Households looking to keep quick meals in stock
You’d like to keep individual portions in the cupboard. A large box is only worthwhile if the number of sachets matches how much you’ll use.
Who are these formats for?
Shoppers comparing quantities
You’re deciding between boxes, multipacks and large packs of noodles to cook. Check the total weight and number of portions before choosing how much cupboard space to set aside.
People who cook with noodles as a base
You’d rather choose your own sauce and toppings than store lots of sachets with the same seasoning.
What should you look for?
When stocking your cupboard, first choose between pre-seasoned portions and noodles you can cook yourself. Then match the pack size to how quickly you’ll use them.
Large box of instant noodle sachets
Choose this if: you often eat the same recipe and expect to use all the portions.
Bear in mind: a box of 30 sachets means committing to one flavour and making room for it in your cupboard.
Multipack with a few sachets
Choose this if: you want a few quick portions to hand or would like to try a recipe before buying more.
Bear in mind: this format gives you a smaller supply than a box.
Plain noodles or noodles to cook
Choose this if: you’d like to make different dishes with your own sauces or toppings.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to allow time for preparation and have ingredients ready to serve with the noodles.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Size of your supply | Count the portions and check the total weight, as well as the date shown on the pack. | I want enough meals to keep me going, without storing identical sachets for too long. Around 33% of shoppers prioritise a quantity that suits how much they use. |
| Variety of meals | Distinguish between seasoned sachets and plain noodles or noodles to cook; check how they should be prepared. | If I often change the sauce or toppings, I prefer a base I can cook in different ways. Versatility would be the priority for around 42% of shoppers. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and nutritional information for each recipe, comparing values on the same basis. | Before stocking up on several packs, I want to know whether the recipe is suitable for the people who’ll eat it. For around 25% of shoppers, ingredients would come first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Buying a large box before trying the recipe
A box of instant noodle sachets gives you multiple portions of the same flavour. If you don’t like it, you may find it difficult to use up the rest.
If you haven’t tried the recipe before, start with a small multipack. Then check the date shown and how many portions you expect to use.
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Assuming all instant noodles have the same ingredients
Ingredients and seasonings vary between recipes. E.Leclerc’s product listing for Tables du Monde curry noodles, for example, mentions soft wheat flour; it doesn’t describe other products.
Check the ingredients list and allergens for the exact recipe before buying several packs.
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Confusing best-before and use-by dates when storing your supplies
The Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control distinguishes between a best-before date (DDM), which relates to product quality, and a use-by date (DLC), which is a strict deadline.
Read the type of date shown on each pack, check its condition and put products with the nearest date at the front of the cupboard.
Brands to know when comparing formats
Yum Yum
Carrefour and Auchan list Yum Yum instant noodles in sachets and multipacks. Carrefour also lists a box of 30 × 60 g.
- Different pack sizes let you choose between a small supply and a large box.
- Check the ingredients and seasoning of your chosen flavour before stocking up on lots of portions.
Suzi Wan
Carrefour and Auchan’s ranges include Suzi Wan egg noodles, plain udon noodles and rice vermicelli.
- These products give you a base for making dishes with different toppings.
- With a plain product, you’ll need to plan the other ingredients for your meal.
Carrefour Sensation / Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour’s products include instant noodles, egg noodles and a 1 kg pack of noodle pasta.
- These formats help you distinguish seasoned portions from noodles to cook yourself.
- The brand alone doesn’t tell you the recipe or nutritional values of each pack.
Tables du Monde
E.Leclerc lists a pack of 3 × 65 g of dehydrated Asian curry noodles.
- This small pack lets you choose a few portions of the same recipe instead of a large box.
- Check the ingredients and availability with your chosen store or Drive service.
Nissin
Auchan’s range includes Nissin instant noodles in a cup and Nissin soba noodles in a sachet.
- Choose the packaging to suit whether you want an individual cup portion or a sachet.
- Check the exact format and recipe: these two product types may not be prepared in the same way.
Multipacks and noodles to cook on Joybuy
This selection includes four multipacks of instant noodles in individual portions and one large pack of noodles to cook. Choose according to the number of portions you want and how much room you’d like to leave for your own recipes.
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Nongshim Chapagetti Instant Noodle Soup, 20 × 140 g
This multipack is a good choice if you’d like to stock up on 20 portions of the same product. The title says “Soup”: check the preparation instructions on the packaging to see whether you’ll get soup or noodles to drain.
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NISSIN Demae Noodles Bag Hot, 30 × 100 g
This box is for households that expect to eat the same spicy recipe regularly. It contains 30 sachets of 100 g; make sure the flavour suits everyone who’ll be sharing the supply.
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MAMA Instant Noodle Chicken, 30 × 55 g
These individual sachets are a handy way to stock up on quick meals if 30 portions suits how much you’ll use. The box contains 30 sachets of 55 g; check the recipe label if there are any ingredients you need to avoid.
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Vifon Instant Rice Noodle Beef Pho Bo, 30 × 60 g
This multipack lets you keep individual portions of the same instant rice noodle recipe to hand. It contains 30 sachets of 60 g; check the ingredients for the complete preparation, including the soup base.
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Toyoung Wenzhou Lye Water Noodles Thick Strip, 2 kg
This 2 kg pack is a good choice if you’re looking for noodles to cook and want to choose your own sauces or toppings. They need to be prepared differently from seasoned instant noodle sachets, so check the storage instructions after opening.
Frequently asked questions
Should you look for tinned noodles to stock your cupboard?
No: the ranges listed by Carrefour and Auchan include sachets, multipacks, boxes of sachets and packs of noodles to cook. Check the actual packaging rather than assuming that “tin” means a metal can.
Should you treat a best-before date in the same way as a use-by date?
No. The Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control says that a use-by date (DLC) is a strict deadline, while a product past its best-before date (DDM) may have lost some of its qualities if the packaging is intact. Read the exact wording and check the condition of the pack.
How can you check for allergens before buying a box?
Check the ingredients list and highlighted allergens for the exact recipe, even if you already know the brand. E.Leclerc’s product listing for Tables du Monde curry noodles mentions soft wheat flour; its ingredients don’t tell you what’s in another flavour.
What should you check after opening a large pack of noodles?
Follow the storage instructions and, if stated, the recommended time after opening shown on the pack. The date printed for an unopened product doesn’t replace these instructions once the packaging has been opened.