# Instant spaghetti? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 28, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717 "2014-08-28T02:55:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/41 "2014-08-31T02:27:38Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Go down to The Strip and buy your ramen in the Asian shops. It’s just as cheap as at Iggle and they have a staggering variety…including chicken sesame that comes with an oil packet. Lots of varieties come with packets of stuff, not all of which I can identify, but daughter and I dump em all in. Warning: the stuff marked “spicy” is often seriously peppery. Thanks – I’ll have to check that out the next time I’m dahntahn. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/42 "2014-08-31T02:58:52Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > cup and a quarter of water. > > YMMV – your microwave may vary! Wait… are we still talking about the stuff you make (I hesitate to call it spaghetti) that is cooked for 30 minutes… in 1.25 cups of water… in a microwave? A baked potato takes less than half that time. For this amount, I would find a big pot, add several quarts of water, bring to a boil, add some olive oil and salt… add the pasta (unbroken), and boil from 7-10 minutes. Drain and I do rinse (although I know others say that is horrible). Total time about 20 minutes. I thought 30 minutes in boiling water was overkill… 30 minutes in the microwave… I’m speechless. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/43 "2014-08-31T03:13:19Z")
Sorry, got distracted from the OP. I would say the closest to the OP’s request for something similar to EZ Mac would be freeze dried camping food like this: > **[Mountain House Backpacking Dinners | REI Co-op](https://www.rei.com/b/mountain-house/c/backpacking-dinners)** > > Shop for Mountain House Backpacking Dinners at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Curbside Pickup Available NOW! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Boil water… if you aren’t camping, microwave would work. Open pouch, add boiling water, stir and eat. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/44 "2014-08-31T03:57:22Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > [Ragu Express](https://faculty.fuqua.duke.edu/~moorman/GeneralMills/Section1/FSI/ragu%20express2.JPG) is I think what you’re remembering. My gods! You still have the coupon?!?!:eek: It won’t do you any good if they’re not making it any more.:rolleyes: –G??? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/45 "2014-08-31T06:24:39Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Wait… are we still talking about the stuff you make (I hesitate to call it spaghetti) that is cooked for 30 minutes… in 1.25 cups of water… in a microwave? A baked potato takes less than half that time. > > For this amount, I would find a big pot, add several quarts of water, bring to a boil, add some olive oil and salt… add the pasta (unbroken), and boil from 7-10 minutes. Drain and I do rinse (although I know others say that is horrible). Total time about 20 minutes. > > I thought 30 minutes in boiling water was overkill… 30 minutes in the microwave… I’m speechless. The results of a long period of trial and error… Should I go back to the drawing board? I’m using the MW at a lower power setting, 4 on the 1 to 10 scale. So it sort of “simmers” for that time. For various reasons, I can’t use the stove-top. I’m stuck with the MW. Sweartagod, it tastes just fine to me! ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/46 "2014-08-31T13:10:14Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The Barilla version of instant spaghetti is actually tolerable when you just have access to a microwave and are stuck at your desk for lunch. Agreed. My assessment of it was “not horrible” which is pretty good when you consider I’m not fond of shelf-stable meals in general. It needs parm tho. ETA - [this stuff](http://www.amazon.com/Barilla-Marinara-Penne-Italian-Microwavable/dp/B0076YVPLG) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/47 "2014-08-31T13:19:28Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > … rinse (although I know others say that is horrible). Total time about 20 minutes. [Hijack] I don’t rinse if serving immediately. If the pasta has to hold for a while before serving, then I rinse so it doesn’t get all stuck together. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/48 "2014-08-31T13:28:07Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > The results of a long period of trial and error… Should I go back to the drawing board? I’m using the MW at a lower power setting, 4 on the 1 to 10 scale. So it sort of “simmers” for that time. > > For various reasons, I can’t use the stove-top. I’m stuck with the MW. > > Sweartagod, it tastes just fine to me! If it works for you then I say go for it. I just don’t think I’ve ever run my microwave for anywhere close to 30 minutes at a time. Of course mine is only mainly used for popcorn, frozen veggies, and reheating leftovers. Probably helps that I’ve got two ovens, a large gas cook top, grills, and I’ll admit I’m a bit of a kitchen gadget junkie and always look for an excuse to pull one out of the pantry and tell my wife “see… I told you we would use it.” If that is all that you’ve got though I’d say you could give MacGyver a run for his money. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/49 "2014-08-31T21:18:35Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > . . . If that is all that you’ve got though I’d say you could give MacGyver a run for his money. Some time, I’ll show you my “Nerdy Gurdy,” which is a “Hurdy Gurdy” made out of an old computer keyboard, with music strings strung through it. When you press a key, it shortens the string, altering its pitch… I’ve been an amateur MacGyver since before MacGyver! I just figured out where I first learned to boil for 30 minutes: it’s from Lipton/Knorr instant pasta packaged meals. On the back, under “Microwave Instructions,” it says to microwave on high for 15 minutes. I averaged that out, to microwaving on medium for 30 minutes. Just another solution for X \* Y = Z. My mistake may have been thinking it’s linear like that! ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717/50 "2014-09-01T04:23:29Z")
[Maruchan Yakisoba](http://www.maruchan.com/maruchan_yakisoba.html) has 4-minute mac-and-cheese-ish varieties. Throw a little tomato sauce (or fresh or canned tomatoes) on top and pretend. There are also several brands of Asian-style noodles that are fairly good. For extra protein, add some cooked chicken or shrimp, or a scrambled egg. Fresh or frozen vegetables work well if they’re in small pieces. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-spaghetti/696717.md?page=2)