Ramen noodles are one of the best instant foods you can have in your stockpile. For many college students, instant ramen is well known as the staple snack. If college students can survive off Ramen for a couple of years, then if need calls for it, so can you. Ramen is a very light food that lasts for a long time and is simple to produce. It is a good carbohydrate source that gives you energy. It also contains high sodium levels, which is not necessarily a bad thing because sodium is a significant nutrient that plays a key role in the functions of our nerves and muscles.
The best thing about ramen is that in boiling water, it only only takes 4 minutes to make it, and it only has about 188 calories per serving. It’s such a super cheap and tasty meal and a very smart and practical addition to the variety of your stockpile.
Best Ramen to Store
There are plenty of good brands of instant ramen that you can store. Here are two of the best:
- Nissin Top Ramen
A staple prepper meal has grown to be Nissin Top Ramen. These instant noodles are filling and very affordable. For just $9.49 at Costco, you will get 48 packs! This amounts to just about 20 cents per pack. Nissin Top Ramen is readily accessible and can be bought online at just about any grocery store.
- Nongshim Shin Ramyun
Another delicious instant ramen choice is Shin Ramyun. One of the best selling ramens in the world is Shin Ramyun. This ramen is made from fresh produce and a blend of great great spices that enhances its flavor, guaranteeing you an instant meal that is satisfyingly delicious. One pack is approximately 40 cents. And at any grocery store, like Walmart and Costco, you will find them. Also, Shin Ramyun is available online in bulk packs.
Shelf Life
Generally, an instant ramen pack has a shelf life of anywhere from 2 and 12 months. Ramen will last for a while beyond its Best Before Date due to its preservatives. The shelf life, however, depends on a few variables and conditions, namely the storage method, room conditions, and noodle type.
Within a year after their Best Before Date, some people make a personal rule of holding and eating their stock of ramen noodles. While some may doubt the wisdom behind this, it may be beneficial to take into account the many reports that ramen noodles can be stored for a few years and still turn out to be just fine when cooked and eaten. That’s why some say that ramen can also last for 10+ years if you store it properly. But limiting its storage time to only a year or two past its Best Before Date would be best. After being stored for a very long period, you wouldn’t want to end up with the risk of making the noodles taste stale.
The more secured the packs are from moisture when it comes to instant ramen, the better. It could be ruined by keeping the ramen somewhere humid. When you open the pack, you will know that the ramen is spoiled. It is certainly going to smell! If you have stored the ramen for quite a long time, be sure to check for molds and discoloration before cooking it.
Related: What Storage Container Works Best?
Storage
When it comes to storage, instant ramen noodles don’t take much. A pantry or cabinet will do just fine.
Here’s an easy guide to ramen storage:
- Keep your stock away from heat sources and sunlight.
- Keep them in low humidity.
- Store them in a cool place or at room temperature.
- Do not store them with food or items that emit a strong smell.
Best Ways to Have Ramen
Ramen can be prepared in a number of ways, and it all depends on the mood you are in, the flavors you crave, and the imagination you put into it.
You can add vegetables such as onions, spinach, carrots, shallots, and lettuce to it if you want to make it nutritious and healthier. Eggs and other form of meat, depending on what you have in stock, can be added for more protein.
For your ramen, consuming protein helps energize you and make you feel complete for longer. SPAM is an example of meat that goes well with ramen. It is high in protein and packed with energy, making it a strong ramen complement.
Below are a few ways to turn your instant ramen into a deliciously tasty meal. You can use them as a guide or it can be accompanied by any recipe of your choice.
Ramen contents and basic ingredients that you can use:
Method 1
Ingredients:
- 1 ramen pack
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons of sesame oil
- ¼ cup of milk.
- Cheese (however much you prefer)
- Baby spinach
- Shallots
- Lettuce
- 1 boiled egg
- Spam and/or beef jerky, or other types of meat you prefer
- Nori seaweed (optional)
Preparation:
- Boil about 500ml of water on medium-high heat.
- Pour both instant packets into hot water along with soy sauce, sesame oil, and milk.
- When water starts to steam, put the noodle brick in.
- Stir and move noodle brick around occasionally until it softens and breaks apart (This may take about 2 minutes).
- Once the noodles are done, turn off the heat and remove the pot from the stove top.
- Then put the lettuce, spinach, and shallots into the pot and mix them in. You can also add other vegetables if you wish.
- Put in sliced Spam and/or other types of meat you prefer.
- Put the slices of cheese on top while hot.
- Enjoy it with a garnish of some nori and sliced boiled egg.
There are two possible ways to prepare this recipe with garnishes which are shown in these pictures.
Related: 50 Foods to Dehydrate for Your Stockpile
Method 2
Ingredients:
- 1 ramen pack
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons of sesame oil
- Paprika
- 1 minced clove of garlic (sautéed)
- Shallots
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Cheese (however much you prefer)
- 1 egg
- Spam and/or beef jerky, or other types of meat you prefer
- Nori seaweeds (optional)
Preparation:
- Boil about 500ml of water on medium-high heat.
- Pour both instant packets into hot water along with soy sauce, sesame oil, paprika, and garlic.
- Crack the egg into the soup and stir well.
- When water starts to steam, put the noodles in.
- Stir and move noodle brick around occasionally until it softens and breaks apart (This may take about 2 minutes).
- Once noodles are done, turn off the heat and remove the pot from the stovetop.
- Then put the lettuce, spinach, carrots, and shallots into the pot and mix them in. You can also add other vegetables if you wish.
- Put in Spam and/or other types of meat you prefer.
- Garnish it with more shallots and cheese and enjoy with some nori.
There is another recipe that you can try using the ingredients from above. Meat lovers will definitely like this one.
And the third possible way to prepare this recipe with garnishes is shown in the picture below:
Method 3
Ingredients:
- 1 ramen pack
- ½ teaspoon butter
- Corns, peas, and potatoes
- Spam, beef jerky, chicken (any of these or a combination)
- 1 egg
Preparation:
- Follow pack directions for cooking.
- Stir in vegetables and butter, then leave to simmer.
- Fry egg and put on top along with the meat. Then enjoy.
There are also two possible ways to prepare it:
All in all, instant ramen can be mixed and cooked with a wide range of simple prepper foods.
It is definitely a good and ideal food source that should be in every preppers’ food stockpile.
