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'Life Has Been Ruined': Woman Says You Shouldn't Microwave Ramen After Shocking Discovery

Instant noodles are enjoyed by billions of people worldwide, from college students and busy professionals to those just looking for a quick, affordable meal. Since the Japanese company Maruchan, Inc. Introduced ramen noodles to the United States in 1977, they have become a beloved snack, especially popular for their ease of preparation in the microwave with minimal mess.

However, there has been growing online discussion regarding the safety of 2-minute ramen noodles.

For example, TikTok creator Lycette (@yourstrulylycette) recently posted a video urging her audience never to cook instant ramen in a microwave.

What lurks in ramen?

In the clip, we see Lycette cooking in her kitchen, with a text overlay that says, "If you microwave your ramen… watch this!"

"So this is either going to ruin your life, or I'm just gonna help make it a little bit better if you eat ramen," she begins.

Lycette then explains that her husband sent her a video that put her off instant noodles for a long time.

"You guys, I could eat this for the rest of my life," she exclaims, referring to the noodles. "I almost didn't eat it for like almost two months or so… because of this video."

To clarify, the video Lyvette is referencing was posted in January 2024 by the account Micro Zoom Guy (@microzoomguy), where the creator examines dry ramen noodles under a microscope, revealing what looked like countless bugs crawling around the surface of the noodles.

The video went viral, garnering 11.3 million views and more than 7,000 comments at the time of publishing.

Nevertheless, Lycette says she was reassured by her husband.

"My husband's like you could still eat it", she states. "You just have to boil it."

She clarifies that before seeing the video, she used to cook her ramen in the microwave, but since seeing the disturbing footage, she has switched to boiling it instead.

Presumably, Lycette is referencing the idea that microwaves aren't as effective in killing bacteria as boiling is. However, that is not necessarily true.

Data reported by hygienefoodsafety.Org suggests that microwaves do indeed kill bacteria. That said, since the heat is distributed unevenly, it is recommended to defrost the food before reheating it, use proper containers, and cover the food to ensure all the harmful bacteria are dead.

Is the original video real?

The fact-checking website Snopes could not authenticate the results of Micro Zoom Guy's video. In their article, they say that the results could have been faked or staged, but it is unclear at this time.

Snopes also referenced another TikTok creator's video, @oneminmicro, who conducted the same experiment on dry ramen noodles but found no creatures crawling around.

Ultimately, whether you prefer your ramen boiled or microwaved, it's clear that this beloved meal will remain a staple for many. Just be sure to cook it thoroughly and enjoy it safely.

@yourstrulylycette It still doesnt feel right eating now.. #ramen #ramennoodles ♬ original sound – yourstrulylycette

In the comments, users have mixed reactions. Some express disappointment and concern, while others say no food would be clean if looked at under a microscope.

"I use to eat it dryyyyy," wrote one user.

Another commenter stated, "Honestly if we seen everything we eat under a microscope, we probably would just rather starve."

"Everything has micro things in it even us," said a third commenter.

We've reached out to Lycette via email for further comment.

OC Insider: Food & Travel

Maruchan Inc., a unit of Japan's Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd., got its start, in OC and the U.S., with a 35K SF Irvine facility in 1977.

The Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 were a turning point for the company — best known for its inexpensive instant noodles that are a staple for college students and budget-conscious consumers alike — when its ramen became the official noodle food of the games.

The $3 million licensing pact ended up spreading word of this "styrofoam thing," Maruchan officials told the Business Journal in a prior profile.

In 1993, Maruchan paid $14 million for a 32-acre parcel in the Spectrum area of the city and built its second Irvine plant, a 400K SF facility. The existing facility, near the intersection of Laguna Canyon Rd. And Barranca Pkwy., counts six production lines, runs 24 hours a day and employs over 480 workers.

Maruchan is now the country's largest maker of instant ramen noodles, and its Irvine facilities also are used for its vast sales in Mexico, where it's also the leading ramen brand.While there's no word whether Maruchan plans to partner with the forthcoming Olympics in LA in 2028, it should have an even larger presence in OC by then.

