We've all been there: instant ramen usually means a big bowl and boiling water, while sauced or steamed noodles typically require firing up the stove. It's just how we do things, right?
Well, get ready for a game-changer! A recent YouTube tutorial showing "How to Cook Packaged Instant Noodles in a Microwave" has absolutely blown up in Japan, sparking a massive buzz across social media. Netizens are calling it a "lifesaver for office workers" and raving, "No more washing pots!" — praising its incredible convenience.
Over on X (formerly Twitter), illustrator Koji Ogata, known for his work on "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY" and "Demon Lord, Retry!", gave the hack a try and shared his results. He simply put packaged instant noodles and their seasonings into a large bowl, added the specified amount of hot water, and microwaved it for the same duration listed on the package. Not only did it cook perfectly, but he found it even hotter and more flavorful than stove-cooked noodles!
He even joked, "I feel like you could cook this in the office pantry – super convenient and no pot to wash!" Ogata also mentioned that his test was with a 2-minute noodle variety, and he plans to try it with longer-cooking noodles next.
▼ Check out the reference video here:
Many other users jumped in to share their own spin on the hack, suggesting additions like frozen veggies, processed meats (think ham or sausage), and even noting, "You can cook an egg with it too, just remember to poke a hole so it doesn't explode!"
And if you're *really* feeling lazy and don't want to boil water, some netizens pointed out you can just add cold water and extend the microwave time by about 4-5 minutes (for a 600W microwave). Apparently, there are even dedicated microwave noodle bowls on the market now that can double as pasta cookers!
However, not everyone is ready to embrace the office microwave noodle life. Some users admitted they'd be hesitant to eat instant noodles at work, citing the strong aroma that might bother colleagues – a valid concern, especially in environments where consideration for others is highly valued.
But honestly, microwaving does solve the problem of water not being hot enough and ensures more even heating. So, why not give it a shot?
via： togetter