Microwave ramen cooker a reason to rejoice

I stumbled across the Rapid Ramen Cooker at Longs Drugs and knew I had to get it. We love instant ramen at our house, and the promise of cooking it even faster was appealing.

How it works: Put a block of ramen in the cooker; add water to the indicated line. Microwave three to four minutes. Add seasoning; mix and eat straight from the cooker.

The plastic cooker, at just over 5 inches square, can fit a block of Top Ramen, Maruchan or Ichiban just fine. Larger blocks stick out, but this doesn’t matter much. The noodles slide into the cooker as they soften, and end up cooking just as well. I tried several different “too large” brands, and they all cooked up nicely.

It’s best to wet the noodles all around — rotate the block or hold it underwater — and add water beyond the fill line to ensure the noodles fully cook.

I also tried adding vegetables. Canned bamboo shoots and fresh bean sprouts work well if you put them under the ramen, add extra water and microwave a little longer.

Does it work?: It’s surprisingly effective. I microwaved ramen in a regular round bowl as comparison, but the conflicting shapes made it difficult to gauge water levels and cooking times, so results were less consistent.

Pros: Very easy to use; quicker than the stove. The square shape means a block of ramen fits better than it would in a round bowl. Handles make it easy to hold without burning hands. Uses a minimal amount of water.

Cons: Corners and straight edges can make it a challenge to slurp the broth. The top part of the noodles might come out undercooked. Grooved water line can be difficult to clean. Could cause dramatic increase in consumption of instant ramen.

Also, don’t be misled by the claim on the front of the package that it “reduces sodium by 50 percent.” You are actually using less water than you probably would use with a pot, so it takes less of the seasoning packet to get the same flavor. Less seasoning equals less sodium. It says as much on the back of the package: “To lower sodium, use half the seasoning.”

Cost and availability: $6.99 at Longs Drugs and online at various sites such as Bed Bath & Beyond ($5.99) and Target ($4.99).

Worth it?: It certainly delivers most of what it promises, but keep an eye on how much ramen you start eating.

Got a gadget that you love? Or are you curious about one you’d like us to test? Email crave@staradvertiser.com, or write Crave, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza Suite 210, Honolulu 96813.