How to Make Ramen Without a Stove

<p>Ramen noodles are the gold standard in cheap, college kid food. You can typically buy a packet for less than a dollar, and with just a bit of water and heat, that little packet turns into a filling meal. But what do you do if you live in a dorm without access to a stove? Here's a complete guide to cooking ramen without typical kitchen equipment. </p> <p>In addition to their affordability, ramen noodle packets are dead simple to prepare. You don't even have to break up the brick of pasta if you don't want to. All you have to do is just add the packaged contents, including the flavor packet, to hot water. Our method uses alternative sources of heat to create the hot water component of the cooked noodles and broth equation. </p> <p>We use two common dorm room heat sources - a microwave and an electric kettle - to show you how to make yourself a meal without a pot or a stove. There might be a bit of trial-and-error at first, but once you get the hang of cooking ramen like this, you might not go back when you get access to a stove again. </p> <h3 id="section---Step1ArrangeYourIngredients">Step 1: Arrange Your Ingredients</h3> <p>First, choose a container to cook the noodles in. It should be big enough to accommodate the amount of water you want to add without the risk of spilling over. In order to save the hassle of too much clean-up, you can just use whatever bowl or vessel you're planning on eating out of. This is one of the big advantages of not using a traditional stovetop method to cook the ramen. Only one dish! </p> <p>After selecting the vessel, add the noodles and flavor packet contents. If you're using an electric kettle, move on to the next step. If you're going to be using the microwave, add the amount of water you want to use. Add more for soupy ramen, and less if you prefer a stronger flavor and less broth. Cover your vessel using its lid, a plate or saran wrap. Just make sure that you leave a little vent for steam to escape through so it doesn't explode and make a mess. </p> <h3 id="section---Step2ApplyHeat">Step 2: Apply Heat</h3> <p>Unless you like eating the noodles dry, this is the essential step. The key is to keep the hot water - and the steam it creates - as close to the noodle brick as possible. If you're cooking in the microwave, you'll already have put a lid of some sort on your cooking vessel to keep the steam in. Set the microwave cooking time for 3-5 minutes. You might want to err on the side of caution the first time you try this out, but after a couple of attempts, you'll figure out the right amount of time. </p> <p>If you're using an electric kettle, let the water come to a boil and then pour it into the vessel. Quickly (and without burning yourself) add a plate, lid or layer of saran wrap over the top of the bowl or container so you can trap the heat in. The noodles will cook in the hot water, and the lid will keep the heat where it needs to be. </p> <h4 id="section---NoteForElectricKettleUsers">Note for Electric Kettle Users</h4> <p>It is strongly recommended that you don't put the noodles directly in the kettle. Cooking the noodles directly in the pot creates the risk of boiling over, which is both potentially dangerous and messy. Additionally, these kitchen tools were made for one purpose (boiling water), and you might end up ruining your kettle with pasta residue. Even though these small electronics are typically pretty affordable, it's not very frugal to buy a new one every few months. </p> <h3 id="section---Step3LetItSit">Step 3: Let It Sit</h3> <p>If you've cooked the noodles in the microwave, check quickly to make sure everything is nice and steamy in the container, and then replace the lid and let it sit for a minute or two. If it's gotten hot enough to cook, you're not going to want to eat it right away. Plus, letting it sit makes sure that the noodles get nice and soft. </p> <p>Electric kettle users will want to let the noodles and hot water sit a bit longer, since cooking starts once the boiling water is added to the mix. The lid you put on your vessel will help the noodles stay warm until you want to eat them. Don't let it sit too long, or it will get cold and mushy. But five minutes or so should do the trick. If they're not ready when you check them, just replace your lid and wait another couple of minutes.</p>