popularFrugie posted Oct 11, 2025 10:44 AM
Item 1 of 3
Item 1 of 3
popularFrugie posted Oct 11, 2025 10:44 AM
12-Count 2.25-Oz Maruchan Ramen Instant Lunch Cups (Shrimp) $4.32 ($3.42 now) w/ Subscribe & Save
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For those who wonder why it says not to microwave, it's put there because of American paranoia. I've seen the Asian versions of this and other brands and there's no warning. Nor should there be. Hear me out of you disagree...
When you boil water, you generally wait until a rolling boil before using the water. That's when it's bubbling a lot. By definition, that water is 212°F. In other words, those cups are made to withstand 212°F. And because Styrofoam is an insulator, the water stays pretty hot for the entire 3 mins of cooking, never getting below 200°F. So we can surmise that the cups are safe at 200°F for 3 mins.
Now let's consider microwaving the noodles. Keep in mind that at the beginning, the water is cold, probably around 50-60°F. Then it slowly heats up in the microwave. Guess what the end temperature is after 2 min 10 sec (in my 1000W unit). Only 152°F! In other words, when you microwave, you're exposing the Styrofoam to water that's never hotter than 160°F and for only 2 min and 10 sec. Furthermore, it's only 152°F at the end. For about 40 secs, it's probably <100°F, slowly rising to 152°F. The average temperature is probably around 130°F.
If the cup was made to withstand 200-212°F for 3 mins, it can obviously withstand <160°F for 2 min 10 sec! Try the experiment yourself if you don't believe me. So microwave away!
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