Groups cooking together
If your group has a saucepan, water and a way to boil it, a large bag of dried noodles or several standard packs can make a meal to share. Check how much you’ll need to cook and how to store the rest of an opened pack.
Who are these formats for?
Campers sharing out individual sachets
If people have different schedules or appetites, a multipack of individual sachets makes them easy to hand out. However, the number of sachets doesn’t tell you whether each one is the right size for each person, so check the preparation instructions too.
Groups mindful of allergens and storage
Check the ingredients for each recipe and variety. Auchan product listings for egg noodles state that they contain wheat and eggs, and that traces of other allergens may be present, depending on the product. If you can’t rely on having somewhere cool to store food, plan to cook only what will be eaten straight away.
What sets the formats apart?
Large bag of dried noodles
Choose this if: your group is making a shared meal and can boil the water needed.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to reseal the opened bag and keep it somewhere dry. Its weight alone doesn’t tell you how many portions it contains.
Multipack of individual sachets
Choose this if: everyone needs to be able to take their portion separately.
Bear in mind: the weight and preparation method vary by recipe. The number of sachets alone isn’t enough to plan every meal.
Several standard packs
Choose this if: you’re not sure how many people will be eating and want to open the packs as you need them.
Bear in mind: add up the stated portions on the packs and check their ingredients and cooking instructions.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and portions | Net weight, stated portions and the number of sachets needed for your planned meals. | I want to feed the group without opening more noodles than we need; around 42% of consumers put quantity and portioning top of their list. |
| Cooking equipment | Pack instructions, the amount of water needed and whether you’ll need a saucepan or somewhere to drain the noodles. | If I can’t be sure of having a saucepan and enough hot water, I need to know how to prepare the noodles before taking them along; this is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens and storage | Ingredients, allergens and any possible traces; storage requirements and how much to cook if you don’t plan to keep leftovers. | If a recipe could raise an allergen concern or I can’t refrigerate a prepared meal, I need to plan around these constraints; they are the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
What to avoid before you set off
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Assuming a ‘family-size’ pack guarantees a certain number of meals
An 800 g bag and a multipack of individual portions won’t serve people in the same way. For example, Auchan says its 250 g Chinese egg noodles serve three people, while the description of ALDI’s 800 g ASIA GREEN GARDEN bag doesn’t specify how many meals it will provide for your group.
Start with the net weight and portions stated for the product you choose, then factor in how many people will actually be eating together.
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Packing dried noodles without checking how to cook them
Auchan’s instructions for two egg noodle products say to add boiling water and then drain the noodles; one specifies 2 litres of water. This may be difficult to arrange at a festival site.
Read the pack instructions before deciding between a shared meal and individual sachets.
You may need to bring a camping stove, fuel, a saucepan or a suitable container if you don’t already have the equipment required.
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Relying on the ingredients in a different recipe
The Auchan product listings for Auchan and Suzi Wan egg noodles state that they contain wheat and eggs; the possible traces listed vary by product.
If someone in your group has an allergy, check the label on the exact pack, including its ingredients and any stated traces, rather than relying on the label for another flavour or format.
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Cooking the whole pack and keeping leftovers in your tent
ANSES recommends not leaving cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours before refrigerating it. Without reliable refrigeration, cooking extra food to leave in your tent isn’t a safe storage solution.
Measure out the amount you need and cook it when the group is ready to eat.
Brands to know when comparing formats
ASIA GREEN GARDEN
ALDI offers ASIA GREEN GARDEN Chinese-style noodles in an 800 g bag, a format worth considering for a shared meal.
- The bag’s weight makes it easy to compare with portion multipacks and smaller packs.
- Check the portions, allergens and cooking instructions on the exact pack before planning your meal.
AUCHAN
Auchan’s listing for its 250 g Chinese egg noodles says they serve three people and explains how to prepare them.
- The stated number of servings helps you work out how many packs to bring.
- This product contains wheat and eggs; its listing also mentions possible traces of other allergens.
Suzi Wan
Auchan’s listing for its 250 g organic egg noodles states that they make three portions and take three minutes to prepare.
- The portion information and instructions make it easy to compare this product with a large bag of noodles for cooking.
- This product contains wheat and egg; a pack containing three portions may not be enough for a large group.
Yum Yum
Auchan stocks Yum Yum instant noodles in a multipack of five 60 g sachets.
- Individual sachets make it easy to count and hand out portions.
- Check the ingredients and preparation instructions for your chosen flavour; five sachets don’t necessarily mean five meals suited to everyone’s appetite.
Carrefour
Carrefour’s range includes 62 g Carrefour instant noodles and 250 g Carrefour Sensation egg noodles.
- These two formats let you compare an individual portion with a pack intended for cooking.
- Check the portions, recipe and instructions for each product before choosing a format for your group.
Noodles to share or portion out on Joybuy
This selection includes 800 g bags of dried noodles for cooking together, as well as multipacks of instant noodles to hand out individually. Choose a format after checking how many portions you need and what equipment each pack requires.
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CKM dried noodles, 800 g
A bag to consider for cooking a meal to share. Before you set off, check how many portions you need and the preparation instructions.
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Nongshim Shin Ramyun, 20 × 120 g
The individual sachets can be shared out among campers. Check the preparation instructions and how much water this product needs.
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MAMA Instant Noodle Chicken, 30 × 55 g
This multipack makes it easy to hand out the sachets individually. Check the packaging to see whether you need to boil the noodles or simply add hot water: both instructions appear in the product information.
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Indomie Special Chicken, 5 × 75 g (EU)
Five individual sachets for a group that wants to prepare portions separately. Compare the number of sachets with the meals you have planned and check the pack instructions.
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CKM dried buckwheat noodles, 800 g
A large bag for a shared meal, depending on the equipment available. The word ‘buckwheat’ doesn’t mean these noodles are gluten-free, so check the ingredients, portions and cooking instructions on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Will a ‘family-size’ pack be enough for the whole group?
Not necessarily. Compare the weight and stated portions with the number of people sharing each meal. Auchan says its 250 g Chinese egg noodles serve three people, while ALDI lists an 800 g ASIA GREEN GARDEN bag without stating how many meals that weight will provide.
Can you prepare dried noodles without a saucepan?
First, check the instructions for the product you’ve chosen. The Auchan listings we checked for dried egg noodles call for boiling water and draining; if you don’t have the equipment, don’t assume these products can be prepared like instant noodles.
What should you check if someone in your group has an allergy?
Check the ingredients and allergens listed on the exact pack, including any possible traces. The Auchan egg noodles described in its listing contain wheat and eggs; check the ingredients for any other flavour or format separately.
Can you keep cooked noodles in your tent for later?
Without reliable refrigeration, don’t plan to keep cooked leftovers in your tent. ANSES recommends not leaving cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours before refrigerating it, so it’s best to prepare only what you’ll eat straight away.