Wheat flour, salt, and water are used to make the quick noodles known as ramen. They normally come in a dehydrated package that has been heated with boiling water and sold pre-cooked.
One of the most well-liked fast meals in the world for more than 60 years has been ramen noodles. They go well with almost any spice or sauce and are inexpensive and simple to prepare. Yet when you have leftovers, a problem arises. But How long does ramen last in the fridge? Can you put them in the refrigerator, or will they spoil?
This blog post will provide an answer to that query as well as advice on how to extend the life of any leftover ramen. So read on to find out more!
Ramen Noodles And Their History
Japanese ramen is a type of noodle soup. Wheat noodles, broth, and toppings such meats and veggies make up this dish. This famous meal was originally developed in China, but Japan has adapted and made it more well-known.
In the early 1900s, Chinese immigrants brought ramen noodles to Japan. After World War Two, when food was in short supply and people were searching for inexpensive yet satisfying meals, the dish became quite popular in Japan.
Ramen is currently one of the most well-liked foods in Japan and is available in restaurants all over the world.
What Is the Shelf Life of Fresh Ramen?
What exactly do we mean by “fresh ramen” first off? In this instance, we’re referring to a prepared bowl of wonderful ramen. It’s either been brought home from a restaurant, ordered ramen takeout, purchased a ready-made packet, or you cooked a homemade bowl using fresh ingredients and (somehow) managed to resist the urge to eat the leftovers.
Let’s dissect it into the parts that go into making a bowl of ramen.
The shelf life of ramen depends on:
Which type of noodles—fresh, frozen, dried, or instant—are used?
The ingredients of the broth
No matter if it includes any toppings, such as chashu (braised pork) or ajitsuke tamago, which may be raw, already cooked, or frozen
The length of time that your ramen will remain edible depends on how it was delivered to you (did you order it through Uber Eats or purchase frozen components to cook it?). It also depends on how you store your ramen noodles.
We’ve listed the shelf lives of several types of ramen, going from the shortest to the longest. We’ve also provided you with storage advice for ramen noodles, soups, and toppings so that you can still enjoy the best of a bowl when you’re ready to eat.
Related – How long does it take for ramen noodles to digest?
How Long Does Ramen Last In The Fridge?
Leftover ramen will keep in the fridge for 3–4 days if properly refrigerated. Long-term storage of ramen may cause mold or bacterial development, and it should be thrown out. Please put any leftover ramen in an airtight bag or container to keep it from drying out.
You may freeze your ramen to extend its shelf life. Ramen that is frozen keeps for two to three months. Put frozen ramen in the refrigerator overnight to defrost, or cook it straight from frozen (adding an extra minute to the cooking time).
Ramen may be cooked either on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add a little water to the meal before reheating in the microwave to prevent the noodles from drying out.
Ramen should be heated up on the stovetop in a pot of boiling water for the best results. By doing this, you may prevent the noodles from clinging to one another and restore their original firmness and chewiness.
Related – How long do you cook ramen noodles in the microwave?
There you have it, then! You now understand how to store leftover ramen for the best outcomes and how long it will stay in the refrigerator. Enjoy the tasty leftover ramen!
How Long Do Fresh Ramen Noodles Last?
Fresh noodles have the shortest shelf life of all the types of noodles that may be used to create ramen.
Wheat flour, salt, and kansui, an alkalized water that controls the acidity of the noodle dough to give it a unique springy, slippery feel that is so ideal for slurping, are the ingredients used to make fresh ramen noodles.
Ramen chefs will experiment with the proportions of ingredients to adjust the balance between the broth and noodles in their pursuit of the best slurp-ability. Your noodles will go bad more quickly the more water they contain, which makes them more elastic.
Fresh raw or precooked noodles that you have purchased ought to keep for two to three weeks in the refrigerator. Nevertheless, frozen raw or frozen pre-boiled noodles can be stored in the freezer for up to a month.
The only way to save your noodles for later is to take them out of the broth and store them separately if they have already formed a comfortable relationship in the bowl with your soup and topping companions. In the refrigerator, they’ll keep for one to two days, and in the freezer, they’ll keep for up to 30 days.