City filings indicate the company plans to use a vacant parcel of land it owns next to its existing Spectrum plant to build another 227K SF of space, "resulting in a total facility area of 628,261 square feet dedicated toward warehousing, light manufacturing, and ancillary office purposes."

The new facility would add three production lines, increasing Maruchan's employee count to nearly 700, city filings indicate.

The Maruchan expansion project in Irvine is one of two notable industrial projects planned in the immediate area of the Spectrum.

For an update on the other project — hedge fund TGS' conversion of CSUF's former Irvine campus into a warehouse development — see next week's print edition, which includes our annual OC's Wealthiest special report.

Costa Mesa's latest big food addition is catching national attention.

The New York Times recently profiled a visit to Mercado González, the 70K SF grocery store/food hall from Northgate González Market that opened late last year.

Mercado González "has created a destination for the Orange County Latino community, though it draws a huge, multicultural crowd looking for extravagant Sinaloan sushi and thick knots of Oaxacan string cheese," the profile noted.

The biggest challenge for a visitor: navigating the ever-present crowds, the report said.

"The mercado is loud and busy, with various lines to navigate. It may be frustrating if you're too hungry when you get there."

Another new opening in OC, the Pendry Newport Beach hotel, has also gotten national plaudits.

Travel + Leisure's recently released list of its readers' 15 Favorite City Hotels in the Continental U.S. Placed the 295-room hotel No. 1.

The local Pendry also came in No. 8 for a similar list of global hotels by the magazine.

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Sonia Chung

Sonia Chung joined the Orange County Business Journal in 2021 as their Marketing Creative Director. In her role she creates all visual content as it relates to the marketing needs for the sales and events teams. Her responsibilities include the creation of marketing materials for six annual corporate events, weekly print advertisements, sales flyers in correspondence to the editorial calendar, social media graphics, PowerPoint presentation decks, e-blasts, and maintains the online presence for Orange County Business Journal's corporate events.

Cup Noodles Introduces New S'mores Instant Ramen Flavor In An Ode To Summer Camping

Cup Noodles introduces new "Campfire S'mores" flavored instant ramen

Cup Noodles introduces new "Campfire S'mores" flavored instant ramen 00:49

Forget chicken, beef and seafood — s'mores ramen has entered the picture.

Nissin Foods on Monday announced the new, limited-edition Cup Noodles flavor. The instant ramen was described as a "gooey, sweet noodle experience."

"Cup Noodles Campfire S'mores transports consumers to a new kind of campfire moment wherever they are by combining the unmistakable blend of decadent chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker flavors with a smokey note for a truly unique s'mores experience," the company said in a news release.

A variety of sweet ingredients are listed in the ingredients online, including brown sugar, honey and molasses. There's also cocoa in the instant noodles.

The instructions to make them are the same as usual: add water, microwave for three minutes and let it stand for two minutes. Then they take a turn. The company suggests topping the s'mores ramen with graham cracker pieces or additional mini marshmallows.

Cup Noodles Campfire S'mores Nissin Foods

"Since its invention nearly 100 years ago, the beloved s'more has been adapted into a wide range of food flavors, recipes and now ramen," said Priscila Stanton, senior vice president of marketing at Nissin Foods USA. "As enthusiasts seek new ways to get their s'mores fix beyond the great outdoors, we couldn't resist joining the campfire fun by transforming the classic flavor into a bold, unexpected experience that will capture the hearts and palates of consumers nationwide."

The company also recently took a foray into the breakfast world with an everything bagel with cream cheese flavor. Last year, there was another breakfast flavor-inspired ramen, with the cup of noodles tasting like pancakes, maple syrup sausage and eggs. Unique flavors sometimes lead to surges of purchases; in January, a ranch-flavored Burt's Bees lip balm sold out.

The s'mores Cup Noodles treat is available online and at Walmart locations nationwide for $1.18.

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