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Ramen is the most famous brand of ramen instant noodles. Maruchan Ramen is virtually the same thing, but cheaper and made in the USA. Often a staple diet of "poor
college students", but as the economy continues to worsen, more and more it it become a staple of
people everywhere. Currently sold in a 12pk at your local Walmart for $2.50 -- $3.00 or individually for less than a quarter.
Maruchan is a brand of instant noodles and is a division of Toyo Suisan, a Japanese conglomerate. The name translates from Japanese into
English as "little circle." They can be found in a packaged form to be
cooked on a stove, in a cup to which boiled water is added, or can be microwaved. The noodles contain no preservatives, although they are
cooked in vegetable oil preserved with TBHQ.
Maruchan Ramen noodles are made in Irvine,
California, USA, and Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Dried or precooked noodles fused with oil, and often sold with a packet of flavoring. Dried noodles are usually eaten after being
cooked or soaked in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes, while precooked noodles can be reheated, or eaten straight from the packet. Although similar products were available in dynastic China, modern instant noodles were invented by Momofuku Andō of Nissin Foods.
Instant noodles are often criticized as being unhealthy or junk food. A single serving of instant noodles is
high in carbohydrates but low in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Noodles are typically fried as part of the manufacturing process, resulting in
high levels of saturated fat and/or trans fat. Additionally, if served in an instant broth, it typically contains
high amounts of sodium. The current U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance of sodium for adults and children over 4 years old is 2,400 mg/day. Some brands
may have over 3,000 mg of sodium per package in extreme cases.
