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    Home » Instant pot / Pressure cooker » Instant Pot Lo Mein

    Published: Nov 26, 2019 by Kemi · This post may contain affiliate links

    Instant Pot Lo Mein

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    Instant Pot Lo mein ! easy, quick and delicous chinese lo mein. This instant pot lo mein recipe is ready in 15 minutes and made with vegetables and shrimp. I have also included recipe for instant pot chicken lo mein and instant pot beef lo mein.

    Instant pot lo mein served on a white plate

    This lo mein is one of my favourite chinese dish. It always end up in my plate when we eat out at chinese restaurant or order takeaway. The texture, the taste of the noodles tossed in soy sauce and simplicity of the dish are few of the things i love about lo mein.

    This is the best instant pot lo mein recipe and you will love how easy it is to put together. Let me show you how.

    What is Lo mein

    Lo mein is a chinese dish that is made with egg noodles, soy sauce, sesame oil, sometimes vegetables and meat like chicken, shrimp or beef and some other ingredients. The egg noodles used for lo mein are wheat flour noodles with eggs added. The noodles are sometimes also called lo mein noodles.

    Lo mein means stir fry noodles (noodles is tossed in sauce and vegetables). Sesame oil and soy sauce makes the base for stir frying the vegetables and noodles and are important ingredients that gives lo mein it's distinctive taste and colour.

    Why i love instant pot lo mein

    Lo mein made in the instant pot is not only quick and easy, It is :

    • Dump and go - No need to watch over the pot like with stovetop method. Just dump everything in the instant pot and when cooked, serve and eat.
    • One pot - Everything comes together in a pot and no need to drain water from the noodles.
    • Easier than lo mein made in wok and less utensils needed to cook lo mein in the instant pot.
    • Homemade so one can control the salt and oil and make it healthier than restaurant quality.
    • Quicker than takeout - It takes just 15 minutes and will be ready before any takeout can be delivered.

    Lo mein vs chow mein

    Lo mein and chow mein are sometimes used interchangeably and although they are made with same type of noodles, the difference is the methods used in cooking these stir fry noodles.
    While Lo mein are boiled soft, chow mein are fried to be crispy so chinese lo mein is soft and chow mein is crispy.
    Lo mein noodles and chow mein noodles can be flat or round. They are both easy to cook, delicious and flavourful.

    What noodles are used in lo mein ?

    Egg noodles are used in lo mein and chow mein. Egg noodles is wheat flour noodles with eggs added. They are also called lo mein noodles. The noodles are thin and the packet usually recommend to cook for 5 - 6 minutes.
    For this recipe, i used medium egg noodles which are not as thin as the fine egg noodles. In the absence of egg noodles, you can use Hakka noodles or pasta such as linguine, spaghetti, fettucine. All these mentioned pasta are long and thin.

    Instant noodles won't work for this recipe as cooking time is not the same for instant noodles and low mein noodles. If you want to use instant noodles, adjust cooking time.

    Instant pot lo mein served on a white plate

    LO MEIN VARIATION

    Instant Pot Vegetable Lo mein

    For vegetable lo mein, follow this recipe and exclude the shrimp in the ingredient list. As this is one pot recipe and the vegetables are added and cooked with the noodles, the vegetables won't be crunchy! If you prefer the vegetables to be crunchy, don't add it with the noodles but rather microwave the vegetables for 1 - 2 minutes then add it to the lo mein after it's cooked then stir together. You can use vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, peas, bell peppers and your favourite vegetables.

    Instant Pot Chicken Lo mein

    Add chicken to make this a classic chinese takeout dish. Instant pot chicken lo mein is a good way to use up left over chicken. Substitute chicken for the shrimp in this recipe however if using uncooked chicken, use the instant pot saute button to cook the chicken first.

    Instant Pot Beef Lo mein

    To make beef lo mein, substitute beef for shrimp in this recipe however brown the beef by using the saute button of the instant pot before pressure cooking with the noodles.

    Instant pot shrimp lo mein
    lo mein garnished with sesame seeds

    Ingredients for Lo mein

    The ingredients you'll need for this lo mein recipe include:

    Egg noodles - Also called lo mein or chow mein noodles. You can also use Hakka noodles, linguine, spaghetti and fettucine.

    Sesame oil - Gives lo mein distinctive taste.

    Soy sauce - Dark soy sauce or mixture of dark soy sauce and light soy sauce.

    Brown sugar

    Cayenne or black pepper for heat

    Onion

    Garlic

    Ginger

    Vegetables - Carrots, broccoli, peas, or your favourite vegetables. If pressure cooking vegetables with noodles it's best to go for vegetables like carrots, collard greens that take longer to cook.

    Meat - shrimp, beef or chicken

    How to cook Lo mein

    Cooking lo mein in the pressure pot is very easy and quick.

    1) First get all the ingredients and measure them ready.

    2) In a bowl add the soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, cayenne pepper /black pepper and stir.

