Korean Noodles Cooking Guide (국수삶기)

How I cook it

1. 1.

   Boil Water: Add 1L of water to a pot and bring it to a boil.

   • For somyeon or jungmyeon, I do not add salt to the water. For a thin pasta substitute, use salted water and follow the package instructions instead.

2. 2.

   4:00Start

   Cook the Korean noodles: Add the noodles to boiling water.

   • Somyeon: 3 minutes 30 seconds–4 minutes

   • Jungmyeon: 4–5 minutes

   • Tip: Set a timer to avoid overcooking.

   When I cannot easily get to an Asian grocery store, I use very thin supermarket pasta labelled No. 1 on the pack I buy. I boil it in salted water for about 3–5 minutes for that product, then drain it. Pasta numbering and cooking times vary by brand and thickness, so check your own package and taste a strand before draining. This is a practical alternative for Korean-style mixed noodles; the texture is different from somyeon.

   The numbered steps below are for Korean wheat noodles (somyeon or jungmyeon). If using thin pasta instead, use salted water and follow its package cooking time; the noodle-specific timings below do not apply to pasta.

   
3. 3.

   Manage the Foam: As the noodles cook, foam may rise and overflow.

   • Add about 1/3 cup of water to calm the foam.

   • This also helps maintain a firm texture in the noodles.

4. 4.

   Rinse the Noodles: Drain the cooked noodles and rinse them under cold running water twice.

   • This removes excess starch and improves texture.

   
5. 5.

   Serve and Enjoy: Use the prepared noodles in various dishes like banquet noodles or stir-fried recipes.