Instant Noodles (インスタントラーメン, Insutanto Rāmen) are a type of snack packaged in a foam, hard plastic or paper cup/container. The cup/container contains a precooked (fried) block of noodles that requires only the addition of hot water, and in some cases the flavoring that is included in packaging.
With a cooking time of around three minutes, the product is known for being inexpensive and easy to prepare.
History[]
Instant noodles were invented in 1958 by Momofuku Ando, the Taiwanese-born founder of the Japanese food company Nissin. He used Chikin Ramen (Chicken Ramen) as the first instant ramen noodles. In 1970, Nissin formed the subsidiary Nissin Foods (USA) Co. Inc, to sell instant noodles in the United States. Nissin recognized that the bowls traditionally used to package instant noodles were not common in the U.S, so they instead turned to the paper cup; in 1971, they introduced instant ramen packaged in a foam cup.
Today, instant noodles in Japan are often sold in foam bowls, sometimes with plastic utensils. Foam bowls are easily portable; they are very convenient for outdoor activities. Foam bowls are inexpensive, disposable, light, and easy to hold since they insulate heat well and thus convenient as an "on-the-go" meal.
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Trivia[]
- Due to the vast majority of instant noodle packets both lacking pack-in pieces of meat and much of the flavoring being artificial, herbivorous liminal species such as Centaurs can safely consume one once prepared.
- Because of their ease of preparation, plentiful access, and generally palatable tastes, it is very easy for consumers to add instant noodles as a disproportionate part of their meal plans, namely travelers, people who lack time or motivation for other options, or those with a lack of alternatives. However, this is a very poor decision when it comes to overall health, as not only do the packages lack a significant amount of necessary nutrients, but they also have a very high sodium content. As a result, people who overindulge on instant noodles tend to accumulate major health problems over a number of years, with heart problems, obesity, and dehydration being common symptoms.