Gluten Free Noodle Debate

There are a few different gluten free pastas out there. I have tried King Soba, Sam Mills, Thai Kitchen, and Tinkyada brands. Some were better than others and price point definitely plays a part in my decision, but here's what I think about these gluten free options.

King Soba is my favorite spaghetti type pasta. I've tried the brown rice, brown rice & wakame, black rice, buckwheat, and sweet potato buckwheat varieties. Admittedly, the color of some of these can be a little off-putting, but it was fun freaking out my husband with black noodles in our spaghetti! I honestly didn't notice a huge difference in the flavors. Perhaps that was because I had them with various sauces that masked their individual flavors. I can get these noodles for around $1.99 a package at my grocery store (HEB), which is a pretty good deal. These noodles cook up quickly and can be easily overcooked... which turns them to mush, so take care when cooking them.

Sam Mills produces a great corn pasta that is gluten free, egg free, dairy free, cholesterol free, and has a low glycemic index. This line of pasta is my newest find. It has a great texture, especially if you're looking for a good hardy pasta for some comfort food. They offer a variety of pasta shapes and at $1.99 a bag, this brand is a good buy. See my review, "This Pasta is so Corny" for more information.

Thai Kitchen makes two different pastas, stir-fry rice noodles and thin rice noodles. I bought these in a pinch because I was at a store other than my regular grocery, and the only gluten free offerings they had were a box of... well I honestly couldn't tell you the name because I didn't look any further than the $6.00 price tag before moving on and Thai Kitchen Thin Rice Noodles. They're gluten free, dairy free, and vegan.  These noodles cook up quickly and have a nice smooth, firm texture. The only thing I didn't care for was their size. They're about the thickness of angel hair pasta... not my favorite. Angel hair has always been a bit too stringy for me. Their stir-fry noodles are a bit wider (like a lo mein noodle), which I might have liked better. All in all they're a decent, although I'm sure they're better suited for their intended Asian cuisine. I got mine for about $3.00 a box, which is a little pricey for pasta, but they served their purpose, and I was able to enjoy a nice spaghetti dinner with family and friends.

Tinkyada was the very first rice pasta I ever tried and I have to say it is a great product. The packaging states that it is not mushy, and I have to agree... as long as you cook it properly. Like all rice pastas, it cooks quickly, so don't leave it alone for too long. I have had their brown rice spaghetti, but they offer a wide variety of pasta shapes. They even have brown rice vegetable spirals and a brown rice spinach spaghetti if you like colorful pasta. The only drawback I found to this pasta was it's price. At my grocery it cost around $4.00 a package. If you can find it cheaper, buy it.