Instant ramen in a styrofoam cup is one of the most common fast foods in our daily life. However, some people get stumped when cooking ramen in styrofoam.
Many would wonder if it’s safe to microwave ramen in a Styrofoam cup? If yes, how long to microwave ramen noodles in Styrofoam cup?
This article explains whether you can microwave ramen in a styrofoam cup, if doing so is safe, and the best way to cook instant ramen noodles.
Can You Microwave Ramen in Styrofoam Cup?
The answer is: NOPE! Most styrofoam containers would have the label saying “DO NOT MICROWAVE”.
There are several reasons why you should never microwave ramen in a Styrofoam cup.
It can give off toxins and pose health hazards.
The styrofoam cup is mainly made from styrene. Also, to prevent it from deformation when it encounters hot water, some BHT stabilizers are involved when making the styrofoam cup.
When a styrofoam cup is heated in the microwave, these substances will dissolve out and give off toxins. If you microwave ramen in a styrofoam cup, these toxins can be absorbed by the ramen, and then taken in by your body. These toxins can even be breathed in through your breaths, as well.
Also, it should be noted that styrene, the compound contained in the styrofoam cup, has been linked to cancer, according to studies. Therefore, microwaving ramen in styrofoam cup could lead to serious health concerns.
And that’s the top reason why many coffee companies and fast food restaurants have refused to use styrofoam anymore.
It could pose a significant fire hazard.
In addition to styrene, another main component of the cup packaging is paper, and paper is prone to ignite in hot and dry environments.
This means, if you microwave ramen in a styrofoam cup, it can lead to sparkles and even fire, which is extremely dangerous.
It could damage the microwave oven.
There’s a layer of tinfoil in the cup packaging of instant ramen, which is mainly found on the cover of the styrofoam cup.
If you don’t remove the tinfoil before you put the ramen styrofoam cup in the microwave, it could cause sparkles. Also, the tinfoil could reflect the microwave radiation, then damage the microwave oven cavity.
How to Safely Cook Instant Ramen?
Method 1.
Boil some hot water in a tea kettle. If you don’t have one, heat the water in the microwave with some microwave-safe containers. And then add the hot water to the cup ramen, and wait for 3 mins.
Method 2.
Transfer the ramen from the styrofoam cup to a microwave-safe bowl. Add some water into the bowl and put them in the microwave. Cook them for 3-5, according to the power output of your microwave.
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Bottom Line
In all, microwaving ramen in a styrofoam cup is extremely dangerous. Microwaving ramen in a styrofoam cup can raise serious concerns to your body and your microwave oven.
And it’s never a good idea to microwave ramen in a styrofoam cup, or put any styrofoam container in a microwave.