Soaking Dried Noodles

Delicate varieties of Asian noodles, such as the white rice noodles shown here and the translucent cellophane noodles, only require softening in hot water if they are used in stir-fries and salads. They do not need to be cooked further.

Put the noodles in a large bowl and cover them with hot water. Let the noodles soak just until tender and pliable, 5-10 minutes (thinner noodles will require less soaking time than thicker varieties). Drain the noodles thoroughly in a colander and use as required.