Ramen is one of the best dishes out there, there is no denying it. However, it is easy to cook too much of this delicious dish, or end up ordering in more than we can eat. When it comes to ramen, our eyes are often bigger than our belly.
If this is the case, do not fret. You may indeed be able to reheat your ramen. We know you have been wondering if you can, so stick around to find out how!
What Is Ramen?
Let’s begin by learning a bit about ramen first though.
Ramen is a traditional Japanese noodle based dish. It contains Chinese style noodles with a meat-based (sometimes vegetable based) broth and flavored with miso or sometimes soy.
It comes with many toppings and is usually customizable.
It can be cold or hot, can be with meat, fish, or vegetables, it could be sweet or spicy. A very versatile food type, and one that is drop-dead delicious!
But, is it able to be reheated? Well, that’s the thing…
Can You Reheat Ramen?
Yes! You can reheat ramen. However, you need to think about how you do so. Ramen is noodle based, and that is the biggest thing you need to think of. Noodles and rice are very similar in how they need to be stored and reheated once cooked.
You should only leave noodles in the fridge for one day, or two maximum, after this they will start to dry out. It won’t make you sick, it will just taste a bit gross.
How To Reheat Ramen
How you reheat ramen depends on where you got it from and what is in it. If you are dealing with veggie ramen then you only really need to think about the noodles. However, if you are dealing with ramen that has fish or meat, you will also need to think about these as well.
You should also be considering if the ramen is one you made yourself or if it is takeout ramen, as there will be differences.
So, let’s look at what technique you should use depending on the specifics of your ramen.
Can You Reheat: Homemade Vs Takeout
The reason you should be more wary of takeout ramen is that you do not know 100% what is in it. Takeout ramen will usually make the noodles soggy once the food is cold, and the noodles will absorb moisture and swell.
When you get takeout ramen, you should eat it when it is fresh and hot, it will be hard to separate liquids and solids later on. However, if you manage this then store everything separately in containers which are airtight until you are ready to eat, then pop them in the microwave.
Do not eat takeout ramen for too long, or you could get sick.
Homemade ramen is easier, you can keep these things separate easier. If you make a load of ramen to last you a few days, you can leave all the parts in separate containers in the fridge, and then you can cook the noodles and vegetables when you are ready to eat the ramen.
If you have already combined everything, you can store the noodles with a small amount of liquid in containers.
Reheating In The Microwave
So, how should you go about reheating ramen noodles in the microwave? Well. If you are in a rush and need some ramen, the microwave is the fastest way to get your ramen fixed.
Just put your ramen into a microwavable container and then give it a good blast for only 40 to 60 seconds (it does depend on how much ramen you have).
In order to make sure that the noodles do not get tasteless and dry, add in just 1/4 of a cup of broth or water and some butter. As the butter melts onto the ramen in the microwave it will make the noodles very tasty and creamy.
The broth will aid in the noodles’ separation, as they will clump and stick together when dry. If you did store your noodles with broth then you won’t need to add any more broth or water.
If you microwave ramen to reheat it, do not overdo it, otherwise you can make the noodles soggy and overly soft.
Reheating On The Stove
If you are not in a rush then you can reheat the ramen on your stove top, which does work better overall.
Grab yourself a pot and pop your boodles in, and bring it to a low boil, but only for a few seconds as there is no need to completely boil already boiled noodles!
Add a bit of liquid in if they are already free of liquid, add a bit of water and pop the lid on, so it steams. If you have the broth then do not add more liquid. If you have them separate, heat the broth first, add the noodles and boil together for another minute.
Ramen Broth And Egg
A few things you want to think about…
If reheating ramen eggs, you may want to let them warm to room temperature first, then heat some water gently, and when hot drop in the egg and warm it for a couple of minutes. Then place in the soup.
To heat ramen broth, the stove is best as then you can add in other ingredients. You just make fresh ramen with leftover broth which will be more flavorful than reheating leftover noodles with some water.
To Conclude
Overall, yes, you can reheat ramen. In fact, it is totally fine to reheat it in the microwave, but really you want the ingredients to all be separate.
Reheating ramen is all about the flavor, and texture. The noodles can be the trickiest part to work with, so always consider the noodles and how they are reheated before anything else!
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
