13 of the best ways to upgrade instant ramen, according to chefs

Instant ramen usually includes a spice packet that adds umami flavor to your noodles. But Anna Rider, a food writer, chef, and recipe developer, told Business Insider they’re not all created equally.

“Popular brands at conventional grocery stores come with lackluster spices and seasonings,” she said. “You’re better off cooking your noodles in chicken or vegetable broth and serving them with chili oil, sriracha, or sesame oil with red-pepper flakes.”

But keep the packet if your instant ramen is from an Asian grocery store — it’s more likely to include authentic spices that are worth adding to your meal.

Instant ramen is meant to be served piping hot, but allowing the cooked noodles to sit in the warm broth may cause them to be mushy by the time you’re ready to eat.

To avoid this, Rider suggested shortening the cooking time listed on the package.

“Undercooking your noodles by one to two minutes makes them perfect by the time you’re ready to enjoy them,” she told BI.

You can also prevent mushy ramen by draining the noodles immediately and rinsing them under cold water.

Deanna Kang, a chef and recipe developer at Agile Test Kitchen, told BI that cooking your noodles separately could improve their texture.

“Though not totally necessary, cooking your noodles separately before adding them to ramen stock washes away extra starch and makes the broth and noodles less gummy,” she said.

Romain Devanneaux, a chef at Chez Muffy in Quebec City, told BI that he never cooks the whole portion of noodles in a pack of instant ramen.

“I always keep a small amount of the uncooked noodles to place on top when it’s ready,” he said. “This brings a little crunchy texture to the dish.”

If you’d rather cook all your noodles, you can top your ramen with raw shredded carrots, tortilla chips, or even croutons to add a crunch.

Chris Riley, a cook and founder of The Daring Kitchen, told BI that cheese and instant ramen are an excellent pairing.

“Add a couple of cheese slices, Parmesan, or crumbled feta after cooking the ramen for a few minutes,” he said. “You can also add some mayo to make the dish even creamier.”

Devanneaux said adding frozen herbs to ramen noodles is a quick and easy way to introduce flavor.

“When you see that herbs in your fridge have lost their freshness, mix them with olive oil and a dash of lemon juice and freeze them in an ice-cube tray,” he told BI. “These cubes are great when added to ramen noodles.”

If you want to turn a package of instant ramen into a more substantial meal, a simple can of soup may do the trick.

“Boil some canned soup on the stove and cook the ramen in that,” Riley said. “Any vegetable or Italian soup will do the trick, and you end up with a savory bowl of ramen.”

It may be easier to cook the noodles in broth-based soups, but don’t be afraid to experiment with creamier flavors.

One easy way to add some flavor and substance to instant ramen is to raid your fridge for leftovers.

“You can use leftovers like sliced ham or a fried egg from breakfast to make instant ramen a more complete meal,” Rider said.

Instant ramen is also a great way to make use of wilting herbs or garnishes, such as leftover basil or chopped green onion.

For an authentic twist on instant ramen, Rider suggested adding some seaweed.

“A square of salted seaweed can really improve instant ramen,” she told BI. “Serve with a soft-boiled egg split lengthwise and lightly fried shiitake mushrooms cooked with garlic.”

For extra toppings, opt for pickled carrots, fresh cilantro, or green onions sliced on the diagonal.

For the fastest and simplest way to boost the salty, savory flavor of instant ramen, add a splash of soy sauce.

“Soy sauce can enhance the flavor and complexity of the instant ramen,” Riley said. “If you prefer spice, throw in some chili sauce as well.”

“Add bacon and eggs for a great breakfast take on ramen noodles,” Riley told BI. “I love this because it’s fast, easy, and delicious.”

You can poach an egg directly in the ramen as it cooks, or whisk the egg in while cooking to create a rich, creamy broth.

Kang told BI that cooking instant noodles in broth instead of water makes for a more flavorful meal.

“Start with anything except water, like chicken or vegetable stock,” the chef said. “Even adding powdered chicken bouillon will help the soup taste less like the Styrofoam cup it came from.”

If you’re not in the mood for a noodle soup, you can transform instant ramen into a vegetable-packed stir-fry or salad.

“Stir-fry the cooked noodles with vegetables and sauce, or chill the cooked noodles and add a simple sesame-oil and rice-vinegar dressing with some shredded vegetables,” Kang said.

This story was originally published in May 2020 and most recently updated on August 28, 2024.

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