Have you ever been tempted to try uncooked ramen noodles while preparing the broth? If you are familiar with this situation all too well – you are not alone. Many people wonder as well – can you eat raw ramen noodles? Read our article and find out.
Yes, you can eat ramen noodles. They can be a perfectly crunchy and tasty snack. There is no need to worry since the instant ramen noodles are already processed and cooked. The packet is filled with dry and edible noodles.
Is It Safe to Eat Raw Ramen Noodles?
Before instant ramen noodles were packaged and placed on shelves of Asian food stores, they underwent heat treatment, deep-frying, and steaming. This process ensures that harmful parasites and microorganisms are wiped out, and you can indulge in crunchy noodles right out of the packet. You certainly won’t encounter any health-related issues because eating raw noodles is the same as when eating cooked and boiled versions.
However, they can trigger an allergic reaction in individuals who are allergic to some of the ingredients. They generally can’t eat them both raw and cooked if they are sensitive to wheat, gluten, and soybeans.
Are You at Risk of Getting Worms From Raw Ramen Noodles?
Dry noodles cannot be a potential source of worms. Still, it is more likely to get tapeworms from eating pork, beef, or fish and very unlikely to contract worms from uncooked noodles. During the manufacturing process, there are numerous steps, such as steaming, kneading, and pasteurizing. The rigorous process ensures that no living organism survives in the food.
How Can You Eat Raw Noodles?
There are some interesting and popular ways how you can enjoy your sachet. Before taking your package and eating a dry noodle, read popular suggestions for enjoying raw ramen so you can get the most out of the convenient and tasty dish. You’ll realize just what you’ve been missing when you ate ramen.
Crunchy and Unique Salad Topping
Have you ever tried a delectable ramen noodle salad? If you’ve missed out on this unique dish in the past, now is the time to change that. Broken pieces of noodles serve as a flavorful and crunchy topping.
You can customize your salad however you like, but we recommend putting green onion, shredded cabbage, and almonds. Half of the ramen noodles you can boil and put in the salad, and the other half can serve as a crunchy and flavorful additional ingredient.
Crushed Packet With Spices
Most people prefer to eat them in this convenient way. The only thing one has to do is take a packet of noodles and crush it with a hand or a rolling pin. You can choose to either crush it into large chunks or tiny pieces.
Then, you should open the packet and take the seasoning sachet out. Take a pinch of spices from the sachet and sprinkle some in the packet. Gently shake the noodles inside, so the spices combine with them. And that is all. Now, you can enjoy the snack just like regular potato chips.
Use the Noodles as Breading for Other Dishes
Raw noodles can be used instead of breadcrumbs as breading for different types of meat. Changing recipes in this way will open the door to limitless cooking possibilities. Next time when you begin preparing meat for frying or baking, take out your instant ramen noodles packet first.
Rub chicken or fish with seasoning and then put it in flour before dipping it in an egg mixture. After this, dip it in crushed noodles. Finally, spray the meat with a non-cooking spray and continue to fry it. You’ll see just how delicious this recipe can be after trying it for the first time.
It’s a Delicious Snack, but There Are Still Downsides to Instant Noodles
While the taste is incredible, and the snack can be served in many different ways, the nutritional value of the cooked and uncooked instant ramen noodles remains poor. Even though different brands vary, the low nutritional value of the dish indicates that it cannot be eaten every day as a balanced and nutritional meal.
Here is a table with all the available nutritional content in one serving of instant ramen noodles.
| Carbohydrate | 55g |
| Calories | 380kcal |
| Total fat | 14g |
| Sodium | 980mg |
| Saturated fat | 6g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Protein | 7g |
| Niacin | 4mg |
Craving a Flavorful Snack? Pick the Best Brands
If you want to enjoy crunchy noodles from time to time, it’s essential to know what brand to buy. There are numerous similar packets on store shelves, and picking the right one can be tricky. In this list, you’ll find brands that might be the best for creating a flavorful snack:
- Samyang Ramen – Spicy and mouth watering ramen is definitely Samyang ramen. The noodles are extremely hot and scrumptious. However, the hint of sweetness in the ramen seasoning balances the flavors out.
- Nongshim Ramen – The quality is evident with this packet. It is a bit more expensive, but the unique and high-quality textures of each noodle justify the price. If you decide to cook, you will be amazed by the chewiness of noodles.
- Nissin Top Ramen – This brand offers a rich and appetizing broth, and the noodles are not too spicy or savory. The combination of flavors is perfect, which makes this brand stand out from the rest.
Raw Ramen Noodles Is a Perfect Snack
Since eating raw instant ramen noodles is safe, you have an opportunity to create your own recipes that will include crushed crunchy noodles. From salads to meats, tiny noodle pieces can be a great topping for numerous dishes. However, the easiest and most convenient way to eat them is to simply sprinkle some of the seasonings from the sachet onto the noodles and shake the packet. A simple snack that you can eat whenever and wherever you want will be a delightful quick meal.