Instant Ramen noodles are a good survival food because you can eat them right out of the package without adding water, have a long shelf life, don’t require refrigeration, are very inexpensive, and gives you carbohydrates and sodium that our bodies need for survival.
What is the shelf life of instant Ramen noodles?
Around 2 years. Instant Ramen noodles have a shelf life of around 2 years. Don’t let this deter you from buying them for your long term food storage though. The package will have a “best by date” or “expiration date” on it, which indicates the date that the product will be at its best. This is usually around 2 years from the production date. That doesn’t mean that the contents will be spoiled though. You can go on eating instant Ramen noodles after the best by date, as long as you examine them first.
To find the best by date on your noodles check all around the packaging. It will either be on the bottom or the side depending on which product you are looking at. Don’t get confused by all the numbers. Most have extra numbers meant for the manufacturer.
How to tell if instant Ramen noodles have gone bad
Do a sight/smell test. The best by date on your instant Ramen noodles will let you know that the product most likely isn’t going to be at its finest but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to stop eating them. Take a look at the packaging. Are there any holes or rips in the container or plastic? If so, you’ll want to take a close look at the noodles to make sure that they haven’t been contaminated or that mold hasn’t started growing.
Pay special attention to the seasoning packet(s) as well. If you smell something off, then it’s best to throw it away and not risk getting sick by contaminated food.
How to store instant Ramen noodles for the long-term
As with most survival foods you’ll want to store instant Ramen noodles in a dry and cool location. A pantry will work great. I have abused instant Ramen noodles by leaving them out in the rain and they are still good to eat. This is not recommended, but instant Ramen noodles can survive a lot of abuse and still be edible! 😃
How to cook instant Ramen noodles
So simple. Did you know that you don’t HAVE TO cook instant Ramen noodles? That’s right! They are precooked, so if you choose to you can eat them dry right out of the package. In a survival situation this may come in handy if you don’t have water or you don’t want to start a fire to boil water.
When we lived in Indonesia we would crush the package of instant Ramen noodles in our hands, then open it up and sprinkle the dry seasoning in with the crushed noodles. It made for a convenient and tasty snack!
Do I need a microwave to cook instant Ramen noodles?
No. The simple answer is no. As noted above, you don’t NEED a microwave to cook instant Ramen noodles because the noodles are precooked in the factory. There are a variety of instant Ramen noodles on the market today and they each have their own recommended serving suggestions. Here are just a few of the most popular instant Ramen noodle options out there:
- Original Cup Noodles by Nissin: add boiling water to the Styrofoam container, wait 3 minutes.
- Top Ramen by Nissin: boil water, add noodles and seasonings.
- Spicy Chicken Roasted Noodle by Samyung: boil water, add noodles for 5 minutes, drain most of the water, add sauce.
Are there other instant Ramen noodle companies besides Nissin and Maruchan?
Yes, there are several. Nissin and Maruchan are the two most popular instant Ramen noodle companies in the United States. You may or may not know that there are other instant Ramen noodle companies besides these two that originated in Japan. Here are few that I recommend:
- Japan: Two of the most popular and well known instant Ramen noodle brands known to Americans are Nissin and Maruchan. They have been in America since around 1970 and can be bought online and in most grocery stores.
- Korea: If you like hot and spicy foods then I recommend this Korean instant Ramen noodle. It is very flavorful and you can find it on Amazon. This is one of my kids’ favorites! You’ll pay about $1.80 per pack, which is more than Nissin Top Ramen or Maruchan’s Ramen, but the portions are larger. 4.94 oz in Samyang compared to 3 oz. in Nissin and Maruchan.
- Indonesia: We spent almost 10 years in Indonesia as missionaries and we discovered that their instant Ramen noodles are superior to what we Americans have. LOL! Thanks to the internet, we can buy their noodles online!
