Cup Noodles is a product that thousands of people are familiar with, particularly university students and young adults.
Not only is it delicious and filling, but it is also simple to prepare.
Even though there are so many people who eat cup noodles frequently, not everyone has tried them and knows how to cook them, especially whether or not they can microwave them.
As a meal option that is almost essential in the lives of young people, hostel guests, and anyone who is either not in the mood or does not have time to prepare food, we’ve written this article to share with you how you can cook your Cup Noodles.
So, if you are curious to find out if you can microwave them or not, as well as how you should cook them, keep reading below!
Can You Microwave Cup Noodles?
Cup Noodles must not be microwaved in their original packaging because the cartons are not safe to use in the microwave.
Regardless of how convenient the packaging is, microwaving your noodles in it could result in certain unpleasant chemical reactions that are harmful to our health.
The reason why you shouldn’t microwave the Cup Noodles in their original packaging is that it is made with Styrofoam, a component that is commonly used to pack hot meals in single-use containers.
Styrofoam might be great when you need to pack your food in it and refrigerate it, but when it comes to preparing food, it is not ideal, as when subjected to heat, it will melt, deform, and may leak toxic substances into the noodles.
Even when the cups are made with PET plastic, they are equally unsuitable for heating and cooking your noodles.
They also contain chemical substances that can harm your health, increasing the risk of cancer (due to the cancer-causing agents) when they are heated.
When Can I Microwave Cup Noodles?
Even though we did mention the hazards of microwaving your Cup Noodles in the microwave, there are still some people who unfortunately do it as sometimes, Cup Noodles can be heated and cooked in the microwave without the cup being affected much by the heat.
Nevertheless, you should avoid doing this, except if the cup is composed of paper.
Cup Noodles products that come in paper cups work well in the microwave and are safe to heat in their original packaging.
Even so, you need to check the packaging and the suggested cooking method written on it by the manufacturer.
How Should I Cook Cup Noodles?
As per the instructions of the manufacturers, there is a very easy and simple way you can cook your Cup Noodles, and it does not involve microwaving them in their original packaging.
Instead, what you should do is boil water on the stove or in the microwave and then pour it over the Cup Noodles that you’ve either kept in their container or have placed in another bowl.
If you keep them in their container, keep the cup’s lid on for 3-5 minutes, and you have your ramen cooked and ready to enjoy.
If you transfer them to a bowl, then cover them with a lid or a plate to keep the heat inside and help speed up the process of the noodles getting cooked.
In both cases, the noodles will soak up much of the water and cook as a result of the heat produced. In case you take off the lid too soon, the noodles will have a crunch and remain undercooked.
The noodles should then be stirred with a fork, spoon, or pair of chopsticks you will use to eat them.
You can try one noodle to see if it is cooked as needed, and then enjoy the rest with your choice of toppings, sauces, or plain.
If you choose to transfer the noodles to a microwaveable bowl, you can always put that bowl in the microwave with a microwave-safe lid or another plate that can serve as a lid on top and microwave the noodles in it.
In this case, you should set the timer for 3-5 minutes and then check whether they are cooked or whether they need some extra seconds or minutes to cook.
What Can I Add To My Cup Noodles As A Topping?
There are plenty of topping options you can add to your Cup Noodles once you’ve cooked them.
If you want to add some protein, you can add some chicken breast slices that you can cook from the day before or buy pre-cooked and ready-to-eat.
Similarly, you can add some pre-cooked sliced ham, bacon, boiled eggs, or even a fried egg.
If you are vegan, some pre-cooked tofu or tempeh is also a great option, and so are cooked and canned legumes, like kidney beans or lentils.
If you love fish and seafood, go with some sliced salmon, shrimp, or sashimi.
You can also add grated cheese, with mozzarella, cheddar, and halloumi cheese being some good options.
However, if you want your noodles to taste like an Italian pasta dish, then go with some pesto sauce and parmesan cheese.
When it comes to vegetables, feel free to add anything you want. Raw or cooked lettuce works great, and so do other classic ramen toppings like Pak Choi, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrot, spring onions, and corn.
Last but not least, and apart from the pesto we mentioned above, you can add peanut butter or any other nut butter as a sauce, or stick to the classics with options like soy sauce, sesame and chili oil, curry paste, and sriracha.
The Bottom Line
Even though Cup Noodles are a product that’s been faced with great ambiguity as to how ‘healthy’ it is, if you cook it the right way and combine it with some good sources of protein, fiber, and fats, it can become a great meal option for when you are busy or lazy.
So, if you like Cup Noodles, just make sure not to microwave them in their original packaging and follow the advice above to enjoy a healthy and safe-to-eat cup of noodles!
