Can you reheat ramen noodles? Yes! Just keep this in mind
Ramen is a delicious and comforting noodle dish.
But what if you cooked too much or ordered more than you can eat? Are you wondering if you can reheat ramen noodles?
I’ll share my tips for reheating ramen noodles so they don’t taste dry and flavorless!
The good news is that yes, you can reheat ramen noodles just like with other pasta and noodle dishes. As long as you store the noodles in an airtight container with just a bit of liquid, or keep the liquids and solids from takeout ramen separately, you can reheat ramen. The best way to reheat ramen noodles is in a microwave oven.
One of the problems with ramen noodles is that they dry out quite quickly in about 2 days.
Ramen noodles are packaged instant noodles made from a combination of wheat flour, oil, and flavorings. They’re thin and yellow-colored and are commonly used to make ramen noodle soup and stir-fries.
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Homemade vs. takeout ramen
I want to mention that you should store homemade and takeout ramen differently.
Takeout ramen is full of ingredients and seasonings that you might not be able to identify at first glance. These usually make takeout ramen noodles soggy once the food gets cold. Plus, the noodles absorb moisture and get swollen.
When you have takeout ramen, it tastes best when you eat it piping hot. Once you have it, it’s hard to separate the liquids and solids.
If you can, do this and store everything in airtight containers until you’re ready to reheat the food in the microwave.
Watch out because it’s not a good idea to store leftover takeout ramen for a long time, or you may get ill. Plus, takeout ramen can become very soggy.
With homemade ramen, it’s easier to keep the broth, noodles, and vegetables separate.
If you make a batch of ramen for the next few days, you can leave the broth separately in containers or pots in the fridge. Then, only cook the noodles and vegetables when you’re ready to eat.
But if you’ve already combined the ingredients, you can store the noodles with a small quantity of liquid in containers. If there’s a lot of broth, pour it into a jar.
Reheat everything in the microwave or stovetop by following the steps below.
Is it safe to reheat ramen?
As long as the ramen hasn’t expired, it’s entirely safe to reheat the noodles. If they’ve expired though, there’s a considerable risk of illness caused by bacteria.
But as long as the food is stored in the fridge at a cool temperature, you can reheat and eat the ramen noodles. Sure, the ramen might be a bit soggier and less appealing, but it’ll taste ok.
How to reheat cooked ramen noodles
There are several ways that you can reheat ramen noodles.
The microwave isn’t the only option, but it’s the most convenient because it’s quick. But these other ways will also make the ramen noodles hot and ready to eat in no time!
Plus, there are some ideas to make the ramen noodles better once reheated by adding new ingredients and using the noodles for new meals.
Quick note: if you’re dealing with instant noodles, it’s best to just open another packet and make a bowl fresh. It only costs a few cents, after all.
How to reheat ramen noodles in the microwave
If you’re in a rush and feeling hungry, you want the quickest way to heat up leftover ramen.
All you need to do is put the ramen in a microwave-safe container. Then, microwave it for no more than about 40 to 60 seconds, depending on the quantity.
To ensure the noodles don’t get very dry and tasteless, add a quarter or half a cup of broth or water, or a bit of butter. As the butter melts, it makes the ramen creamy and tasty.
Besides, butter, water, and broth help separate the noodles, which tend to stick and clump together. So if you stored the ramen with a bit of broth, there’s no need to add any more liquid.
The key to reheating ramen in the microwave is not to overdo it. Otherwise, the noodles get too soft and soggy, and the meal won’t be very delicious.
Check out Gunso Japanese Kitchen’s video on YouTube to see how to reheat ramen noodles in the microwave:
How to reheat ramen on the stovetop
There’s no reason you can’t reheat ramen noodles on your stovetop. It’s an excellent method if you don’t have a microwave!
Grab a pot, put the noodles in, and bring to a low boil. Only boil for a few seconds, as there’s no need to boil already cooked ramen.
