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National Noodle Day

Food · October 6

A day for noodles of every kind, from ramen and udon to egg noodles and rice noodles, and the many simple ways people cook and share them.

National Noodle Day falls on Wednesday, October 6, 2027. That is 344 days away.

Noodles are long strands of dough, usually made from wheat flour, rice or other starches mixed with water and sometimes egg. They are boiled, fried, steamed or dropped into soup, and nearly every cuisine has its own version.

The range is wide. Japanese udon is thick and chewy, while soba is made with buckwheat and has a nutty taste. Rice noodles turn up in Vietnamese pho and Thai pad thai. Egg noodles go into chicken soup and buttered side dishes, and Italian pasta is a cousin that many people count in the family. Some noodles are cut with a knife, some are pressed through a die, and some are pulled by hand until they stretch thin.

Most people mark the day the obvious way, by eating a bowl. A favorite takeout spot works, and so does a pot at home. Noodles are forgiving to cook. Boil them in plenty of water, taste one a minute before the package says, and keep a splash of the cooking water to loosen a sauce.

The day is also a chance to try a shape you have walked past in the grocery aisle. Glass noodles, made from mung bean or sweet potato starch, turn clear when cooked and soak up whatever broth they sit in. Wide, flat rice noodles fry up with crisp, browned edges.

In many places, long noodles are served at birthdays and new year meals as a wish for a long life, and cooks try not to cut them.

Ways to celebrate

• Try a noodle you have never cooked, like soba or glass noodles.
• Make a simple noodle soup with broth, greens and an egg.
• Share a bowl of noodles with a friend or neighbor.
• Look for a local shop that pulls or cuts noodles by hand.
• Taste the same sauce on two different noodle shapes and compare.

Dates

All national days on October 6

Also on October 6

• Mad Hatter Day
• National Badger Day
• National Kale Day

Categories: Food days