- What makes them superior you might ask? More seasoning packets. You will usually find a sweet soy sauce packet, a hot sauce packet, an oil packet, a dry seasoning packet, and a fried onion packet depending on which flavor you buy.
How much instant Ramen noodles should I store for a year?
I recommend that you store 3 packets of instant Ramen noodles per person per week. They are high in sodium and are best eaten in moderation and in combination with a well balanced diet. Since we are preparing for survival it’s best to fill our storage with foods that will fuel our bodies. In addition to instant Ramen noodles you might want to consider adding SPAM. It’s a great source of protein and doesn’t need refrigeration or cooking.
Are Ramen noodles bad for you?
That depends. If you are in a survival situation, then food is food and it keeps you alive. Are Ramen noodles high in sodium? Absolutely. One way to decrease the sodium content is to throw out the seasoning packets included with your Ramen and add your own herbs and spices from your own pantry.
Since we are thinking about foods for survival, then I recommend that you use instant Ramen noodles as part of your stockpile not exclusively. There are many options for long term food storage that you might consider. Here is a list of 8 that I compiled to get you started.
How long can a person live on instant Ramen noodles alone?
If ALL you are consuming is Ramen noodles then you run the risk of causing yourself heart problems. There is no magic number for how many days or weeks you will survive, but your body needs more nutrients to function well than what only Ramen noodles provide.
How much do instant Ramen noodles cost?
Instant Ramen noodles are very inexpensive and that is why they are often associated with poor college students. 😃 It really will depend on where you purchase them, but you can buy Chicken flavored Nissin Top Ramen on Amazon for $0.73 each.
The Maruchan brand is even cheaper than Nissin on Amazon, running now around $0.24 each. Maruchan is another Japanese company that started manufacturing instant Ramen noodles in America after Nissin in 1977.
What are instant Ramen noodles made of?
The basic ingredients in instant Ramen noodles are wheat flour, salt, and oil.
It is commonly accepted that the Ramen noodle originated in China and was brought to Japan. It was in Japan that the instant Ramen Noodle was invented and then marketed in America. In this article I have tried to emphasize that we are talking about INSTANT Ramen Noodles. The original Ramen Noodle was not instant, and today there is a growing market for people paying at least $15.00 for a bowl of Ramen Noodles. Those are NOT the kind of noodles that we are preparing for survival.
Some interesting ways to eat Ramen noodles
- Dry. Snack on them like chips in a bag. They are already cooked so it’s perfectly safe.
- Ramen Burgers. Sounds odd, but some people use the noodles as buns for a burger. May have to try that! Or not!
- Sprinkled. Some people like to crunch up the instant Ramen noodles and sprinkle them on salads to add a special crunch.
What are the most popular instant Ramen noodles?
By far Nissin and Maruchan are the most popular instant Ramen noodle brands known to Americans. Both brands have been around for many years and are easily found on your normal grocery store shelves without much searching.
Most Americans are very familiar with the Original Cup Noodles by Nissin. It’s a classic! Maruchan’s Instant Lunch is very similar with its styrofoam packaging. These are by far the most convenient and inexpensive ways to eat instant Ramen noodles.
Other brands such as Samyung are making their way into American’s carts and hearts. Especially those that love a little better quality instant Ramen noodle and some more flavor.
Nissin has up-ed their game by creating stir-fry and chow mein instant varieties now. Lots to choose from.
Conclusion
In my opinion instant Ramen noodles are a good survival food. A downside is that the “best by date” is only around 2 years, but it is commonly accepted that instant Ramen noodles can be stored and eaten for a lot longer than that.
BUT there are so many positives that make them a great survival food! Instant Ramen noodles don’t need to be cooked, you can eat them right out of the package. Also you don’t need to refrigerate them and they are very inexpensive.
I think instant Ramen noodles are a great option if you are looking for an inexpensive survival food. They are great for both the serious prepper or if you’re just planning ahead for an emergency. Please tell me what your favorite brands and flavors of instant Ramen noodles are.
