You Can (And Should) Try Using Your Keurig To Make Ramen

Ramen is the epitome of cheap and convenient sustenance. It's a godsend for budget-strapped college students and a spicy staple for late nights that require quick comfort. Plus, instant ramen is always a fallback option when you don't want to be bothered with too much cooking. If you happen to have a Keurig, however, making ramen can be even simpler! It's a hack that even Pete Davidson too has admitted to taking advantage of — that is, using Keurig's hot water feature to make ramen without needing to wait for anything to boil.

Think about it: If you take K-cups out of the equation, all Keurigs are essentially machines that dispense hot water, and they do so very quickly. Even better, the machines heat water to 192 degrees Fahrenheit, which is warm enough to cook dry noodles without making them too mushy. The only thing to remember is that, while some models have dedicated buttons for hot water, others don't. In that case, place the ramen where you would your mug, empty any leftover K-cups from the pod holder, run a regular brew cycle, and plain hot water will come pouring out. 

Perhaps the biggest advantage of this method though is the amount of water the machine dispenses — in most instances, it's precisely enough to nail that not-too-dry-not-too-soupy consistency for ramen. Set the machine to brew a large coffee and you should have just the right ratio of water to noodles, after which there are dozens of toppings that can turn your ramen into a restaurant-worthy bowl.

With a little ingenuity and craftiness, you'll find that your Keurig can do a lot more than just brew coffee and make ramen. Anything that requires hot water could do with the near-instant abilities of a Keurig — think hot chocolate, tea, and other instant meals such as soup and oatmeal. Simply pop the powdered mixes and tea bags in a cup or a bowl, place the bowl under the nozzle, and run a brew cycle without a K-cup inside. When using Keurig to make oatmeal though, you might want to consider pulling the hot water in a separate cup rather than directly over the oats. Pouring water into the oatmeal gradually and in small amounts offers more control over the final texture.

You could also use a Keurig to cook instant rice and pasta, though doing so will require you to measure the ratio of water to rice/pasta more accurately for proper cooking. Keurig's hot water feature can also make warm cocktails in a flash. For instance, think how quickly a hot toddy will come together when you're a button away from warm water mixing with the combo of liquor, honey, and spices. 

The only thing to remember is that water poured from Keurig may have lingering notes of coffee from a previous brew. To ensure that its stale flavor doesn't seep into your food or drinks, throw away the first cycle or two of water before using a fresh batch for cooking.