    3) Add noodles in the inner pot of the instant pot then pour the soy sauce mixture over the noodles. Make sure the noodles are soaked in the sauce or else some parts might come out uncooked.

    4) Pour the onion, garlic, ginger and finally top with shrimp and vegetables. (For crispy vegetables, don't add vegetables at this stage).

    5) Cover the instant pot with it's lid and set to manual pressure cook 5 minutes. After this time do a quick release.

    6) When instant pot is depressurised, open the pot then stir the content.

    Serve and enjoy lo mein.

    instant pot lo mein served and garnished with sesame seed

    Tips on cooking instant pot lo mein

    • Do a quick release and not a natural pressure release to avoid the noodles getting too soft.
    • Take out the inner pot from instant pot immediately after depressuring the instant pot.
    • You can explore with combination of vegetables and meat.

    How to store leftover lo mein

    Lo mein is best eaten fresh however you can store left over lo mein in the fridge for up to 3 days. Put in airtight container and label.

    best instant pot lo mein recipe

    Other easy Instant pot recipes you'll love

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    Instant pot lo mein served on a white plate
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Instant Pot Lo mein

    Instant Pot Lo mein ! easy, quick and delicous chinese lo mein. This instant pot lo mein recipe is ready in 15 minutes and made with vegetables and shrimp. I have also included recipe for instant pot chicken lo mein and instant pot beef lo mein.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Dinner, Main Course, Pasta
    Cuisine: American, Chinese
    Keyword: instant pot beef lo mein, instant pot chicken lo mein, instant pot lo mein, instant pot lo mein recipe
    Servings: 4
    Author: Kemi
    Cost: $8

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot

    Ingredients

    • 250 g (0.5lb) Egg noodles
    • ¼ cup Soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoon Sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon Black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
    • 1 Onion chopped
    • 1 thumbsize Ginger minced
    • 2 cloves Garlic minced
    • 200g Vegetables carrot, peas, or vegetables of choice
    • 300g Shrimp or chicken or beef
    • 1.5 Cup Water

    Instructions

    • First get all the ingredients and measure them ready.
    • In a bowl add the soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, water, cayenne pepper and stir.
    • Add noodles in the inner pot of the instant pot then pour the soy sauce mixture over the noodles. Make sure the noodles are soaked in the sauce or else some parts might come out uncooked.
    • Pour the onion, garlic, ginger and finally top with shrimp and vegetables. (For crispy vegetables, don't add vegetables at this stage).
    • Cover the instant pot with it's lid and set to manual pressure cook 5 minutes. After this time do a quick release.
    • When instant pot is depressurised, open the pot then stir the content together.
    • Cover the pot and leave for 2 minutes.
    • Serve and enjoy.

    Notes

    *As this is one pot recipe and the vegetables are added and cooked with the noodles, the vegetables won't be crunchy! If you prefer the vegetables to be crunchy, don't add it with the noodles but rather microwave the vegetables for 1 - 2 minutes then add it to the lo mein after it's cooked then stir together
    *If pressure cooking vegetables with noodles it's best to go for vegetables like carrots, collard greens that take longer to cook.
    *Lo mein noodles and chow mein noodles can be flat or round.
    *Do a quick release and not a natural pressure release to avoid the noodles getting too soft.
    *Take out the inner pot from instant pot immediately after depressuring the instant pot.

    Want more?Check out these delicious rice recipes.

    Instant pot Spanish rice

    Jollof rice

    Instant pot basmati rice

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    If you try this lo mein recipe, rate it and leave comment below.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deborah Roland says

      December 07, 2019 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      I love everything about this recipe, it was super quick and easy to make! My kids who are super picky eaters enjoyed the meal, which is a big relief..... this will definitely become a regular in my household! Thank you for sharing🙏🙏🙏

      Reply
    2. Bolatito says

      December 09, 2019 at 11:19 pm

      5 stars
      My best meal at the Chinese restaurant. This is a must try! I love shrimps so much... you just got me salivating❤️

      Reply
    3. Nicole says

      January 27, 2020 at 9:52 pm

      what Is the easiest way to convert the ingredients that are measured in grams?

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        January 31, 2020 at 12:37 am

        Hi Nicole, I can put both grams and lb measurements to make it easier? Will do that now.

        Reply
    4. Wendy Dailey says

      January 30, 2020 at 1:33 pm

      The lo me in noodles I have purchased were flat, not coiled like the ones in the picture. Will they still work?

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        January 31, 2020 at 12:35 am

        Hello Wendy, Yes some lo mein noodles comes flat and they will work fine for this recipe.

        Reply
    5. Connie says

      May 04, 2021 at 9:41 pm

      Huw many ounces or lb for veggies and shrimp or meat?

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        May 11, 2021 at 2:41 am

        For Veggies, 200g is equal to half a pound. 300g of meat is 0.7lb.

        Reply
    6. Roy Scott says

      May 03, 2022 at 7:48 pm

      5 stars
      Can this recipe be doubled? What about chicken and shrimp together ? Should I brown them first ?

      Reply

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    461 shares
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