanese or general Asian menus, and you can find them easily in the international section of your grocery store. Asian markets will have a greater variety of noodles, offering both fresh and dried varieties.
These specific types of noodles contain wheat, an easily identified culprit for containing gluten. Because this ingredient is essential to make the noodles, there are no gluten-free varieties.
You should also pay attention in restaurants that offer udon noodles with no clear indication of gluten-free alternatives. The mere presence of the noodles can easily turn into a cross-contamination issue.
Ingredients and Risks
Expect udon noodles to contain:
- Wheat flour
- Salt
- Water
While this is a list of limited ingredients, wheat flour is enough to strike this from a gluten-free diet. This easily leads to allergic reactions and issues such as diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, bloating, abdominal pain, and anemia.
The gluten in udon noodles can also lead to absorption issues with other nutrients, even if you don’t notice an outward reaction when eating them.
Unfortunately, this one ingredient is a major red flag for anyone with celiac disease, a wheat allergy, or a gluten intolerance.
Cross Contamination in Restaurants
When you see udon noodles on the menu you should be ready to ask the servers questions about how the food is prepared.
While restaurants are getting better about preventing cross-contamination with gluten-containing ingredients, it still happens fairly often.
Make sure you’re patient when inquiring about processes (servers aren’t always familiar with how food is prepared and may need to go ask questions). You need to ensure that they use different utensils when handling gluten-free noodles (such as rice noodles) than the ones they use for udon noodles.
You should also shoot for fresh condiments that have not had the chance to come into contact with suspect sauces or noodles. Savvy restaurants already keep these separate, or they may offer you single serve packets for greater peace of mind.
If they aren’t certain that their methods of preparation suffice to prevent cross-contamination, it becomes a coin toss, and the odds aren’t necessarily in your favor.
Are Udon Noodles Safe for a Gluten-Free Diet?
Udon noodles are not safe for a gluten-free diet. Anyone with a gluten intolerance will likely have some sort of reaction when eating dishes with udon noodles, regardless of how minimal their sensitivity is.
There are no “gluten-free” versions of udon noodles. This specific type of noodle is made from wheat flour, and straying from that ingredient leads you to a different kind of noodle.
This is unfortunate for anyone looking for the specific properties of udon noodles, particularly their texture and how they hold flavor, but there is not much you can do when working with a gluten-free diet.
Read More >> Is Pho Gluten Free?
Replacing Udon Noodles with Gluten-Free Substitutes
Some popular noodles you’ll find in similar dishes include:
- Rice noodles
- Soba noodles
- Glass noodles
- Kelp noodles
These are popular with many Asian dishes, and you shouldn’t have any issues replacing udon noodles with one of these varieties or requesting them as a substitute at your favorite restaurants.
Keep in mind that none of these are a perfect swap for udon noodles, so you should prepare for different textures and flavor profiles. Regardless, they beat triggering an allergic reaction.
Instant Noodle Cups
Like most packaged food, you need to pay attention to the ingredients and allergy warning on instant noodle cups. These are a quick and easy snack or meal, but there are countless varieties to sift through.
Keep in mind that two flavors from the same brand contain different ingredients, and one may be safe for a GFD while the other is not. Check in with your favorite formulas often to ensure there are no changes that could complicate your diet.
Rice Noodles
Rice noodles are one of the more popular options, even for those with no dietary restrictions. They come in a variety of sizes and styles of noodles, and they easily complement most dishes.
If you’re ever wary of the noodles used in a dish, it’s usually safe to ask for rice noodles as a substitute. The only concern here is with cross-contamination.
Soba Noodles
Gluten-free soba noodles use buckwheat flour, and they do not contain any gluten. You want to make sure the soba noodles you use are clear of any cross-contamination issues, but otherwise they work well to mimic the texture and profile of udon noodles.
Read More >> Is Granola Gluten-Free?
Glass (Cellophane) Noodles
Glass noodles, also known as cellophane noodles due to their transparent appearance, are made from starches sourced from:
- Mung beans
- Potatoes (or sweet potatoes)
- Tapioca starch
Their specific flavor depends on the specific starch source, but all of these options are verified gluten-free.
These thin noodles work well in stir-fry dishes and soups.
Kelp Noodles
Kelp noodles are more common in Korean dishes. On top of being gluten-free, kelp noodles are rich in iodine (which helps with growth and development).
They prepare a bit differently than other noodles, but still work well as a nutritional and low-calorie trade off for udon noodles.
Final Thoughts
Udon noodles are popular for a reason, but they aren’t worth compromising a gluten-free diet. There are plenty of alternative noodles to throw into your favorite dishes, so you won’t need to go without your favorite broths, stews, or other Asian dishes.