How to Make Two Minute Noodles

First, catch your noodles... Haha, just kidding. Of course, you all now how to make two minute noodles (aka instant ramen). You've all been broke students. But did you ever stop to think about how they were made before they were put in the packet? Well, I sure didn't, but a recent trip to the Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda changed that.


We went with (L to R) Hiromi, Kiyo, Rizzie and Kaori. I teach Kiyo and Kaori every week, and the outing was their idea. Kaori did the organising and booking, so big props to her! And thanks to Kiyo for this photo and some of the others in this post :)

Yup, not kidding. Instant Ramen Museum. Actually, it's The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum. Mr. Momofuku is the man we have to thank for the miracle of two-minute noodles. Also, isn't it the cutest-sounding name ever? I just keep wanting to say it. Momofuku. Momofuku. Momo. Fuku. Mooo Mooo Fuuuu Kuuuu.

Ahem. Anyway. Instant ramen debuted in 1958, and the entirely self-contained Cup Noodle followed 13 years later. World changed, in my opinion. I mean, imagine the world withough two minute noodles. It would be a dark, miserable, and, most of all, quite peckish place.

Instant ramen has also been re-engineered for space travel. Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi took a supply of "Space Ram" with him on his mission in 2005.


The history displays were actually really interesting, but the main attraction for us was the opportunity to make instant ramen *from scratch*. Actually starting from the flour and oil and... stuff... Which we had to knead together...


And then wring it through a noodle-izer...


(Yes, we did get to keep the bandannas.)
And then, it got put into moulds and deep-fried. (The moulds are heart-shaped because it was February, and, you know, Valentine's day and stuff...)


And then, ta-da! Our very own handmade chicken flavoured instant ramen. We also got to design our own packets. Cute huh?


Mine is bottom centre, and Clinton's is bottom right.

So, it was a fun and really interesting outing. It certainly changed how I look at the humble two minute noodle.