Affordable, quick, and delicious — Instant Ramen has become a staple in many households. So how
are these mega-popular noodles so cheap? We have the answer.
They're so iconic they have an entire museum dedicated to them. They were the first noodles
to be consumed in outer space. And while they began as a luxury item,
some instant ramen today costs $0.33 cents per packet.
Instant ramen is easy on our pocketbooks because it is very cheap to produce. Healthline says the
noodles are made from wheat flour, which has been fortified with synthetic forms of
vitamin B and iron. After they are made, the noodles are steamed, dunked in chicken broth,
then fried, in a process designed to give the product a longer shelf life.
Making them ready-to-eat is easy — all you need to do is rehydrate
the noodles and toss in a soup packet made primarily with MSG, salt, sugar,
and flavorings to round out the eating experience. The World Instant Noodles Association says instant
ramen today is enjoyed with a variety of spices found in local food cultures.
"You know when you think of that one food that got you through college,
this picture comes to everybody's mind: you're thinking about ramen."
Even if instant ramen is not exactly nutritious,
it will continue to be widely consumed because as anthropologists like Sidney Mintz say,
the low price point means it's affordable for nearly everyone. The noodles are prepared
as a soup, which makes a consumer feel full for longer; they are made with wheat flour,
which has a high glycemic index; and before they are dehydrated, the noodles are fried in palm oil,
which NutriStrategy says has the second-highest concentration of saturated fat among all
vegetable oils. And like the soup effect, the oil can make the noodles more filling.
But just as there is a hidden health cost associated with living on an instant ramen diet,
there is also a hidden environmental cost. Palm oil cannot be replaced easily as an ingredient,
because it is a natural preservative, and because it is the world's most inexpensive,
versatile, and sought after vegetable oil.
"Millions of us buy palm oil, often without even knowing it."
Palm oil, though, is also one of the leading causes of deforestation in
Malaysia and Indonesia, according to The Guardian.
Despite that environmental impact, for struggling families, instant ramen has become a weekly menu
staple. According to Insider, more than 100 billion packs of instant ramen are consumed
each year. Momofuku Ando invented instant ramen in 1958 to curb the issue of hunger in Japan,
and since then, the easy-to-make noodle packages have continued to accomplish that
goal. According to Gizmodo, Ando sought to create a product that was tasty, safe,
nonperishable, economical, and ready in three minutes or less. These factors make instant
noodles an easy choice for starving children and college students alike.
"And your ramen is ready."
The United States isn't the only place where these noodles have been helpful. According to Statista,
the top noodle consuming country is South Korea, followed by Nepal, Indonesia, Japan,
and China. The United States doesn't appear on that list until the number eight spot,
with the United Kingdom, India, France, and Argentina coming in behind. In the top country,
South Korea, more than 75 servings are believed to be consumed per person per year.
Traditional Japanese ramen noodles differ quite a bit from the store
bought variety you're used to. According to The Japanese Way, Japanese ramen is
made with a different type of wheat flour than instant noodles, giving it a chewier texture.
"Yes, ramen."
Though instant noodles seem like the easier choice when you're in need of a quick meal,
real ramen can be frozen, which helps the flavors blend together and
decreases its starchiness. Additionally, traditional ramen noodles aren't fried,
and are usually served with pork and chicken stock, as well as scallions.
You also won't find the same price tag on real ramen. According to Love for Traveling,
a bowl of ramen in Tokyo costs 600 to 1,200 yen,
which is equal to $4.28 to $8.56 USD. Similar to in the United States,
buying the ingredients from a grocery store and cooking at home is more affordable than
enjoying ramen at an upscale restaurant, where prices can rise as high as $22.00 for a bowl.