To cook instant noodles without a stove or a microwave may seem a bit tricky task, but with a few kitchen appliances and a bit of creativity, it’s easy to whip up perfectly cooked ramen in no time.
Here are five simple ways to cook noodles without a stove or a microwave.
Cooking Instant Ramen Noodles With Just Hot Water?
It sounds outright ridiculous—cooking noodles without a stove or microwave? How else are you going to do it, then?
With hot water, of course!
The wonder of instant noodles is that as long as you have access to very, very hot water and a resistant container, you can prepare the perfect instant ramen in no time. Naturally, this means that a theoretically desperate college student could prepare instant ramen with a clothing iron just fine.
But before relying on that drastic last resort, let’s explore other ways you can access boiling water for perfect noodles.
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1. Use An Instant Boiling Water Tap
If you have access to an instant boiling water tap, you’ve got the job half done! These great appliances provide you instant access to boiling water without fuss or waiting times. Used by many avid tea and coffee drinkers, this filtered boiling water gives you instant noodles in an instant, literally.
All you need to do is place the noodles and flavoring inside a pot or bowl and fill it with the boiling water coming from the tap. While doing this, make sure to keep your hands away from the water to avoid any unfortunate incidents.
Let the noodles soak in the boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes or until they reach your preferred consistency.
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2. Make Instant Noodles Over Campfire
Camping is one of those situations where you could really use some instant noodles, yet you don’t have stoves or microwaves nearby. But like I mentioned before, as long as you can boil water available, you’re good to go.
To cook instant noodles over a campfire in the great outdoors, you’ll need a medium-sized pot and a surface to support it so it won’t be in direct contact with the fire, as it needs to cook over medium-high heat.
Upon the pot’s surface, you can sauté onions, garlic, and spices if you’d like to give your instant ramen that extra touch. Since it’s over a campfire, make sure they don’t burn by stirring constantly and removing them from heat when required.
Once they’re ready, pour over the water and let it come to a boil, add the instant noodle and seasoning, and let them simmer for up to five minutes—perfect noodles in record time!
This method works for all types of noodles, even the regular ones.
3. Use Your Electric Kettle
Whether it is an electric kettle or an instant one-cup kettle, both appliances are an excellent way to acquire boiling water without relying on stovetops or microwaves.
Depending on the type of device you own—and how spacious it is—there are two techniques or approaches you can try.
First, you can pour the water into the kettle and let it heat up. In a separate bowl, you can incorporate instant noodles, flavoring, and seasoning according to taste. Once the water reaches boiling point, pour it inside the bowl and let it soak in for three to five minutes.
The second method involves cooking the noodles inside the kettle after the water has reached a boiling point. Let the water heat up and incorporate any flavoring you have—you can even spice things up by incorporating freshly chopped onions, garlic, or anything else you’d like. After the water boils, include the noodles and let them sit to soak in the flavor.
Best part? It works even with regular, non-instant pasta and noodles!
However, your kettle will need a good clean before you use it for your cup of tea again. Also, keep in mind that not all electric kettles can withstand salt or seasoning. Make sure to read the instructions of your device before using the second method and proceed with caution.
Also, don’t try this method or the one below while staying on Airbnb. It is not nice to the host and to the other guests.
4. A Coffee Maker Works Just Fine
A drip coffee maker is an often helpful yet overlooked way to access hot water and—of course—a creative way to cook instant noodles.
For this technique, 12-cup one and a 6-cup one work just fine.
If the opening of the carafe (glass container with a flared lip) is small, crush the ramen noodle pieces before opening the package, making sure they are torn into smaller pieces yet not too small—the purpose is to make them easier to fit and heat up.
Once they’re an acceptable size, place them inside the carafe at the bottom, evenly distributed, and make sure not to put too many on top of one another.
After that is done, add the seasoning inside the carafe or inside the disposable coffee filter, pour the water inside the reservoir within the coffee maker, and turn it on, letting it work its magic. Let the noodles soak in the hot water for five minutes and enjoy.
Does it work? You bet—college students everywhere swear by this approach.
Not only will the coffee maker help you to cook them but it will also keep them warm. And if you have a programmable coffee maker, you can set it to have freshly made ramen in the morning when you wake up. That is if you are willing to sacrifice your cup of Joe.
5. Make Instant Noodles With Cold Water?
So, what if you can’t boil water at all? Alright, this is the worst-case scenario—no boiling water and no way to acquire it. Perhaps you are in the middle of a general blackout and have no access to electricity, or you don’t have any appliances with you.
In such cases, I have good news—you don’t precisely need boiling water in the first place.
Instant noodles are instant because they already went through a cooking process before getting packed and sold. They are dehydrated instead, so they don’t strictly need boiling water—just water. Thus, any temperature will get the job done, including lukewarm and, yes, even cold.
Granted, you won’t get the deliciously hot ramen noodles that way; it’d remain cold or maybe lukewarm, which may not be the most appetizing thing, but hey—it works!
Just keep in mind that the colder the water, the longer it’d take for the noodles to cook.
To make instant noodles with cold water, depending on the water temperature, you need to soak them for 15 to 30 minutes to get an edible, al dente result and if soaked too long the noodles could become soggy and mushy.
So, the cold water will work but don’t expect an amazing culinary experience, if that is even possible with instant noodles in the first place.
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In Conclusion
There are several ways to cook instant noodles without a stove or microwave. With a little creativity, I am sure you can come up with your own methods for preparing this quick and easy meal. Let me know in the comment below what you came up with, even if it is a crazy one.