Worry no more if you are confused about selecting the best instant noodles in India. Yes, this is true that no instant noodles available in the Indian markets are actually healthy but some are there that are less harmful than others. Consuming this occasionally will not impact your health and at the same time will help you to enjoy the great taste within minutes.
Instant noodles are a great option for people staying at hostels, hotels or even at their own homes as they are made in minutes and actually keep you full for a long time. Kids, as well as adults, love instant noodles. But the main problem in these instant noodles is the usage of preservatives, acidity regulators, flavors enhancers, maida and many more that are present as ingredients and prove to have side effects that you may face in the near future. Instant noodles can never be considered as a healthy option compared to homemade noodles which include fresh vegetables and other healthy options that actually pass on the nutritional value.
What are the advantages of instant noodles?
So why do we consume instant noodles despite the fact that it has no nutritional benefits? Well, there are some advantages of instant noodles. The advantages are as follows.
- Instant noodles are easy to prepare and are generally ready within 5 minutes.
- Instant noodles are great in taste especially if you are a fan of chatpata foods.
- Instant noodles keep you full for a longer time.
- Very cost-efficient, a single packet costs you around Rs10.
- Great for fulfilling your sudden hunger pangs.
How to choose the best instant noodles in India?
A fact that should always be remembered is that instant noodles are never healthy, rather some are safe for your health if consumed in moderate amounts. You should always concentrate on the ingredient list mentioned on the packaging of the instant noodles that you buy.
- Always take a look at the ingredients mentioned on the packaging.
- The less the number of ingredients used in making the noodles, the better is the noodles.
- No or less usage of MSG/Ajinomoto
- Search for noodles that already have a brand value and trust among their consumers
- Presence of less number of flavor enhancers, acidity regulators, artificial colors and other preservatives
- Atta noodles are safer than noodles made from wheat flour (maida)
- The lesser is the sodium content in the seasoning mix, the better is the quality of the noodles
List of Best instant noodles in India
So here is the list of the best instant noodles in India. It is very hard to find any noodles that do not have the presence of flavor enhancers, acidity regulators, artificial colors and so on. But controlled consumption is the key to a better lifestyle.
1. Maggi Instant noodles
Maggi instant noodles also known as Maggi 2 minute noodles is the most famous and biggest brand of instant noodles available in the Indian markets. There is hardly anyone in India who hasn’t tasted Maggi noodles in their life. Maggi along with their instant noodles have Maggi cuppa noodles, Maggi oats noodles, Maggi Atta Noodles, Maggi vegetable noodles, Maggi Chicken noodles and the list goes on and on. Maggi is the most widely consumed noodle in India.
Pros
- Most trusted instant noodle brand in India
- Available in almost all types of flavors ( vegetarian and non-vegetarian)
- Ready in less than 3 minutes
- Amazing taste, thanks to their amazing tastemaker
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Presence of lots of thickeners, humectants and acidity regulators
- The base of the noodles is maida, which may not be that great for our health
Pricing
70g of Maggi Instant Noodles will cost you around Rs 10.
2. Some More multi millet noodles
Multi millet noodles by Some More is another not-so-famous noodle in India. Amazingly just like Naturally Yours Multi-millet noodles, these noodles contain 0% maida. Another amazing fact about these instant noodles is that it contains zero preservatives even in the tastemaker. It is a 100% organic brand but unfortunately, is only available in the vegetarian flavor.
Pros
- Contains 0% maida
- Free from any preservatives ( 100% safe for your health)
- A certified organic brand
- Consists of calcium and iron ( hardly found in any other instant noodles)
- 100% vegetarian
- Has anti-bacterial and anti-toxic properties
Cons
- Expensive than other instant noodles on this list
- The shelf life of the product is less ( as they use no preservatives)
- Not-so-famous brand in India
Pricing
195 grams of Some More multi millet noodles cost you around Rs 100.
3. Naturally Yours Multi-millet noodles
Naturally Yours Multi-millet noodles are instant noodle that is not known by all but has been placed 3rd in the list because of their quality. If you go through the ingredient list of this noodle you will find that it contains 0% maida. Amazingly these noodles also have fewer ingredients and preservatives compared to the other brands available in the market. Just go through the ingredients list of these instant noodles and you will be shocked.
Pros
- Contains less number of ingredients and preservatives
- Contains 0% maida ( made up of ragi, bajra and other millets)
- No acidity regulators or artificial colors are found in the packaging
- It is considered 100% safe for your health
Cons
- Much expensive compared to the other brands on this list
- Not so famous in the instant noodles market
Pricing
180g of Naturally Yours Multi-millet noodles cost you around Rs 140.
4. Ching’s noodles
Ching’s noodles are owned by “Capital foods” and have been in the trend for quite a long time now. Ching’s marketing strategies are innovative. One prime example of their marketing strategies is the introduction of their own song featuring Ranveer Singh. Surprisingly, Ching’s noodles are better than many other instant noodles brands available in the market. Ching’s noodles are also available in several flavors such as Hakka noodles masala, Schezwan fried rice masala, paneer masala to name a few. You can read a detailed review of Ching’s noodles right here.