Of course, you shouldn’t just consume ramen noodles by itself.
Soup-rise! How Long Ramen Lasts Also Depends on the Broth
Ramen differs from soba and udon due to the kansui-based noodles, but the broth is essential to the dish. The components of the soup also represent a significant turning point in the longevity of your ramen.
To create the basis for ramen soup, many ingredients are cooked together. The components used to make the soup will affect the fresh ramen’s use-by date.
Assari, or lighter soups, are occasionally made with a vegetable component like kelp or a marine element like bonito flakes. When using meat, the broth will be clearer since the meat will be cooked for a shorter period of time at a lower temperature.
Boiling pig, chicken, and/or fish bones for prolonged amounts of time may result in a thick, milky, and opaque ramen soup foundation, known as kotteri.
Your soup base will likely contain a variety of components, so it might be hard to predict when it will go bad. But, beware of umami bombs that significantly alter the flavor of your ramen, such dried bonito flakes.
Like fresh noodles, cooked ramen soup keeps well in the refrigerator for a day or two. Freezing a precooked soup base is the best solution if you want to preserve it. For up to a month, ramen soup can be frozen.
Related – Does it take 7 years to digest ramen noodles?
Tips for Storing Fresh Ramen at Home
If you haven’t figured it out by now, we believe that freezing the essential components of fresh ramen is the secret to preserving it.
To assemble later, separate the toppings, noodles, and broth into their own sealed containers. Check each component separately for any indications of degradation before reheating, just in case.
Have you ever purchased ready-made, pre-mixed ramen that is either fresh or frozen? Check the best-before date on the box.
How Long Is Ramen Good for in the Freezer?
Your ramen noodles, broth, and toppings will retain their flavor and texture if you store them in freezer bags. In fact, we believe it to be a really brilliant concept. For this reason, we use our own ramen meal kits to keep the umami and restaurant-quality of our ingredients.
Your individual ramen components will retain their flavor better if you freeze them when they’re at their prime and thaw them out later as opposed to putting them in the fridge and eating them right away.
In addition to preserving the flavor, appearance, and texture of fresh noodles, soup base, and toppings at the time when it is prepared, freezing ramen components increases the nutritional content of the dish as a whole.
Our meal kits include with one soup pouch, one package of noodles, and four toppings that may be frozen and then quickly cooked (sous-vide) within the pouch in boiling water. Our ramen meal packages keep for up to 30 days in the freezer.
But let’s be honest, can you really watch the game of how long ramen lasts for that long?
Related – Do ramen noodles make you fat?
How long do ramen noodles last when cooked?
Ramen noodles need to be cooked in hot water as soon as they are prepared.
It’s crucial to use a lot of water and wait to season the noodles with salt until they have finished cooking.
The addition of salt might make the noodles mushy because they absorb too much moisture.
Ramen noodles may be prepared in less than a minute, and once they are, they are supple enough to consume right away.
You can either serve them right away or leave them out on the counter to continue softening as they cool.
Related questions
Q: Can I freeze cooked ramen?
A: Yes! Cooked ramen can be frozen for up to 6 months if it is sealed tightly and placed into freezer safe containers or bags. Be sure to defrost fully before reheating.
Q: How should I store leftover cooked ramen?
A: Leftover cooked ramen can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. When you’re ready to eat it, reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until it’s piping hot all the way through.
Q: How long do dried/uncooked noodles last?
A: Uncooked noodles will last indefinitely if they are kept sealed in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight. Be sure to check any expiration dates printed on the package before cooking them.
Final verdicts
Ramen can last in the fridge for up to one week. When it comes to freezing ramen, noodles can be frozen for up to six months. broth can also be frozen and stored in an airtight container for two to three months. Now that you know how long ramen lasts in the fridge, you can enjoy your favorite instant noodles without worry!
If you have any questions or concerns about how long ramen lasts in the fridge, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Angelo’s Burgers. We’re always happy to help.