"Instant ramen noodles, those little bricks of dehydrated pasta sold with flavoring packets that bloom into soup when added to boiling water, were born in 1958 when Momofuku Ando invented and mass produced the cheap convenience food.It’s often necessity that fuels the noodles’ popularity throughout the world, with instant ramen serving as the culinary staple of choice for broke, starving (and frequently stoned) students everywhere. For similar reasons, they’re one of the most popular items sold in prison commissaries. For under a buck you can have a hot, filling meal in less than five minutes, although desperation-level munchies drive many to snack on the dry noodles with the seasoning pouch used as a condiment.

According to the World Instant Noodles Association (yes, instant noodles have their own trade group) as many as 290 million servings of instant noodles are consumed every day. While China consumes more instant noodles overall, Korea leads the world with per capita consumption. ..."Read the full article at Kitchen Toke.