How to make instant noodles with just cold water (and other survival tips)
Yes, for those with nekojita, or literally cat’s tongue in Japanese – meaning you cannot drink or eat anything hot – you can use tap water to cook your noodles!
But that is not the reason why Japan’s Metropolitan Police Department Disaster Countermeasures Division tweeted about this.
災害時を想定して一度やってみようと思っていた『水でカップ麺作り』に挑戦！麺に味がついたカップ麺を用意し、水を注いで15分。麺は少しかためでしたが、スープもちゃんとしみ出して味もイイ感じ（驚）！試食した息子たちから「冷やしラーメンみたいでありだよ、あり！」と感想が出ました！ pic.twitter.com/vOiEXtWspS
— 警視庁警備部災害対策課 (@MPD_bousai) August 22, 2017
Rather, the tweet is intended as educational information to provide the public an option when disaster strikes, and water and gas supplies become scarce. All one has to do is to add water into pre-flavoured noodles and wait for 15 minutes – as opposed to the three minutes it takes using hot water.
“The noodles may be slightly hard but the soup tastes surprisingly good,” read the tweet. The people who tried it commented that it tasted like hiyashi ramen, otherwise known as cold ramen usually eaten during summer. But in times of disaster, having cold but flavourful food still sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
Other than making cup noodles with tap water, the Disaster Countermeasures Division also posted other recipes, such as soup pasta and Neapolitan pasta that can be whipped up in a few minutes. These recipes not only help with regulating the use of water and gas, but they are also delicious.
災害時の節水、節ガスに役立つと紹介されていたスープパスタを作ってみました。フライパンで具材を炒め、水２５０ｃｃにコンソメ１個を投入。沸騰後、パスタを１分茹で、火をとめ、蓋をして本来の茹時間放置。最後に牛乳を適量加えて完成。結構いける味でした。洗い物も少なくオススメです。 pic.twitter.com/r8GPChCsRH
— 警視庁警備部災害対策課 (@MPD_bousai) July 27, 2017
“Stir-fry the ingredients in the frying pan and add 250ml of water and 1 can of consommé. When the soup boils, add pasta and continue boiling for a minute. Turn off the stove and cover the pan. Lastly, add milk and serve. Highly recommended as there is only one pan to wash.”
「水漬けパスタ」に挑戦です！市販のパスタを水に漬け、クタッとさせて調理する技。災害時など、ガス・電気・水の節約につながるイイ技です！今回はパスタを４時間水に漬けた後、茹でずに、薄切りしたハムとタマネギ、ケチャップで１分炒めてナポリタンに。歯応えよく、想像以上の美味しさでした（喜） pic.twitter.com/ALyQhLqpX0
— 警視庁警備部災害対策課 (@MPD_bousai) January 17, 2017
“Without using hot water, soak the pasta in tap water for 4 hours. Stir-fry it with sliced ham, onion and ketchup for 1 minute.”
According to Nissin Foods, famed for its cup noodles, the use of hot water is not to kill germs or for any hygiene purpose. The cup noodles have been dried with little or no moisture left and do not turn bad when stored at room temperature. Coupled with stringent monitoring and management, the cup noodles are definitely safe for consumption.
To begin with, the noodles and ingredients merely absorb the water, soften and return to their original form. The temperature of the water does not matter. It will take a longer time with tap water, but they are “guaranteed plus chop” edible.
So, with hygiene concerns out of the way, would you give this “cold ramen” a try?
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