Pros
- Ching’s noodles is available in all types of flavors and taste
- Great for people who actually love Chinese noodles
- Less sodium ( uses the gelling agent E508)
- Uses flavor enhancer 635 instead of MSG
Cons
- Usage of too many preservatives and acidity regulators to improve the shelf life
- A little overpriced
- Not for people who have allergies towards wheat, soy, peanuts and milk
Pricing
240g of Ching’s noodles costs you around Rs 60.
5. Sunfeast Yipee noodles
Sunfeast Yipee noodles were launched in the Indian markets in 2010 but gained massive popularity in the instant noodle market because of their great marketing strategies and amazing taste. ITC is the brand that owns Sunfeast Yipee noodles as of now. These noodles are famous because of the unique shape of the noodles ( circular, curly and short). Sunfeast Yipee noodles are most preferred by kids. You can read a detailed review of Sunfeast Yipee Noodles from here.
Pros
- No artificial colors are added
- Contains folic acid, iron and calcium
- Non-sticky noodles
- Very easy to prepare and budget-friendly
Cons
- High in total fat and saturated fat
- Presence of too much sodium
- Contains too many preservatives and additives to improve the shelf life
Pricing
280g of Sunfeast Yipee noodles costs you around Rs 60.
6. Top Ramen noodles
Top Ramen is one of the oldest brands of instant noodles (since 1991) available in the Indian markets. Top Ramen is presently manufactured and marketed by Nissin. Top Ramen is known for its amazingly smooth and unique taste, thanks to its amazing tastemaker. Consumers who love Top Ramen are still loyal and claims that it tastes better than Maggi. You can read a detailed review of Top Ramen noodles right here.
Pros
- Highly trustable brand especially in the instant noodles industry
- The taste of these noodles is unique and loved by all
- No MSG is added to enhance the taste
- Presence of curcumin as Color 100 which actually possess health benefits
Cons
- Presence of too much sodium
- High amount of saturated fat
Pricing
280g of Top Ramen noodles cost you around Rs 70.
7. Knorr soupy noodles
Knorr is famous in the market because of its various instant soup recipes. Soupy noodles by Knorr is quite new in the instant noodles market but has achieved a great name because of its chatpata taste and the soup-noodle factor. The specialty of these noodles is that they add real vegetables and are free from preservatives. As of 2021, their flavors are limited but with the increasing popularity, they are on the verge of releasing new flavors.
Pros
- People who love gravy noodles would definitely love these noodles
- No preservatives are added
- Spicy and chatpata flavor
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Too many ingredients are used
- Limited number of flavors are available
- Slighty expensive compared to others
Pricing
75g of Knorr Soupy noodles cost you around Rs 90.
8. Wai wai instant noodles
Don’t get fooled by the name, Wai Wai instant noodles are manufactured in Nepal by the Chaudhary Group. Another noodle that is loved by people who love the Chinese taste and flavors has exceptionally grown in the Indian markets. These noodles couldn’t flourish like Maggi or Ching’s because of their bad marketing strategies. The unique feature of Wai wai noodles is that they can be prepared in the normal way or can also be consumed raw just by opening the packet. You can also read a detailed review of Wai Wai noodles right here.
Pros
- Amazing taste
- Can be eaten raw or by preparing the noodles in the regular way
- Specially made for Chinese lovers
Cons
- MSG is present in the name of flavor enhancer 621
- Too much sodium
- Presence of too much palm oil ( high in saturated fats)
Pricing
100g of Wai wai noodles will cost you around Rs 22.
9. Patanjali Atta noodles
Patanjali Atta noodles were launched in the market by Patanjali with the sole aim of replacing maida noodles with atta noodles and conquering the noodles market. Unfortunately, although the name mentions “Atta noodles” but the amount of atta in these noodles is very less and the rest is wheat flour. As a result, these noodles lost their importance. Read the detailed review of Patanjali Atta noodles here.
Pros
- Good in taste
- Comes from the organic brand “Patanjali”
- Very cost-effective
- Presence of vegetables ( dehydrated)
Cons
- Too many preservatives and additives are added to maintain the shelf life
- Presence of harmful emulsifiers and thickeners
- Does not mention the presence of artificial color ( the noodle’s orange color comes from the usage of color, but Patanjali does not mention this in their packaging)
Pricing
70g of Patanjali Atta noodles costs you around Rs12.
Conclusion
So here is the list of the best instant noodles in India along with their pros and cons. It’s entirely upto you to choose the best one according to your taste. It is always recommended to consume instant noodles occasionally and not on a regular basis if you are conscious of your health. Also, do not forget to comment down your favorite instant noodles from the list above.
