I know people have their opinions on top ramen for food when money is low, but what do you think about Top Ramen for emergency situations or for the BOB? Who has top Ramen on their stock, Im curious what experiences people have, etc. It's hella cheap for the dollar spent, and has pretty good storage life.

what are your thoughts about top ramen?

Got some, along with Lipton meals and other goodies. They are OK I guess, kinda high in sodium, something my BP doesn't really need. My wife (who has discustingly low bloodpressure) has them for lunch from time to time...

We lived on this stuff in Boy Scouts... for probably several years, until our Scoutmasters discovered Backcountry Pantry foods. I have it around mainly for late-night munchies, or if I'm too tired to think of what to make for dinner. So I guess in that sense, it's OK. The bag is pretty lightweight though, so ripping might be a concern. Also, the nutritional value is pretty low. It's good "filler" if nothing else.

It's also GREAT after a night of drinking; the fluids and salts do a good job of keeping the hangover to a dull roar

But, i usually only put in half the spice packet. As OBG said, it's sodium content is astronomical.

To second what MDinana said, Ramen noodles make a good filler if you have other stuff to put with it. Wild edibles and a bit of squirrel can be stretched into a quite satisfying meal. It is a bit water intensive but on the other hand you'll be drinking boiled water.

They are cheap and useful enough to store for bugging in but not calorie-dense enough to take with us in an emergency. We have better choices for that.

Sidenote: our kids love them so there's some "comfort food" ability with them.

-Blast

They are good when you add veggies and meat...stirring in an egg is good too.....

I agree with Mdinana, Blast, and TheMalamuteKid.

Ramen is good with other ingredients added.

I don't have any Ramen for Bug Out, but I have cases of it stocked for a Bug In situation. A can of soup can feed you for a day if you add Ramen and skip the seasoning packet, and as mentioned previously if you add some protein to it in the form of squirrel or another trapped or hunted source it'll help you go farther. Granted, that type of meal is definitely not going to give you the recommended dailies, and ramen alone isn't the best meal, but it will ward off hunger and give you some energy.

I lived on Chinese noodles and sardines for long stretches of time. Toss in a multi-vitamin and you can go a long time on just that. It is a little light on roughage so while your shopping you might want to get a large bottle of generic Metamucil, psyllium fiber, to keep everything working smoothly.

Another limited diet I have used is black bean and rice. Much more balanced nutritionally and it included enough bulk to keep everything moving. But add a large bag of onions, a large bottle of Tabasco to add some variety and a bottle of multi-vitamins to help make up any deficiencies.

Any kind of Ramen noodles are awesome; they're even better if you add chopped veggies and meat. What I usually do is chop up some green onions, some celery, then toss in some leftover chicken from the night before (right after the packet and veggies are mixed). Then I let it sit for a few minutes. Serve on top of some lettuce (or a bagged salad mix if you prefer), sprinkle on some pepper or your favorite seasoning, and you can feed two people easy.

i would look around for another brand....the real
Ramen noodles were invented in Japan by a man who saw people
wait in line a long time at noodle shops and came up with this as a cheap and
nutritious meal..i would look for a brand made in Korea.
i had them over there and they were much better than Top.
i just looked in my favorites list--try asianfoodgrocer.com

Well, what we call "Ramen", either Top/Nissin or Maruchan, in this part of the world would probably be called "defective" in Japan. But it isn't a bad start to soup or a casserole for one, and it can be used a stretcher. The noodles alone can be used with a cheese, lentil or tomato based sauce, among other options; the flavor packets can find their way into everything.

I make no secret that I prefer the seasoning packets to any kind of bullion cube- easier to store, and a wider variety of flavors. My only concern is that many of them have at least some MSG, which makes me thirstier than just salt would, I can't comment on anyone else's tongue.