Ramen is famous for its affordability and notorious for its lack of nutrition.
While the lack of nutritional value does not deter people from making instant ramen or ordering it at a restaurant, the information included on the nutrition facts label might make them shy away from ramen.
The aforementioned information is none other than the gluten content.
So is ramen jam-packed with gluten or is it gluten-free?
Ramen has lots of gluten
Unfortunately for those on a gluten-free diet, both ramen served at restaurants and instant ramen are loaded with gluten. This is due to the fact that most, if not all, ramen noodles are made out of wheat flour which is heavy on gluten. Pretty much any kind of ramen that you see in your standard grocery store will also be a large heap of gluten.
As a result, this pretty much removes ramen from the diet of anyone who needs to be gluten-free for any reason.
Is there a gluten-free alternative?
If you are still craving ramen but can’t have any gluten, then today is your lucky day! Like with many foods that are heavy with gluten, food manufacturers have found ways to make ramen that is gluten-free. Not only that, but there are a lot of alternatives that you can choose from. Turns out you can make ramen noodles with many other ingredients that don’t include wheat flour.
The most common alternative is rice noodles, which are made from rice flour. Most packages of instant ramen that are gluten-free are typically made from rice flour.
Buckwheat flour is often used in gluten-free ramen as well. If you really dig into gluten-free alternatives, you can even find interesting and more exotic versions of ramen noodles that are made out of vegetables, kelp, and even sweet potato starch!
Also read: is sushi gluten-free or can you get it without gluten?
Where can I find gluten-free ramen?
If you are at a restaurant that makes ramen, you can always ask if they have a gluten-free alternative. Gluten-free menus at restaurants have become quite popular over the last few years, so there is a good chance that your local restaurant might have it. However, if you are craving some gluten-free instant ramen you can often find it in most major grocery stores. The selection and scope will vary, but it can be found there.
For a more diverse selection of gluten-free instant noodles, you may need to find a specialty grocery store. Like gluten-free menus at restaurants, these kinds of grocery stores are becoming much more commonplace in shopping centers. Those kinds of stores are often your best bet for finding a large variety of gluten-free instant ramen that you can go through and find one you like.
If you don’t happen to have a specialty store nearby you, online shopping is also an option. Some manufacturers of gluten-free ramen will ship their products directly to your home. You can also purchase gluten-free ramen from big websites like Amazon as well. Big retail stores can also ship gluten-free ramen to you as well.
There is always an alternative
With so many alternatives to standard wheat flour noodles, you don’t have to give up on ramen. Food manufacturers understand the importance of providing gluten-free alternatives, so you can continue to enjoy a nice hot bowl of ramen whenever you want. With a little bit of research, you may even be able to find a restaurant nearby that can make gluten free ramen.
While being gluten-free won’t help the general lack of nutrition in ramen, it is a great place to start.
Also read: these are the best ramen garnishes for a healthy bowl of noodles
