Who invented instant noodles: the history of the invention

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Instant noodles are a serious achievement in the culinary field. Many people cannot imagine life without this product, and now they have a chance to eat it all the time, in any place where there is hot water. Who Invented Instant Noodles? Its creator was the Japanese Momofuku Ando, who left the world in 2007.

Momofuku Ando

The noodle maker was born in 1910 in Taiwan, which was occupied by Japan at that time. He received his upbringing from his grandparents, since his parents died. After reaching the age of 22, Ando leaves Taiwan and goes to Osaka, where he begins to develop his business. In order for the latter to be successful, Momofuku graduated with honors from the Ritsumeikan University School of Economics, located in Kyoto. Also, the creator receives Japanese citizenship. Business flourished before our eyes, but the severe economic downturn caused by the war could not but affect it. Ando not only stopped doing his business, he also did not pay taxes, for which hethreatened with jail time.

A terrible famine reigned in the country after the war, so the people of Japan stood in long queues to get a small amount of food. For this reason, the authorities in every possible way forced the Japanese to consume bread from American wheat, which was plentiful due to humanitarian assistance from the States. Ando was struck by this fact, because he did not understand why the Japanese eat an incomprehensible kind of bread, if noodles are the most familiar and accessible to him? It is for this reason that he becomes the inventor of instant noodles, because many industries simply could not cope with the volumes, they did not have sufficient technical and raw material equipment.

Choosing another business

1948 marked a major change for the Japanese, as he decided to reopen the s alt business. In his opinion, such a product should bring income. Perhaps this would have been the case with the normal functioning of the economy in the country, but not in this case. There was demand, but it was not enough. The company was again threatened with bankruptcy. It was difficult for Ando to accept this, because he was already quite used to the course of a businessman's life. For this reason, he needed to do something to get out of the pit of poverty.

Momofuku is the one who invented instant noodles, but before doing it, he worked for a long time. He directed the last pennies to this business, which, in theory, will bring him not only profit, but also provide the people with a constant source of food even in the most difficult times.

Creation process

The process of creation was not easy, it took a lot of time and required a lot of moral and physical strength. Ando did not want to take as a basis an already invented dish - dry noodles. It was invented in China a whole thousand years ago. Its undoubted plus is the duration of storage, but this was not enough for the Japanese. He thought more broadly, so he imagined the future product as follows: it will be inexpensive, it can be prepared quickly, and the noodles will also have an amazing, unusual taste. In the city of Ikeda, Ando prepares for the birth of noodles by doing all sorts of culinary experiments. He wanted to become someone who would be remembered by the world; those who invented instant noodles on their own.

Momofuku used simple equipment that included a simple noodle machine and a medium-sized pot. At first, in truth, the creator did not succeed. The results were either tasteless noodles or pasta porridge.

How and who invented instant noodles?

It is not known how, but the idea crept into the mind of the Japanese that if you spray the product with broth from an ordinary watering can, something might work out. And so it happened.

After spraying, the product was thoroughly mixed so that the upper layers were soaked. The noodles were then fried in coconut oil, causing the excess water to disappear. After the product was dried, forming a small briquette. When people were cookingthey only needed to add boiling water and the contents of two sachets. One of them contained palm oil, the other spices and broth.

To the question of who invented the instant noodles "Doshirak", now there will be a clear answer - Momofuku Ando.

Public perception

Initially, the product had a relatively high cost. After a period, the price dropped significantly, as there was no demand. As soon as this happened, sales began, and were very high. Every Japanese knew who and when invented instant noodles. Ando's products have pushed a lot of products off the shelves in stores, becoming a real bestseller.

After a while, the goods were ready for sale not only in Japan but also abroad. For this reason, the noodles only had a chicken flavor. Thus, it could be available in countries where certain foods are prohibited for religious reasons. No religion forbids the consumption of chicken meat, so whoever invented Rollton instant noodles knew what he was doing.

Europe and America

After 12 years, not only in Japan knew about Ando's Nissin Food, but also in Europe and the USA. The achieved heights did not moderate the ardor of the creator, he moved only forward. Ando invented a novelty from his company - noodles in special waterproof bowls made of Styrofoam. This made it possible not to waste time searching for dishes, it was possible to pour boiling water directly into the box, and after a meal, just throw it away. ManyEuropeans and Americans knew the name of the one who invented instant noodles, and they also highly appreciated the taste and convenience of the product produced by the creator.

Shortly after this innovation, one could see noodles with a new bag inside, which contained dried vegetables. Now it was no longer just a snack, but a full meal in the form of a light soup.

2005 was the firm's most profitable year, and all because Ando came up with an ingenious solution for meals in space - vacuum-packed noodles. The astronauts were delighted with such a novelty, so they bought a large amount of this kind of noodles.

Today, looking at the history of Ando's business, one might be surprised, as this is an incredible story about a man who wants to achieve something and does it despite the difficulties. In stores of any country, any continent, you can see a huge variety of flavors and types of Ando noodles.

By the way, Ando attributed his longevity to the miraculous properties of his noodles, saying that by eating it every day, a person can live a very long and happy life.

Consumption records

Who invented instant noodles? Now even a child knows about it, especially in China, where people consume the Momofuku product with great pleasure. It is China that has achieved record sales figures of around 30 billion packs of noodles a year.

Next in this hierarchy is Japan and then Indonesia. No wonder nowthere is the International Association of Noodle Manufacturers, which annually organize closed world-scale summits.

The summit appreciated the incredible genius of Ando, who suggested that his products should save people during adversity, when there is simply no food. And so it happened. For example, during the tsunami in Asia, as well as during the hurricane Katrina. People used Momofuku noodles, which are worth a penny, have a long shelf life and have a breathtaking taste. The warm broth helped calm the nervous system, recharge at least some mood of people in trouble.

Despite the fact that the products come from different companies, they have the same cooking principle. Therefore, opening any instant noodles in various parts of the world, a person can have no doubt that the product is the result of the hard work of Momofuku Ando.

The Japanese really appreciate the creator of noodles, so the question of what became the main invention in Japan in the 20th century was undoubtedly answered - instant noodles. And this is due not only to taste, but also to the fact that the dish is economical and affordable for everyone in any situation.

Flaws

Like any product, noodles have their downsides. Doctors still cannot clearly answer the question of whether this is really a he althy food. Knowing who the inventor of instant noodles is, it's hard to believe that the product can do any harm.

Many aesthetes believe that such food kills in a person the feeling that helps to see the difference between a masterpiece and cheap, tasteless food. Anyway,no one can say for sure. The best advice is to limit consumption. Perhaps Ando's noodles won't do any harm, and local producers are sometimes not so conscientious, so they can use a lot of chemical additives.

Pros

Dish benefits:

1. Noodles are very easy to prepare, just add boiling water.
2. Rich and pleasant taste.
3. Diversity of species.
4. Cheap.

It is thanks to these factors that the product has gained worldwide fame.