How To Reheat Ramen

Ramen is a delicious and flavorful soup. While it's best enjoyed immediately after it is prepared, sometimes we have leftovers. And who wants to toss out all that wonderful, flavorful broth? Ramen can definitely be enjoyed a second time around, so we've got some tips about how to reheat ramen, so it's just as slurpable the second day.

How To Store Leftover Ramen

Storing your leftover ramen properly can play a big role in how good it is when it is reheated. We recommend removing the noodles from the broth and storing the two in separate, air tight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days.

The reason we suggest this, is that the noodles can absorb the broth during storage and make them a little mushy when they are reheated. You can also remove any remaining garnishes like hardboiled egg, basil, or mint leaves so that they don't become overly slimy or soggy. If you have leftover, unused garnish, keep those in an airtight container in the fridge as well and add them to your ramen when you reheat it. If you have leftover meat in the ramen, you can store that with the noodles.

Remember not to leave your soup out too long before storing it. Food that sits out for over two hours can lead to food borne illnesses, and you don't want that. Let your ramen come to room temp, and store it in airtight containers in the refrigerator as soon as possible, and we don't recommend consuming leftover ramen that is more than three days old.

What about freezing leftover ramen? Freezing the broth alone is ok, so long as it is in an airtight container, but we don't recommend freezing any of the noodles or garnishes.

Reheated ramen can be just as delicious and comforting the second time around. Here are the best ways to reheat ramen.

Stovetop Method

Pour broth in a pot and bring to a slight boil over medium-low heat. Let boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add noodles (and meat, if you have any) to the broth and continue cooking for about two minutes, allowing the noodles to come to temp.
Pour into a large soup bowl and add any garnishes you'd like.

Note: If your broth is hot enough, you can even just pour the hot broth over the noodles in a bowl and that will bring the noodles to temp, but it will cool the broth a bit because of the cold noodles. If you like to keep your broth super hot, just add the noodles to the pot as suggested above, or zap the noodles by themselves in the microwave for about 30 seconds to warm them before adding the broth to the bowl.

Microwave Method

Pour broth into a microwave safe dish and heat on high for 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir the broth, and add the noodles (and leftover meat if available).
Heat on high again for another 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through.
Remove from microwave, stir, add any garnishes you'd like, and enjoy.

Oven Method

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pour noodles and broth (and meat) into an oven safe baking dish, ensuring that there is plenty of room for them to evenly spread out, and there should be at least an inch from the rim of the dish to prevent the hot liquid from splashing over when you remove it from the oven.
Place dish in the oven and cook 5 to 10 minutes or until heated through.
Remove from the oven, pour into a soup bowl, add garnishes if desired, and serve.

Reheating ramen is pretty easy. Remember, the key to maintaining the best flavor and texture to leftover ramen, is keeping the noodles separate from the broth during storage.

Best Garnishes For Ramen

There are many things you can add to your ramen. It's so versatile! Here are some of our favorite add-ins:

Hardboiled or soft boiled eggs
Cooked meat (chicken, brisket, steak, pork belly, chashu, etc.)
Grilled veggies (mushrooms, bok choy, peppers, etc.)
Chopped green onions
Fresh mint leaves
Fresh basil leaves
Sliced fresh jalapeno
Nori or wakame (dried seaweed)
Steamed fish cake
Garlic, fresh or roasted
Sesame seeds
Bamboo shoots
Corn
Cabbage
Bean Sprouts
Pickled ginger
Lime
Kimchi
Chili Oil
Sriracha

Try These Delicious Ramen & Soup Recipes!

Author
Recent Posts

Heidi Deal

Heidi Deal is an editor, mother of two, and seasoned home cook who enjoys experimenting with new recipes and teaching her kids how to prepare family meals. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends.

How To Store Leftover Ramen