Can you microwave ramen? The answer is yes! In this post, I’ll show you the best way to microwave ramen.
I got my college degree back in 2003. While I don’t work in the field I studied, there is one lesson I’ll never forget from college: how to make a good bowl of ramen.
Since I went to college, the ramen scene has exploded in much of the US, and folks from Minneapolis to Malibu can go into a ramen restaurant and get high-quality ramen on the cheap.
At the same time, homemade ramen remains a classic. It’s extremely easy to make, and with some easy add-ons, your bowl of ramen can move from being a sad college kid’s dinner to being an (almost) gourmet dish.
Let’s get cooking.
- It’s highly recommended to use a microwave cover to prevent food splatter.
Table Of Contents
How to Make Ramen in the Microwave (Instant)
Making ramen noodles in the microwave is by far the easiest way to make the dish.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- A bowl
- A packet of ramen
- Water
- A microwave
Ramen Microwave Instructions
Step one. Open up your packet of ramen. In the packet of ramen, there should be a separate packet filled with seasoning. Remove that for later. Move the block of ramen noodles to a microwave-safe bowl.
Step two. Once you have the noodles in a microwave-safe bowl, fill the bowl with water enough to completely submerge the noodles.
Step three. Place your bowl in the microwave. So how only to microwave ramen?
You need to set the microwave to high for 2-2½ minutes. If your bowl has a lid that you can fasten, reduce the cooking time by thirty seconds.
Step four. Remove your ramen from the microwave. If the cooking occurred in a microwave-safe bowl, it should be cool enough to handle as soon as microwaving is finished, but be careful if you’re unsure.
Step five. Assess the water situation. If there is too much water for your taste, pour some out into the sink, being careful not to burn your hands. Add the packet of dry seasoning, stir, and enjoy!
How to Make Ramen With an Egg
Ramen on its own isn’t much of a meal, but adding a simple egg can spruce up the taste and make the meal more filling.
There are two basic ways to cook top ramen with an egg, one of which utilizes the microwave and one of which does not.
Cook Ramen Noodles in the Microwave With An Egg
If you still want to make your top ramen in the microwave, that’s fine. We can cook an egg and cook ramen with a microwave.
When making ramen with an egg, we’re going to use the microwave twice: once to cook the egg and once to cook the ramen.
For this recipe, we’ll make the egg first:
Step One. Put warm water in a bowl. Add eggs.
Step Two. Place the microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. The eggs should be fully submerged in the water.
Step Three. Set the microwave to high for seven to eight minutes, depending on desired softness.
Seven minutes will cook the egg soft, meaning the yellow will still be runny or slightly runny, depending on the strength of your microwave.
Step Four. Take eggs out of the microwave. If you desire hard-boiled eggs, leave the eggs to continue to cook in the hot water as you prepare the water.
If you desire soft-boiled eggs, immediately dump cold water into the bowl to stop the eggs’ cooking.
Step Five. Make the ramen, detailed above.
Step Six. Peel your eggs and slice them, placing them on the bowl of ramen.
Make Ramen With An Egg: Stovetop
Making ramen with an egg on the stovetop is faster if more resource-heavy.
Step one. After removing the noodles from the packet of ramen, place them in a stovetop pot.
Step two. Fill the pot with water so it just covers the ramen.
Step three. Bring the water to a boil.
Step four. When the water begins boiling, bring the temperature down to medium. Using a wooden spoon, stir the ramen in a circular motion in one direction.
You should use enough force that when you remove the wooden spoon, the water and ramen continue to draw the circular pattern you had stirred.
Step five. Crack an egg directly into the center of the whirlpool created by the water and ramen in motion.
If you are worried about your ability to properly crack an egg, crack it first into a bowl then pour the egg into the pot.
Step six. Allow the egg to poach at medium heat.
Step seven. Remove the pot from the eye, transfer the contents to a bowl, add seasoning, and bon appetit!
How to Microwave Ramen Better
Adding a simple egg can make a huge difference in your ramen-munching experience.
If you’re bored of that, try these other inspired methods, developed after years of painstaking boredom in college dorm rooms across America.
Thai-Style
Probably my favorite method, Thai-Style ramen is simple to make and surprisingly flavorful.
As soon as your ramen is done cooking, add a spoonful of peanut butter to the ramen. Let it warm up a bit in the hot water before draining the water, then add crumbled peanuts on top.
Optionally, drop cubes of fried tofu to really get the authentic Thai experience.
Use Your Own Broth
If you’re bored of the flavors available in store, you can use your own broth. Cook the ramen in this broth, which will imbue the noodles with tons of flavor as they cook.
For something fun, get a Miso soup broth from your local health food store (or international market) and bring the taste of umami to your kitchen!
Add Vegetables
For many, veggies seem to be anathema to the entire point of eating ramen, but some stir-fried veggies really and truly improve a bowl of ramen immeasurably.
My recommendation is to fry sliced mushrooms, onions, radishes (hear me out), and carrots.
The bitterness of the fried radishes is perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the fried carrots. The crunchy texture of the onions, balanced by the squishy mushrooms, fills out this stir fry brilliantly.
FAQs About Ramen Microwave
Here are some frequently asked questions about cooking ramen in a microwave.
Can I microwave ramen in styrofoam cup?
Absolutely not! Most styrofoam cups are mainly made from styrene and come with a label saying “DO NOT MICROWAVE”. If you put it in microwave, it will give off toxins and pose health hazards.
How long to microwave water for ramen?
The best period of microwaving water for ramen is one minute:
First, put half cup of water, and microwave for a minute. Then repeat for 1/2 minute intervals until the ramen noodles are finished the way you like them.
Can you microwave maruchan ramen?
Yes you can, but please make sure you microwave ramen not in a styrofoam container.
You may like: Do Ramen Noodles Go Bad?
Conclusion
I hope I have given you some ideas that will help you spice up your ramen microwave game. As I hope you’ve seen in this article, you can eat great food for cheap that’s also great for you. Enjoy!
