The Cost of Ramen Noodles
Probably the most beloved Asian food, noodles are Asian pasta often cooked with sauces or in soups. As primary ingredients, they can often contain wheat, buckwheat, or rice.
Ramen noodles can be served either dry or in a soup. They come with meat, fish and sometimes they are prepared as a dish on their own.
How much does a pack of ramen noodles cost?
Ramen noodles are one of the cheapest food items out there, a pack being purchased with $0.35 to $0.55. But you’re probably wondering why. The answer is simple – ramen contains very cheap ingredients and lightweight packaging when compared to other foods. It’s made up of water, wheat, flour, salt, and a few more unimportant components which make it cost-effective for manufacturers.
Ramen noodles can cost as much as $0.62 per package on Amazon, for example. The Maruchan brand ramen costs around $20 for a box of 36 packages.
At Walmart, you can get a 12-pack of Maruchan ramen for $3.25 or grab a six-pack of 2.25-ounce soup packages which costs just about $2.5.
Samyang Ramen is a more expensive alternative to the cheap and easy Maruchan ramen. A five-pack can cost about $15, which brings each pack’s price close to $3.
You might also like our articles about the cost of lasagna, spaghetti, or tamales.
There is a cheaper option: buying in bulk. A pallet usually includes 120 cases and costs $10 per case, bringing the total to about $1,200 for all of them combined.
With an average price of $0.30 per pack, the Huffington Post says it would only cost you around $180 to eat ramen for a whole year.
Ramen noodles details
There are two main forms of ramen noodles. First, you can purchase a package with dry noodles and boil water to cook them yourself. The packaging will come with a sauce packet that adds flavor once the noodles are cooked for those who enjoy soup instead of just a noodle dish.
The second form of ramen noodles is microwaveable soup. They are a little bit more expensive, but still cheap compared with other food products. The container will contain dry noodles and flavoring and needs to be filled with water (to a designated fill line) then microwaved for a cooking time specified on the package.
Ramen noodles come in a variety of flavors, with the most popular ones found at local grocery stores. The different types include chicken, creamy chicken, mushroom chicken, beef, picante beef, chili, roast beef, shrimp, lime shrimp, and spicy shrimp.
Ramen noodles are meant to be consumed before the expiration date. However, if you don’t encounter a different taste or smell when cooking them after this time frame has passed by, it means that they are still good to eat. Ramen is known for its long shelf life meaning that even though there may no longer be available an “expiration date” ramen will still retain most of their nutrients and flavor which makes them safe enough to consume as well.
What are the extra costs?
Adding eggs, miso broth, veggies soy sauce, or greens to instant ramen noodles makes for a more nutritious meal. One can also add meat and/or spices in order to enhance the flavor of their individualized bowl of ramen noodles.
Important things to consider
Ramen is a quick and cheap meal, but it can be filled with high levels of sodium. A single serving contains half the recommended daily intake of 2,000 calories. But there are many ways to reduce the amount of sodium in your ramen. The simplest way is by not using the seasoning packet that comes with it, and instead, use healthier spices like garlic powder or pepper flakes.
Are ramen noodles vegan? When researching this particular issue, we found that the answer is yes and no. They’re made from wheat flour, oil and additional fillers such as salt, but the seasoning packets can contain meat-based ingredients like powdered chicken flavor or dehydrated beef extract which aren’t vegetarian at all. The noodle package itself has nothing to do with these seasonings that aren’t vegan though so they’re safe, but we still recommend checking out what you’re eating.
How can I save money?
For the lowest cost, choose instant ramen with flavorings.
Try seasoning your food with things like salt and pepper. This can save you money because they cover the need to buy other flavor enhancers.
Buying in bulk is the best way to save money. If you buy a whole box of your favorite ramen, then not only will you have more for yourself but you’ll also get a lower price per pack.
You can save some money by searching on the internet for coupons from popular name brands.
Dollar Tree’s five-count package is a great affordable way to stock up on supplies at any given time.
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