How to Cook Ramen in the Microwave

Ramen is a great quick meal to whip up in the microwave. The basics of the dish are a pipping out bowl of noodles with an assortment of condiments. In this article, we are going to give you three great methods for cooking up a batch of ramen. These include our basic method, our two-bowl method, and the meal method. We hope our ramen recipes give you some inspiration!

Let’s start with the basic method for how to cook ramen in the microwave.

The Basic Method

If you don’t have much time or extra ingredients to add to your bowl of ramen, this basic method is a great one to follow. Simply follow the step-by-step instructions below.

1. Put the noodles in a bowl. Get the noodles out of the package and place them into a microwave-safe bowl. You can break them up before removing them from the package to give yourself shorter noodles if you want to.
2. Cover in water. You will need to pour about 1 to 2 cups of water over them. If you like more broth in your ramen, add the full 2 cups.
3. Cook your ramen. Place the bowl into the microwave. Cover the bowl with a lid or paper towel to avoid water splattering in the microwave during cooking. Close the door, set the timer to 90 seconds, and press start. After 90 seconds, open the door and gently stir the noodles with a fork before cooking them for a further 90 seconds. When the timer goes off, check your ramen. If it still needs cooking, set the timer to a further 60 seconds and press start. 
4. Let it sit. Once cooked, open the microwave door and let the bowl sit uncovered for a few minutes before taking them out. If the bowl is still hot, use a kitchen towel or oven mitt to protect your hands when taking them out. 
5. Add flavoring. Add your flavoring packet to the bowl and gently mix it, ensuring all noodles are covered. If you prefer, add the flavoring before cooking as long as you dissolve it in hot water.

Enjoy! You can now devour your bowl of flavourful ramen!

The Two-Bowl Method

The two-bowl method involves microwaving the water in one bowl to boil it and placing your noodles in a second. When the water from the first bowl is hot, pour it over the noodles and cover them. This method can also be done by using an electric jug if you have one. Instead of heating the water in the microwave, just boil it in the jug.

Follow these steps to cook your ramen using the two-bowl method:

1. Heat the water in the first bowl. Add 1 to 2 cups of cold water in the first bowl or microwave-safe container. If you prefer less broth, put about 1 ½ cups, and 2 cups if you prefer more broth.
2. Microwave the water. To boil the water, put the bowl in the microwave, set the timer to 2 minutes, and press start. When complete, check if the water is boiling (without touching it!). If not, set the timer to a further 60 seconds and press start.
3. Prepare the noodles. Place your ramen noodles in the second bowl. Take the hot water out of the microwave and cover the noodles. Pour the flavoring pack into the bowl over the noodles. You can do this straight away or when the noodles are cooked. Cover the ramen with a paper towel or lid. Leave for 3 to 5 minutes.

Enjoy! After 3 to 5 minutes, your ramen noodles should be ready to eat!

The Meal Method

For a more substantial meal, you can enhance your ramen by adding your favorite condiments and vegetables and cooking meats to complement the noodles. 

To make this delicious meal method ramen, follow the instructions below.

Step 1 – Put the Noodles in a Bowl

Get the noodles out of the package and place them into a microwave-safe bowl. You can break them up before removing them from the package to give yourself shorter noodles if you want to.

Step 2 – Cover in Water 

You will need to pour about 1 to 2 cups of water over them. If you like more broth in your ramen, add two full cups.

Step 3 – Add Vegetables

Before microwaving your ramen, consider adding vegetables that need to be cooked, such as chopped carrots. Other vegetables like spinach can be added towards the end of the cooking process. To add even more flavor to your meal, consider finely chopping ingredients like:

• Celery
• Carrot
• Broccoli
• Garlic
• Ginger

Step 3 – Cook Your Ramen

Place the bowl of noodles and vegetables into the microwave. Cover the bowl with a lid or paper towel to avoid water splattering in the microwave during cooking. Close the door, set the timer to 90 seconds, and press start. After 90 seconds, open the door and gently stir the noodles and vegetables with a fork before cooking them for a further 90 seconds. When the timer goes off, check your ramen. If it still needs cooking, set the timer to a further 60 seconds and press start. 

Step 5 – Take the Bowl out of the Microwave

Once cooked, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave. Use a kitchen towel or oven mitt to protect your hands when taking them out. 

Step 6 – Add Flavoring and Condiments

Add your flavoring packet to the bowl and gently mix it around, making sure all noodles are covered. On top of the packet flavoring, you can add your favorite condiments, such as:

• Soy sauce
• Miso paste
• Rice vinegar
• Chilli sauce 
• Honey
• Sweet chili sauce
• Hoisin sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Lemon juice
• Lime juice

These are just a few suggestions. You can add other condiments if you have them. Once you add the condiments, stir them through your ramen or keep them separate in the bowl or even in a completely separate bowl.

You can also add vegetables that don’t require any (or much) cooking. If you have cooked meat like chicken, tuna, pork, beef, or fish, you can add them too. Some common vegetables and herbs include:

• Spinach
• Basil
• Chilli
• Cilantro
• Other herbs
• Cooked peas
• Chopped nuts

Step 7 – Enjoy!

Your ramen meal is now ready to devour!