Chow Mein and Lo Mein appear to be similar but they are not. While the principal components or ingredients are the same, the manner in which they are prepared and cooked are quite different. In Chinese, Mian or Mein means noodles.
The primary difference between Chow Mein and Lo Mein is the meaning of the words. Chow Mein is fried noodles. Lo Mein is tossed noodles. This also tells you the difference in the methods of cooking. Lo Mein is softer than Chow Mein. The latter is also crispier as compared to the former. Let us check out the difference between Chow Mein and Lo Mein in regards to prepping and cooking.
Ingredients
Wheat flour is the primary ingredient of noodles. In Chinese cuisine, wheat flour is blended with egg before making the noodles, which is why they are called Chinese egg noodles. Both Chow Mein and Lo Mein are made of Chinese egg noodles but that is where the similarities end. Chow Mein is thicker in size and they can be made much earlier to be cooked later as and when needed. Lo Mein is thinner and it must be made fresh, before the actual dish is being cooked.
Preparation and Cooking
When the noodles are made, Chow Mein could be anywhere from quarter of an inch to less than half an inch in thickness. Lo Mein should ideally be quarter of an inch or slimmer in thickness. Chow Mein can be dried or it could be cooked fresh. Lo Mein should always be cooked fresh. Both the types of noodles are boiled to soften the texture and to half cook them but Chow Mein requires around six minutes of boiling time because it is dried whereas Lo Mein is ready in just two or three minutes.
Once the noodles have been boiled, the exact cooking process varies too. Chow Mein can be made by stir frying the noodles in white oil, sauces and you can add veggies, celery and meat. You can cook them all together or you can cook the noodles first and then add the meat, celery and veggies. You could make dry noodles or you can have gravy. You can use sauces of your choice and the quantum of oil you need. The crispier you want, the more oil you need to stir/deep/pan fry the noodles.
Lo Mein is cooked by using the tossing method. You cook the meat, sauces, gravy, veggies and celery, as per the recipe, and then you keep adding the Lo Mein while tossing them all. Lo Mein should be soft or tender and they will soak up a lot of the gravy or sauce.
