Whats the deal with Ramen Noodles?

Answer 1

The ubiquitous ramen we all lived on in college (also sometimes called gakusei ryori or "student cuisine" in Japan) was invented in 1958 by Nissin Foods founder Momofuku Ando. Now 89, Momofuku was in his late 40s when he had the brainstorm of feeding the post-war masses with instant noodles.

"I think this guy should get together with Joey Buttafuoco and open a collection agency. You get a dunning letter from Momofuku & Buttafuoco, you know you're going to put a check in the return mail," says Ed Zotti, whose name probably means "pervert" in Japanese.

Nissin Foods still brings in 300 billion yen ($2.7 billion U.S.) a year with their original "Top Ramen" noodles. Add all the competing ramen clones made in Japan, Korea, Europe, the U.S., China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia and you have an estimated annual world market of $10 billion U.S. Pretty good for a product with a wholesale price of twelve and a half cents.

Instant ramen wasn't a big hit right away. In fact when it was first introduced in Japan, it was considered a luxury item, six times more expensive than the homemade noodles available in Japanese grocery stores. Wouldn't you hate to be the guy who said, "This will never sell"? Momofuku's ramen arrived on the east coast of the U.S. in 1972 as "Oodles of Noodles." The next year came "Nissin Cup Noodles" in the convenient styrofoam cup, and soon hundreds of knock-offs.

The Chinese were eating noodles almost two thousand years ago. Some time later they were imported by the Japanese along with Buddhism and a few other handy ideas. "Ramen" is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese characters lo mein, which means "boiled noodles." Ramen was popularized in Japan by a 17th century samurai named Mito Komon. You can see Mito's actual ramen bowl and a reproduction of his favorite meal in the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka, Japan. The museum that attracts 1500 visitors a day--more than Japan's national art museum. At this three-story museum and theme park (leave it to the Japanese) you will also see a reproduction of Momofuku's first ramen laboratory with original machine and tools, an assortment of ramen bowls and utensils, and a row of shops each selling a different ramen specialty. You can watch ramen being made and even make it yourself with a little handcranked machine. Here's more info on Momofuku Ando and his museum, and a picture of visitors making ramen: www.mainichi.co.jp/english/food/archives/food/991207.html

Some people think that each package of ramen contains one incredibly long noodle curled and coiled into a solid block. Not so, according to The Book of Ramen: Low Cost Gourmet Meals Using Instant Ramen Noodles by Ron Konzak (Turtleback Books). A man of scientific bent, Ron selected a package of ramen noodles, boiled it and carefully took it apart. "I found that the package contained eighty strands of curly noodles 5/64" (2 mm) diameter that, when straightened out, measured approximately 16" (40 cm.) in length. This would indicate that the noodle dough was extruded through eighty nipples into continuous rows, and cut into uniform lengths. The eighty curly noodles, cut to length, were then folded over once before being dropped into a mold, lightly fried, dried, and packaged with a flavor packet insert. Each package, when boiled, stretched out and laid end to end contains about 100 linear feet of noodles." Good work, Ron! This book also contains ramen trivia and a number of creative recipes for ramen, if you ever get tired of using the little flavor packet.

Ramen noodles unfortunately are not very good for you. Each package contains about 1560 mg of sodium. To remove the water and form them into blocks, they are deep fried in palm oil which is about the most saturated fat there is. Look in your local Asian food store, though, and you may find some that are baked or freeze dried without the oil. Check the ingredients--about 720 different varieties/flavors of ramen are available. For what it's worth, the average Japanese eats about 45 packages a year and, other than sumo wrestlers, ain't too many of them chubby.

Answer 2

It will be hard to add anything that Snickle has not already provided.

Instant noodles are pasta that has been cooked then freeze-dried. The flavor packet is where all the sodium comes from. If you want to cut back on NaCl, just use half of the packet. You can also flavor them with something else like cumin seed or chili powder. Every Asian quisine has it's own noodles; pancit, lo mein, udon.

Saimin, the Hawaiian way, is also very good.

Answer 3

I keep ramen noodles on hand all the time. You can't beat the price or the versatility. I rarely, if ever, use the seasoning packets. They are full of salt and preservatives and I just toss the package in the garbage bin.

The noodles are wonderful cooked in chicken broth with a few chopped mushrooms and a little chopped celery or carrots. The noodles cook up fast so add them last. I throw in whatever I have left over. I love it when I have leftover chicken or pork to throw in the pot.

You could also use beef or vegetable stock and add whatever you happen to have on hand veggie wise. I've used broccoli, shredded cabbage, leftover steak or any beef, onions, spinach...the list is endless.

Or break up the noodles and cook according to directions. Drain water and let come to room temperature and make a pasta salad with them. Add whatever you have on hand...like cheese, onions, garlic, chopped celery, tomatoes, chopped cucumber, carrots, any kind of leftover meat (chicken, beef, pork shrimp etc. etc. Then add a dressing of some kind. I like to use Italian dressing, but have used mayonnaise, mixed with sweet pickle relish and a little pickle juice.

Also try breaking them up and putting them in the oven for a few minutes. This makes a great crunchy topping for salads.

Answer 4

What is not the deal with Ramen Noodles? Ellos son buenos

Answer 5

There the best I have a reciepe book I made just for them meals in minutes using Ramen Noodles

Answer 6

No clue. I didn't eat ramen until I was an adult. 19 or so. I was addicted then. The appeal, and I was broke. At 24 I have slightly more money, and find soup to be way better.

Answer 7

Yes they are cheep and Quick to make. But I Add Different Things To Mine , Like Pea's And Meat. And Extra Flavoring.

Answer 8

The Noodles were once hairs on the heads of angels, hence their heavenly taste and nutritional value equivalent to eating dead skin.

Answer 9

they are amazing
and quick and easy to make
i mean if i can make em
ANYONE can
C=
i love the beef and oriental best
chickens alright
i'm just kind of tired of it now

Answer 10

there really cheap, high in sodium, and most college kids can live off them for months at a time.