The secret is to add a bit of liquid if your noodles are liquid-free. Add a tiny amount of water and put the lid on so it steams.
But if you have a noodle soup, then there’s no need to add extra liquid.
If you’ve stored the broth and noodles separately, you can heat the broth first, add in the noodles, and let them boil together for a minute.
How to reheat ramen broth
The best way to reheat ramen broth is on the stovetop because then you can add other ingredients to the broth. For example, as soon as the broth starts to boil, you can add noodles, eggs, and vegetables.
Basically, you’re making fresh ramen with the leftover broth, and it’s going to be much more flavorful and moist than reheating the leftover noodles with a bit of water.
In case you were wondering, here I explain how much ramen broth you need per person when serving ramen
How to reheat ramen eggs
If you prepare the eggs ahead of time and want to soak and marinate them overnight, you have to reheat them when you’re ready to serve the dish. Or if you have ramen egg leftovers, you can reheat and eat them the next day.
The best way to reheat the ramen eggs is to take them out of the fridge and let them warm to room temperature.
Heat up some water but don’t let it boil. As soon as the water is hot, drop in the egg and let it warm for approximately 1 or 2 minutes.
The hot water will warm the egg, and when you place it in the hot ramen soup, it’ll get even hotter.
I just want to warn you not to eat cooked eggs that haven’t been stored in the fridge because you can get sick. If in doubt, boil a fresh egg and add it to the ramen.
Try this 12 minute instant ramen with egg for a fast & easy meal
How to reheat takeout ramen
Generally, it’s not the best idea to reheat takeout ramen because once the noodles sit in the ramen broth for too long, they get so soggy. They won’t taste very good, even if reheated.
However, if you must, then try to separate the noodles, veggies, and other ingredients from the soup. Pour the soup into a cup and reheat it in the microwave for about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
Then reheat the noodles and other ingredients in the microwave for 1 minute. In a separate bowl, assemble everything together, then enjoy!
Alternatively, you can reheat the broth on the stovetop and then add the solid ingredients once the liquid comes to a boil. Simmer on low heat for a few seconds, and then add in new ingredients and seasoning if you want.
How to improve leftover ramen
Reheated ramen tends to lose some of the delicious flavors and textures of fresh hot ramen. The noodles lose moisture and get dry, stick together, and lose their chewy texture.
Luckily, there are ways to improve the flavor of ramen. Here’s how:
- Add shredded cheese like cheddar or mozzarella. As it melts, the cheese will cover the noodles and give a similar flavor to mac and cheese.
- Also, add some butter to add back some of that chewy, moist texture to dry ramen.
- If you want to improve flavorless noodles, fry an egg and add it on top of reheated ramen.
- When you reheat ramen on the stovetop, add a few teaspoons of soy sauce. This adds a savory flavor. Combine with some scrambled eggs, and you have a kind of egg and noodle stir-fry dish.
- You can also add cooked meat to your ramen, like thin slices of chicken, beef, pork belly, or seafood like shrimp and salmon.
- Vegetables are also a good way to add some flavor and richness to the leftover broth. You can add broccoli, bok choy, bean sprouts, cabbage, snap peas, or carrots, and a splash of teriyaki sauce or soy sauce.
- If you add a roux stock cube and boil it with the ramen soup, you can make a bisque. Once the soup is thick, add the ramen noodles and vegetables back into the soup.
- Add some ramen fish cake, or narutomaki & kamaboko
Also read: 9 best ramen toppings to order or use when making ramen at home
Get the most out of your leftover ramen
There’s no reason to fret over leftover ramen. It’s easy to reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, and you can always improve the flavor and add new ingredients.
It’s the kind of comfort food you can enjoy for a couple of days for lunch and dinner.
So if you find yourself with leftover ramen broth and noodles, make sure to separate the solids and liquids and store them in airtight containers until you’re ready to reheat them.
Found out next if miso soup can be reheated? (the answer is yes, but check out these tips)
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.
