Are Rice Noodles Acidic or Alkaline?
Rice noodles (raw) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Dry, straight from the package, rice noodles come in at +8.0, because protein and phosphorus are concentrated in the low-moisture product. After soaking or cooking, they absorb so much water that only +2.1 per 100 g remains. Calculate with the cooked weight: 60 g dry turns into roughly 240 g in the bowl.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, rice noodles (raw) rank #104 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Spelt roll (+7.8), Multigrain cereals (+7.7), Quinoa (+7.4). More acid-forming are Millet, whole kernel (+8.1), Millet flakes, whole grain (+8.1), Corn pasta (+8.2).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
Rice noodles: raw, cooked
Same food, different state. All values per 100 g.
| State | PRAL |
|---|---|
| cooked | +2.1 |
| raw | +8.0 |
What balances rice noodles
A dry serving (50 g) of rice noodles adds +4.0 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are rice noodles acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Rice noodles (raw) have a PRAL of +8.0 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a dry serving (50 g) of rice noodles?
A dry serving (50 g) of rice noodles adds +4.0 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 50 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid rice noodles on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Rice noodles are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Rice noodles, raw or cooked: which is more alkaline?
Rice noodles (raw) is at +8.0, Rice noodles (cooked) at +2.1. So the "cooked" version is more alkaline. Differences come from water content, cooking water or concentration during drying.
Rice Noodles logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Grains, Bread & Pasta: Grains, Bread & Pasta table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.