Wondering how to cook ramen in a microwave? Ramen’s high-brow cousin, pho, is a beloved Vietnamese dish with a deep, rich broth and fresh vegetables like bean sprouts and cilantro. Ramen? Well, ramen is that guy you went to college with who was an adult in so few ways: he lived in squalor and subsisted almost entirely on junk food. But regardless of its pedigree (or lack thereof), ramen can be the perfectly satisfying meal for when you’re down to your last dollar or just craving something warm and savory. So whether you’re a student living off rations or a working parent trying to feed your family on the cheap, here’s how you cook ramen without even turning on your stove.
Step 1: Open the ramen
- Open the ramen package. The package should have a tear strip on the side, which you can pull to open the top and bottom of the bag. It’s important to be careful when opening this to avoid spilling its contents in transit (or in your kitchen). If you don’t want to risk spillage, consider using scissors or some other cutting device instead of tearing it with your hands.
- Remove from packaging, being careful not to spill anything else out along with it (ahem).
Step 2: Put the noodles in a microwave-safe bowl
It’s important to choose a large enough bowl that you can add the water, but not so large that it will overflow when you heat it up. It should also be deep enough to hold all of your water and also allow for steam to rise up as it cooks. Another consideration is whether or not you’re using a microwaveable bag – if so, make sure your bowl can fit inside!
While some bowls may seem microwave safe on their own accord, bamboo steamers are not considered safe due to the porous nature of bamboo; they could potentially cause foods like ramen noodles to stick together or burn more easily than they would with other materials such as glass or plastic containers (and who wants burnt noodles?).
Step 3: Put the seasoning packet to the side, or throw it away
Place the ramen noodles in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with water. Stir in the seasoning packet until it dissolves.
It’s important to note that you can choose to add your own seasonings if you like—there are plenty of other options out there, including chili paste, soy sauce, and garlic powder. But if you don’t have any of those things on hand or want to cook with a minimal amount of ingredients, go ahead and just use the seasoning packet as is! Stir everything together well so that all of the pasta is covered by liquid.
Step 4: Pour in 1 cup of water.
First, make sure the water is at least 1 inch above the noodles. If you use too little water, your noodles will be dry and hard. If you use too much water, your noodles will be soggy and gross.
Second, don’t use boiling water! Boiling water can make the ramen cook unevenly and turn into a big mushy mess in no time flat.
Third, keep an eye on those noodles! You don’t want to overcook them or else they’ll get soft—and nobody likes soft ramen!
Step 5: Microwave for 3 minutes at 1000W
- Microwave for 1 minute at a time, stirring after each minute (if you have a microwave with an adjustable power level, lower it by about 10%).
- For 2 minutes at a time, stirring after each minute (if you have a microwave with an adjustable power level, lower it by about 20%).
- Microwave for 3 minutes at a time, stirring after each minute (if you have a microwave with an adjustable power level, lower it by about 30%.
Conclusion
That’s it! You’ve just made the easiest, quickest ramen of your life. If you have an egg, some green onions, or any other ingredients you want to throw in there? Go for it! If you know another way of cooking ramen or just want to share your culinary repertoire with tons of food-loving YouTubers, explore Socialgreg‘s services.
