- Crush the Ramen in the wrappers. Open the wrappers. …
- Crush the pork skins in the closed bag.
- Open one end of the bag and add the Ramen, refried beans, corn chips, seasoning, and water. Mix well.
- Fold the bag in half to secure the tamale. …
- Let sit for about 30 minutes.
- Remove the tamale from the bag.
Even though instant noodles, mayonnaise, and Kool-Aid are unlikely to be found in a gourmet meal, they might be the culinary highlight of your day if you’re in prison.
If your only food intake consists of a tiny breakfast tray, lunch tray, and dinner tray that are made, in the words of one prisoner, “to be as inedible as possible,” some ingenuity is required.
Gustavo “Goose” Alvarez, who served two prison terms—once in the 1990s and again in the 2010s—says that in the early 1990s, people could get decent food and fresh produce. State budgets shrank between those two terms, jail costs rose, and more communities opted for privatized prisons. Food was one area where administrators looked to cut costs.
This is where inmates start to cook in prison, using whatever food they can get their hands on. A common solution: instant ramen noodles. These form the basis of a “spread”: Ramen noodle pieces and spices combined in a bowl or garbage bag, with any additional ingredients on hand thrown into the mixture.
According to Alvarez, a co-author of the book Prison Ramen: Recipes and Stories from Behind Bars, “It’s popular in prison because it’s an affordable, quick meal.” They can essentially add anything they want and still produce a tasty dish. “.
Since a microwave is not always available, some instant noodles can be soaked in a bowl of hot or even warm water.
“You put your noodles in this, add hot water, close the lid, and take it to your bunk, covering it with bedding and a pillow to keep the heat in.” One ex-convict on WikiHow writes, “This method is typically fairly effective, and in about 10 minutes, you have your ramen.”
He claims that the prison canteen typically has bowls available. However, using a trash bag or even toilet paper to soak food has been done in prison kitchens.
For inmates with money on their accounts, the canteen sells items like canned tuna, bread, rice, and cheese-flavored cornmeal snacks.
Others might attempt to save anything from breakfast or lunch, like a boiled egg, a roll, a few packets of mayonnaise, or a pickle.
Alvarez claims that the best ingredients do necessitate breaking some rules, such as smuggling plastic bags of an unpleasant meal out of the mess hall to pick out meat scraps.
He explains, “You’ll bring back scraps of beef stroganoff, wash it off, mix it with your ramen, and make a different dish.”
He claims that if you are discovered, a sympathetic guard will simply dispose of your stash. A more serious offense is committed if an inmate is discovered to be in possession of fruits or a cache of sugary foods, which is a surefire sign that they’re trying to make “jailhouse hooch.”
It’s possible for a spread to contain unexpected ingredients, as in this recipe by Alvarez that calls for pork rinds and Kool-Aid (a powdered drink mix with fruit flavors):
Recipe collections for the meals prepared in prison have exploded, and they are shared on social media.
Recipes from inmates at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington, are collected in The Convict Cookbook.
The Prisoners Recipe Bible, a posh collection of recipes authored by a chef-turned-convict, is known as The Jailhouse Cookbook.
Aimed at cooks outside of prison with limited resources, From The Big House To Your House: Cooking in Prison contains 200 “easy to prepare” recipes written by inmates at a woman’s prison in Gatesville, Texas.
In addition to producing more delicious food in larger quantities, cooking in prison gives inmates a focus and a chance to express themselves socially.
Karla Diaz is a performance artist who has worked with prisoners and gathered recipes for everything from pork rinds with jelly to traditional Mexican soup made with chili lime-flavored corn nuts.
She tells Vice News that “cooking meals in prison isn’t really about the taste.” It serves as a reminder of community, humanity, and the person you were before. “.
Alvarez says he still eats ramen. He recently interrupted his writing to prepare some noodles with smoked oysters, chopped onions, and coriander. He claims that the smell still reminds him of his time in prison, which he describes as a “bittersweet” memory.
Making chicken soup, he says, “took me right back to that experience.” I felt like I did at the time: I was growing up alone, becoming a man, but I was in jail. That tiny bowl of warm soup gave me some solace despite the unsettling feeling. Even though I’m not at home, there are still things I can have to make me feel like I am “.
Even though instant noodles, mayonnaise, and Kool-Aid are unlikely to be found in a gourmet meal, they might be the culinary highlight of your day if you’re in prison.
He explains, “You’ll bring back scraps of beef stroganoff, wash it off, mix it with your ramen, and make a different dish.”
Alvarez claims that the best ingredients do necessitate breaking some rules, such as smuggling plastic bags of an unpleasant meal out of the mess hall to pick out meat scraps.
“You put your noodles in this, add hot water, put the lid on, and then take it to your bunk and cover with bedding and pillow to hold in the heat. This method is usually pretty effective, and after 10 minutes or so you have your ramen,” writes one ex-convict on WikiHow.
Making chicken soup, he says, “took me right back to that experience.” I felt like I did at the time: I was growing up alone, becoming a man, but I was in jail. That tiny bowl of warm soup gave me some solace despite the unsettling feeling. Even though I’m not at home, there are still things I can have to make me feel like I am “.
FAQ
How do they make noodles in jail?
However, since prison cells aren’t exactly equipped with stoves, inmates rely on a little trick known as “the stinger” to prepare the ramen. A power outlet, nail clippers, a power cord, and “the courage to drop a live wire into a cup of water” are all you need to make one. “.
How do you make jail break noodles?
Boil Ramen in water (without seasoning pack) until tender; drain. Crunch up bag of chips, then open bag. Cooked Ramen, seasoning packet, chicken or pot roast, and hot sauce should all be added to the bag. Holding bag closed, shake and mix up contents.
What are ramen noodles in jail called?
A spread is a prison meal made by inmates. Ingredients from the commissary, like instant ramen and corn puffs, are frequently used to make spreads. Spreads can be straightforward meals or complex and creative ingredient combinations.
How do you make a jail Slam?
- Ramen noodles should be broken up and boiled until done without the seasoning packet.
- Heat up cheese slightly in microwave. Be very careful jar will be hot.
- Crunch up doritos set aside.
- When the noodles are done, drain the water and place them in a bowl. Add cheese, seasoning packets from ramen, and doritos. Mix and enjoy.
