We know the label clearly says not to do it, but we’ve all done it.
A cup of instant ramen is essentially a broke college student’s lifeblood. Anything that can be microwaved is essentially ideal for those with limited resources and no access to a full kitchen. The problem with instant ramen, though, is that the packaging makes it very clear that you shouldn’t microwave the cup. Share subtitles for MTN DEW Baja Blast Hot Sauce, which is a gorgeous oddity.
The “correct” method (per the directions on the package) for preparing instant ramen in a cup is to bring a separate pot of water to a boil before adding it to the cup of noodles. But I’ll accept responsibility and acknowledge, on behalf of everyone who ever lived in a dorm, that I used to simply put room temperature water in the foam cup and microwave it. Regretfully, there are risks to this method’s health and safety. Advertisement.
Serving suggestions & tips
Level up your bowl of Ramen:
- Add a soft-boiled egg, cooked pork shreds, and some slices of American cheese.
- Add some lemongrass paste, sliced bok choy, and mushrooms.
- Add some sesame oil, baby spinach, cooked chicken shreds, and grated ginger. ½teaspoon ginger, grated.
- Grated ginger, sambal oelek or chili crisp, and silken tofu should be added. ½cup (125g) silken tofu, diced.
Level up the noodles
- For a quick noodle dish, strain and combine with peanut butter and chili crisp.
- Strain and mix with gochujang, kimchi, and scallions.
- For a quick San Francisco version of the classic garlic noodles, strain and season with brown butter, soy sauce, garlic powder, and parmesan.
- For even more delicious results, you can substitute low-sodium chicken, vegetable, beef, or dashi broth for the water.
- Try cooking the ramen in a larger dish or cooking it uncovered for an additional minute if you’re having spillover issues.
- Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.
Can you cook instant ramen in the microwave?
It is safe to cook instant ramen in the microwave, and it’s actually quicker and simpler than cooking it on the stovetop. Follow our step-by-step instructions to make microwave instant ramen in the microwave and serve it for a quick and tasty meal. Use a glass microwave-safe bowl that is deep enough to fit the ramen noodles and water to cover it. Make sure that there is plenty of room in the dish for the starchy water to bubble up — you don’t want spills happening in your microwave!
