Cup noodles are one of life’s guilty pleasures – and boy, they really are pleasurable! A tasty snack that is ready in minutes, bursting with different flavours – cup noodles are a convenient way of getting some food into you when you’re in a hurry.
Most of us probably think of Pot Noodles and the like, and the other types of instant noodle pots that fill supermarket shelves, that are yummy but not all that healthy – but they are a popular snack, and more brands are appearing all the time.
There are a great many delicious cup noodles out there that are nutritious and good for you, as well as beinga cheap, easy way to fill a hungry tummy.
What are cup noodles?
These student staples consist of dried noodles, with a mixture of dried flavourings (this becomes the “sauce” that flavours the noodles and stops it from just being plain noodles) and a little packet containing extra flavourings that you pour over once the noodles are cooked.
Some cup noodles also contain little pieces of freeze dried vegetables or soya pieces for an added bit of nutrition and protein.
The first cup noodles were invented in 1971, by a company called Nissin, and they have gone from strength to strength ever since, with many other companies designing their own versions of this popular snack.
Japan, the country where cup noodles originated, even has a cup noodle museum dedicated to their journey to fame!
How to make cup noodles
The instructions on the packet are ridiculously simple, and chances are, like many of us, you have made several of these in your time, so I won’t go into it in too much depth!
As a quick run down, you remove the lid from your cup noodles, pour in boiling water to the fill line, leave it for a few minutes then stir, then leave it another few minutes before you add your flavour sachet. Stir again, and this snack is ready to eat.
You can, of course, make your own version of cup noodles at home using your own ingredients, but that is a far more involved topic so we’ll leave it for another day!
Read also: Can You Microwave Coconut Oil?
Can you microwave cup noodles
You CAN microwave just about anything. The real question to ask here is SHOULD you microwave cup noodles?
The quick answer is no, you should not. This is not because the noodles themselves are not microwaveable, but because they come in a packaging which, when heated to very high temperatures as in a microwave, can leach damaging chemicals out into your food.
This will cause you health problems in the long term, so it is not recommended.
Another problem is that it is very difficult to gauge how hot things are when they come out of a microwave, so you run the risk of burning yourself, even if your cup manages not to leach poisons into your noodles!
Some types of cup noodle packaging may even melt in the microwave, completely ruining your food and, potentially, your microwave.
Some cup noodles are microwave safe, but you will need to read the packaging very carefully to see if your chosen one can be nuked.
If you desperately want to microwave your cup noodles, for example if you have no access to a kettle or any other method of boiling water, your safest bet is to microwave a cup of water to boil it and then pour this over your noodles.
Or, for a more complicated step, remove the contents of the cup noodle from it packaging, place it into a microwave safe container with the right amount of water, and microwave to your heart’s content.
Can you microwave cup noodles? The answer is that you can microwave the noodles, just not the cup.
Final words
Cup noodles will never be haute cuisine, but they are edible and can be a tasty way to eat on the go.
Following the instructions on the packaging is your best bet to enjoy a tasty snack, but you can follow other routes to heat up your food – just remember not to shove the whole pot in the microwave and hope for the best!
