How To Avoid Getting Scalded By Your College Dorm Ramen

If you've ever enjoyed a tasty and convenient cup of instant ramen in your life, you have Momofuku Ando to thank for the experience. Born in Taiwan in 1910, Ando eventually made his way from his home country to Japan in pursuit of new opportunities. Sometime later, while the inventor was in his 40s, he developed the concept of convenience food by flash-frying noodles, which could then be easily prepared by quickly boiling them in water. He further honed his innovative concept with the addition of Cup Noodles, which served as a method for both cooking and serving the dish.

Ando's efforts ultimately paid off, and he was honored for developing Japan's top all-time invention in a 2000 poll. And one only needs to consider the sheer number of people who eat instant ramen annually to understand Ando's impact on culinary culture. It's estimated that a whopping 130 billion portions of instant noodles are eaten on a yearly basis, which illustrates just how much people appreciate food that's tasty, inexpensive, and easy to prepare. However, instant ramen is not totally free of potential downsides, including the possibility of injury.

Instant ramen is a favorite among young people, especially those living in college dorms. It's no secret that money is tight for many college students, which means they must find affordable ways to fill their bellies while hitting the books. Instant ramen is the perfect option at an average cost of around $0.25 to $0.45 per pack, a price so low that students can stock up veritable mountains of the stuff to sustain them all through their college years.

Despite these benefits, instant ramen has a reputation for being a common cause of burns among young people. A study of pediatric admissions for scalding injuries at the University of Chicago Medicine found that a high percentage of patients were harmed while preparing or eating instant noodles. Of the 790 patients visiting the hospital between 2010 and 2020 for medical care related to scalding, 31% experienced injuries linked to the popular convenience food. Accordingly, it's important that young people of all ages understand how to best avoid burns while preparing instant ramen.

The stability of the cups that instant ramen is microwaved in is a major factor in the high frequency of scalding injuries. These cups have a tendency to tip easily, which can cause the contents to spill out and potentially cause an injury. While changes to the packaging would be best when it comes to injury prevention, young people preparing ramen should also keep these design flaws in mind when handling a cup of noodles. For instance, it's recommended that you transfer noodles from the cup to a sturdier bowl to avoid burning yourself.

It's also a good idea to let the contents of the cup cool a bit before attempting to handle it. Leaving food inside the microwave for a minute or two will reduce the temperature and ensure the food can be handled safely. When removing the instant cup, use an oven mitt or hand towel to avoid injuries caused by spills. Place the cup on a smooth, even surface while you procure a bowl for serving. Then take the cup, with your protective mitt or hand towel, and carefully pour it into the bowl. Taking these steps can help you avoid food-related injuries while enjoying wildly popular and flavorful instant ramen.