How to Cook Ramen Noodles

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Co-authored by Thuong Tan

Last Updated: August 15, 2024

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Ramen is an easy, quick-cooking meal perfect for those on the go or college students who are busy studying. While it is affordable, it is not very nutritious, and some people may find it tasteless, while others find the noodles too mushy. Fortunately, there are several tricks you can do to ensure that the noodles come out perfect. You can also add lots of other flavors and toppings, besides the flavoring packet that's included. With a little bit of creativity, you can have a tastier and more nutritious meal in no time!

Ingredients

2 ¹⁄₂ cups (590 mL) water
1 packet of ramen, including soup base
Toppings, such as eggs, meat, or scallions (optional)

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cooking Ramen Noodles

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Pour 2 ¹⁄₂ cups (590 mL) of water into a saucepan. Place the saucepan on the stove and bring the water to a boil over high heat.^{[1]
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Tear open the seasoning packet that came with your ramen. Pour the contents into the boiling water and give it a stir.^{[2]
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This ensures that the powder dissolves completely and that the water is hot enough for the next step.^{[3]
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Add in the noodles. Gently press down on the noodles with a chopstick or a wooden spoon so that they sink into the water. You may have to hold them down for a little bit. Do not break the noodles in half or stir them. They will separate on their own.^{[4]
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- You can also cook the noodles separately in a pot of boiling water.^{[5]
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Once they start to break apart, pull them out of the broth using a pair of chopsticks or tongs.^{[6]
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Research source} You can also pour the broth into a serving bowl through a strainer.
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Fan the noodles. This will help stop the cooking process and prevent them from turning limp and soggy. You can use a hand-held fan, a little electric fan, or even a stiff piece of paper or a folder.^{[7]
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- Another alternative would be to rinse the noodles under cold water.^{[8]
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Add the noodles back to the broth. At this point, you can add some tasty toppings, such as an egg, meat, or vegetables.^{[9]
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- Some toppings should be added at the last minute, after you've already poured the ramen into a serving bowl.
Pour the ramen into a large, deep bowl. If you added a pouched or fried egg into the pot, consider scooping it out with a soup ladle, then placing it back on top of the ramen, after it's already in the bowl. At this point, you can also add other toppings, such as cooked meat.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Stepping it Up

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1
Add extra flavor with sauces and condiments. If the sauce or condiment is very salty, it might be a good idea to use less of the seasoning in the packet. This will help keep the ramen from turning out too salty. Listed below are some tasty options that you could try:^{[10]
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- Fish sauce
- Japanese curry powder
- Ponzu
- Miso paste
- Thai curry paste
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Add extra flavor with spices, oils, and other seasonings. This is a great option if fish sauce and curry powder or paste aren't your thing. Here are some ideas to get you started:^{[11]
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- Citrus juices, such as a squeeze of lemon or lime. Add these just before serving.
- Oils such as: animal fat, chili oil, or sesame oil.
- Spices such as: chili flakes, coriander seeds, or white pepper. You will need to remove the seeds prior to serving, however.
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Toss in some vegetables for a healthier meal. You can add delicate and quick cooking vegetables just before serving the ramen. You can also add sturdier, long cooking vegetables to the noodles as you cook them. Here are some more tasty options:^{[12]
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- For quick cooking vegetables, try: baby spinach, bean sprouts, scallions, or watercress.
- For long cooking vegetables, try: broccoli, snap peas, snow peas, or shredded carrots.
- No fresh vegetables? Try frozen ones instead! Be sure to thaw them under running hot water for about 30 seconds first.
4
Give your ramen bowl extra protein with an egg.^{[13]
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Expert Source

Thuong Tan
Noodle Expert

Expert Interview. 28 January 2021.} Ramen is full of sodium, starch, and fat, which isn't very healthy. You can make your meal a little more nutritious with an egg, which is packed with protein. Soft boiled and hard boiled eggs sliced in half are the most popular, but you can use other types as well. Here are some options for you to try:^{[14]
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- Hard boil an egg in cold water. Peel it, slice it in half, then add it on top of the ramen, just before serving.
- Soft boil an egg after the water has already started to boil. Cook it for 3 to 7 minutes, then peel it, slice it in half, then add it to the ramen just before serving.
- Try an egg-drop instead. After the noodles and broth have cooked, give them a stir. Pour a lightly-beaten egg into the pot while the broth and noodles are still moving.
- Poach an egg right on top of the noodles. Let the egg boil for 30 seconds. Turn off the stove, cover the pot with a lid, and wait 30 more seconds.^{[15]
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- Add a fried egg on top. You will need to fry the egg and cook the ramen separately. Slide the fried egg right on top of the ramen before you serve it.
5
Add more protein with meat.^{[16]
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Expert Source

Thuong Tan
Noodle Expert

Expert Interview. 28 January 2021.} Thinly sliced meats are the most popular, but you can also use chicken breast, flank steak, or pork tenderloin. Cook them in the broth while the noodles are simmering in their own pot. Take the meat out of the broth, add the noodles, then drop the meat back on top.^{[17]
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- Keep the meat to a minimum. You want to focus on the ramen noodles and broth itself.^{[18]
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- Thinly sliced pork belly or shoulder are the most popular and authentic.^{[19]
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Try other authentic toppings. For most of these, you will need to go to a supermarket specializing in Asian produce. You might also be able to find some of these in the Asian foods section of your local supermarket. Here are some tasty options for you to try:^{[20]
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- Fish cakes
- Sliced daikon, lotus root, or shitake mushrooms
- Shredded nori
- Menma-fermented bamboo shoots.
Yotam Ottolenghi, Chef and Restaurateur

Be openminded in the kitchen. "I'm a firm believer that the world should be your oyster when you're cooking. People should open themselves to other cuisines – there are a lot of hidden secrets all over the world."

Expert Q&A

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Question

What's a good recipe I can make with Ramen noodles?

Thuong Tan
Noodle Expert
Thuong Tan is a Noodle Expert and the Founder of Noodelist, a food startup producing plant-based instant noodles. Thuong holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Marketing from Haaga-Helia, University of Applied Sciences, and an MBA in Luxury Brand Management from IFA Paris, Polimoda/Shanghai University. Noodelist’s mission is to produce premium plant-based moroheiya noodles that are nutrient-dense, texturally pleasing, and environmentally friendly.

Thuong Tan

Noodle Expert

Expert Answer

Once the water is boiling, add in two eggs and some beansprouts to get some extra protein. You can also use whatever you find in your fridge, like chicken, shrimp, or other veggies.

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Question

How can I make my Ramen noodles more flavorful?

Thuong Tan
Noodle Expert
Thuong Tan is a Noodle Expert and the Founder of Noodelist, a food startup producing plant-based instant noodles. Thuong holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Marketing from Haaga-Helia, University of Applied Sciences, and an MBA in Luxury Brand Management from IFA Paris, Polimoda/Shanghai University. Noodelist’s mission is to produce premium plant-based moroheiya noodles that are nutrient-dense, texturally pleasing, and environmentally friendly.

Thuong Tan

Noodle Expert

Expert Answer

Try adding fresh herbs on top, like coriander or mint leaf. You can also add bean sprouts.

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Question

Are the ramen noodles supposed to be curly in the end?

Community Answer

Yes! Ramen noodles will always be curly in the end.

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Tips

Add some flavoring to the broth, such as mashed salt and garlic, miso, or soy sauce.^{[21]
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Eat the ramen quickly. Ramen does not taste good after its been sitting out for a while. If you know you won't eat everything, make a half-sized portion instead^{[22]
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Hold items close to the bowl before dropping them in. This prevents splashing.

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