Final week, Nissin introduced that it was updating the design of its iconic Cup Noodles in early 2024. As a substitute of polystyrene, it’ll be made out of paper. Nissin additionally notes that because of the brand new packaging, its Cup Noodles will now be microwaveable. As in, you had been by no means imagined to be microwaving Cup Noodles.
Because it seems, many individuals haven’t been studying labels when heating up Cup Noodles — a staple of faculty dorms, kitchen pantries, and lots of childhood reminiscences. On social media, a number of folks have been shocked to find the unique Cup Noodles had been by no means meant for the microwave. Others are equally baffled that individuals have been microwaving Cup Noodles regardless of the the label clearly saying “Don’t microwave.”
To be honest, a few of the confusion could also be particular to Nissin — the OG prompt noodle model — and this kind of cup noodle. There’s a veritable cornucopia of prompt noodle manufacturers and containers. Some are microwavable and have been for a very long time. All of it depends upon the directions on the label.
One other supply of confusion can also be the devices that we hold in our houses. As an illustration, electrical kettles usually are not as frequent within the US as in Japan, the place prompt noodles had been invented, or Europe. Yours actually grew up in an Asian American family the place we microwaved prompt noodles at residence and used kettles after we visited household abroad. (And sure, I — and my complete household — have microwaved Cup Noodles for years previous to this impolite awakening.)
However no, you’re not imagined to microwave polystyrene until it comes with a microwave-safe label. Polystyrene is a well-liked meals container as a result of it’s gentle, low cost to make, and works effectively as an insulator to maintain meals heat. Nonetheless, when heated, analysis reveals substances inside the polystyrene can leach into your meals. The principle trigger for concern is styrene, which can impression the nervous system and is a doable carcinogen.
That mentioned, you shouldn’t essentially freak out for those who have microwaved Cup Noodles previously. Most research of whether or not styrene causes most cancers deal with individuals who work with the fabric, so extra analysis must be finished to see if there’s a hyperlink with meals containers. A number of situations of microwaving Cup Noodles aren’t prone to trigger noticeable hurt, however the impact of doing it constantly over time isn’t identified — and might be higher to keep away from going ahead.
Microwaving polystyrene additionally compromises the structural integrity of Cup Noodles and may result in burns if the container cracks. Just lately, UChicago Drugs’s Burn and Wound Heart printed a examine that found a 3rd of childhood burns had been attributable to prompt noodles. Extra particularly, the examine’s authors mentioned in a press launch that the burns typically occurred because of “inadvertent spills when eradicating containers from the microwave, together with spills whereas consuming as a result of slim bases of prompt noodle cups.”
However Nissin notes that the up to date packaging is largely, a “key step in our environmental dedication.” On high of being microwavable, the cup will now be made with 40 % recycled fiber, now not embody plastic wraps, and have a one hundred pc recycled paper sleeve. Polystyrene isn’t simply recycled, and native governments have taken measures to ban the fabric in recent times.
On the plus facet, the brand new microwavable Cup Noodles additionally gained’t make you wait for 3 minutes. The brand new design will “now not require boiling water,” which means you may shave 45 seconds off the heating time.
