Instant noodles are enjoyed by many people around the world because of their convenience and endless flavors on the market. They come in several different forms, such as in a dried noodle pack or in a disposable cup/bowl. They may not be the healthiest meal out there, but they take little time to make and has a simple cooking process. Instant noodles actually have an interesting history, and they start with Momofuku Ando in 1958.

At the age of 48, Momofuku Ando spent a year performing experiments in hopes of finding a resolution to the Japanese food shortage. He went through many failures in this year, but he was later able to create the world’s first pre-cooked instant noodles through his flash-frying method. The instant noodles were cooked and then flash-fried to dehydrate it, making its shelf life longer than that of regular noodles. His first creation was advertised as “Chikin Ramen,” and that was ready to eat in two minutes. At that time, instant noodles were more expensive than their fresh counterparts, but they was still extremely popular despite its cost.

Eventually, instant noodles became accepted in regions outside Japan, starting in Asia and gradually spreading to the rest of the world. At 61-years-old in 1971, Ando invented and released a new form of instant noodles under the name Cup Noodle. This type consists of noodles in a foam cup with freeze-dried vegetables and seasoning inside. He created the Cup Noodle with the purpose of appealing to Western consumers because he found that Americans tended to eat their noodles in a cup. This went on to transform Ando’s Nissin Corporation, and corporations around the world started to create their own variations of instant noodles.

Today, different types of instant noodles can be found on shelves of supermarkets and convenience stores. In 2017, over 100 billion servings were eaten, with 80% of them being eaten in Asia. China is the world’s highest instant noodle consumer, followed by Indonesia and Japan. As the world progresses, instant noodles will remain popular due to they simplicity. Be sure to try some if you haven’t already!