How to Microwave Ramen Noodles
Prep Time
1 minCook Time
4-5 minsFree Time
to do some quick mindfulness meditation
Ramen noodles: the unsung heroes of your pantry, always ready to rescue you from cooking fatigue or a long day at work. But what if we told you there's a way to elevate your ramen game even further, without the wait for boiling water? Enter Anyday – your kitchen companion for quick, effortless, and perfectly cooked microwave ramen. When in doubt, check the instructions on the back of the package for a foolproof finish!
All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwave and home kitchens to make sure they work— and work well. Unless specified otherwise, all recipes should be cooked at full power.
What You’ll Need
What You’ll Need
The Medium Deep Dish
The Anyhand Mitts
Ingredients
- 1 3-4 oz (85-115g) package
- 2 cups (500ml) water
Preparation
- Add the noodles and water to the Anyday and cover with the lid (knob lifted).
- Cook in the microwave for 4-5 minutes, or for the indicated cooking time in the back of the package. Cooked noodles should be tender, bouncy, and easily spin on a fork or chopsticks.
- Add the seasoning packet, if desired. Customize with your favorite toppings like an egg or strain and use in quick noodle dishes.
Serving suggestions & tips
Level up your bowl of Ramen:
- Add some sliced American cheese, shredded cooked pork, and a soft-boiled egg
- Add some lemongrass paste, sliced bok choy, and mushrooms.
- Add some grated ginger, baby spinach, shredded cooked chicken, and sesame oil. ½teaspoon ginger, grated
- Add some silken tofu, sambal oelek or chili crisp, and grated ginger. ½cup (125g) silken tofu, diced
Level up the noodles
- Strain and mix with peanut butter and chili crisp for a quick noodle dish
- Strain and mix with gochujang, kimchi, and scallions.
- Strain and season with brown butter, soy sauce, garlic powder, and parmesan for a quick San Francisco classic garlic noodles.
Recipe notes
- You can use low-sodium chicken, vegetables, beef, or dashi broth instead of water for even tastier results.
- If you’re experiencing spillover, you can try a few things: Cook the ramen uncovered and add a minute of time, or try cooking the ramen in a larger dish.
- Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.
All You Need to Know About Microwaving Instant Noodles
How long does it take to cook instant noodles in the microwave?
| Ingredient | Water | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 3-4 oz package | 2 cups (500ml) water | 4-5 mins |
| 2 3-4 oz packages | 4 cups (1000ml) water | 9 mins |
| 3 3-4 oz packages | 6 cups (1500ml) water | 15 mins |
It typically takes around 3-4 minutes for a package of instant noodles to cook in the microwave because you don’t need to wait for the water to boil like on the stovetop. To tell when noodles are cooked through, look for bendy, plump noodles that twist easily with a fork or chopsticks. You can also test it by taking a small bite — it should be tender but not mushy.
Can you cook instant ramen in the microwave?
Yes! Instant ramen is safe to cook in the microwave and in fact, is faster and easier than cooking it on the stovetop. Use a glass microwave-safe bowl that’s deep enough to fit the ramen noodles and water to cover it, and make sure that there’s plenty of room in the dish for the starchy water to bubble up — you don’t want spills happening in your microwave! Follow our step-by-step directions for making microwave instant ramen in the microwave and serve it for a quick and delicious meal.
Do I need to boil water before I cook instant noodles in the microwave?
With Anyday, you don’t need to boil the water before cooking the ramen! Just add the noodles and water as indicated in the package and cook for the recommended amount of time. The noodles are rehydrated as the water heats up in the microwave, leaving you with a piping hot broth to mix with the seasoning packet.
Water spilling over cooking noodles in the microwave?
When it comes to cooking starchy foods like ramen noodles in the microwave, you run the risk of water spillover. The sugars found in starchy water heat up quickly and the hot, bubbling water can spill over onto the microwave plate. This may occur in powerful microwave models, such as 1200w or inverter machines. To prevent this from happening, try cooking the noodles uncovered in the microwave, or cooking the noodles in a larger dish to give the ramen more room to boil.
Can you use instant noodles for something other than ramen?
You can use cooked instant noodles for a variety of unique dishes! Add some pasta sauce for an ultra-quick meal, use them in chicken noodle soup, and turn them into a quick chow main — there are no wrong answers when it comes to getting food in your belly quickly!