What exactly is authentic Chinese food? To determine whether your Chinese dish is authentic or not, ask yourself the following questions:

1. How was it prepared?

   Traditional Chinese foods are usually prepared by steaming, braising, boiling, and stir frying. Fermentation is also used, especially in the production of tofu and other soybean products. Cooks usually use a wok to stir fry foods.

   Americanized Chinese foods are usually fried, either on a wok or in a deep fryer. Deep frying is more efficient than frying in a wok. This is very suiting for an industry that values speed.

   Breaded foods served at more American , of European origin, are also strictly Americanized Chinese foods.  and deep frying items is not very authentic.

2. What are the ingredients?

   Traditional Chinese dishes focus on a main ingredient of vegetables, rice or noodles in their dish. Some ingredients that are not found in traditional cuisine include broccoli, carrots, onions, tomatoes and dairy products. Some meats used may include pig ears, frog legs, cow tongue, diverse seafoods, chicken feet, and duck blood. Traditional dishes usually season foods with spices.

   Americanized Chinese dishes usually focus on a main meat ingredient. Meats usually are pork, chicken and beef. Americanized dishes usually use salt and sugar to season their dishes.

3. How does it taste?

   Traditional Chinese dishes can be found in both the home and in restaurants. Each have different purposes, and thus have different flavors. Traditional Chinese dishes in the home consist of different spices such as ginger, black pepper, bamboo shoots, and sesame oil, focusing on fragrance and health. Many of the dishes are plain with indistinct tones of salty and sweet. The dishes are aimed for nourishment and medicinal purposes in mind.

   Traditional Chinese dishes in restaurants are meant, in Chinese culture, as a treat on special occasions like birthdays and holidays. Therefore, both traditional and American Chinese dishes are focused on flavor over health, with a higher intensity on salty, sweet, and savory tastes.

   In most restaurants, both traditional and Americanized Chinese dishes are served. The Americanized Chinese food usually are saltier and sweeter than, more so than traditional Chinese dishes. However, this seems to be the only difference in taste between traditional and Americanized Chinese food.

   The biggest difference between Americanized Chinese food and traditional Chinese food at a restaurant are the way the food is served. The traditional Chinese food are served usually as strictly meat or strictly vegetables to be shared and eaten family style (for more information, click here) while the Americanized Chinese food have meat, vegetables, and rice or noodles on one dish, meant for individualized style eating.