Can You Eat Raw Ramen?
A noodle soup with a flavorful broth that comes in various flavors and toppings, ramen is a Japanese delicacy that is loved by virtually everyone. Whether you’re a broke college student, a seasoned chef, or simply a lover of all things noodles, ramen is the best choice for a quick meal.
If you’re feeling creative enough, you can use ramen as carbonara pasta, tostadas, coleslaw, apple crumble, and truffles. Of course, in order to make all of these, ramen has to be cooked the traditional way by boiling the noodles and adding to the soup.
You might be wondering, can you eat raw ramen? Yes, you definitely can. Although you get none of the soft chewy noodle goodness, raw ramen can still be enjoyed when eaten raw.
Is Raw Ramen Safe For Eating
Yes, it is definitely safe to eat ramen. However, you must exercise the same precautions when eating cooked ramen noodles. In other words, consume in moderation.
Raw ramen, specifically store-bought or packaged ramen noodles, are already cooked prior. They’re generally made out of wheat flour and preservatives and are steamed, air dried or fried before packaged in factories or manufacturing plants for consumers to have a faster cooking time.
In other words, raw ramen is simply dried out noodles. Eating them cooked or uncooked makes no difference health-wise. In fact, even Nissin, a company selling top ramen and cup noodle brands, state that it’s safe to eat their products uncooked since the noodles are pre-cooked and dehydrated.
How To Eat Raw Ramen
Raw ramen is likened to eating potato chips because of its crispiness and dry, salty flavor. Feed your curiosity by trying out raw ramen as a snack without needing to heat up some water. You can even bring it to you anywhere you go without worrying about spilling.
The following is how you can enjoy raw ramen:
- Gently crush the noodles while it is still inside its package. If the noodles are everywhere and are making a mess, place it inside a plastic bag instead prior to crushing the noodles so that you can see for yourself.
- Pour the packet of seasoning into the plastic bag or package then shake and make sure it’s thoroughly mixed with the crushed noodles. Sprinkle only a few of the seasoning and definitely not all since it’s salty and you would need water to unsaturate the taste.
- Taste test! Try eating a piece of the crushed noodles and contemplate whether you need more seasoning or they turned out just fine.
- Lastly, don’t be afraid to experiment. This step is completely optional but if you’re in a particularly creative mood, have a go. You can add spices such as chili powder or flakes if you want a spicy kick to your crushed noodles or citrus salt.
Other Ways Of Eating Raw Ramen
- Use as toppings for dessert dishes by crushing the noodles to your desired size, usually very small so that it goes on top of desserts well. Add some sugar and cinnamon so that the noodles can absorb their sweet flavor. Sprinkle on ice cream sundaes, truffles, and whatever you like.
- Use as breadcrumbs for filets by crushing the raw ramen noodles and mix in the seasoning packet. Bread pieces can also be added. Then, emulsify the mixture and then coat in whatever you would use it for.
- Use as toppings for salads by crushing the ramen noodles then sprinkling all over the salad of your choice. You can use the seasoning packet and add some herbs and spices such as thyme, basil, and cilantro for extra flavor. Not dissimilar to Lo Mein Taste
Is Eating Raw Ramen Good For Your Health
Ramen, whether it’s cooked or uncooked, is a processed food and therefore poses risks to your health when eaten too much. It provides B vitamins, iron, and manganese but they lack all other necessary vitamins and minerals for the body.
They also have high MSG and sodium contents which may increase the risk of stomach cancer, metabolic syndrome, and heart-related diseases. It’s best if you limit the times you eat ramen noodles in a week and always balance it by eating more unprocessed, healthy food.
Refer to the table below for the nutritional profile of ramen:
| Nutrition | Total Amount per 3-ounce serving | Percentage of Daily Value (DV) based on a 2000-calorie diet |
| Calories | 382 | 19% |
| Saturated Fat | 7 grams | 35% |
| Protein | 8.8 grams | 18% |
| Iron | 3.6 milligrams | 20% |
| Sodium | 1.6 grams | 67% |
| Potassium | 157 milligrams | 4% |
| Calcium | 18.2 milligrams | 1.4% |
How Long Does It Take To Digest Raw Ramen
It takes anywhere from 6 to 24 hours depending on your stomach and the amount of raw ramen noodles you’ve consumed. Noodles, in general, are harder to digest because of the preservatives present and may even upset your digestive tract when eaten too much.
How Often Can I Eat Raw Ramen
You can eat raw ramen only 1 to 2 times a week at a total serving of 2,000 milligrams to 4,000 milligrams. Eating everyday is definitely not recommended even when you’re in a tight pinch. Make sure to eat healthier foods right after consuming raw ramen.