To avoid leftovers and make noodles with boiling water, a small cup labelled as a single portion is a convenient choice. If it’s not quite enough for you, compare it with a larger cup. Noodle nests let you choose how much to cook, but they need to be prepared and one nest isn’t necessarily a portion. In either case, check the portion guidance, ingredients and nutritional information for the product you choose.
A cup labelled ‘1 person’ or ‘1 portion’ gives you a pre-portioned amount to open. However, compare its weight with how you plan to use it: the label alone doesn’t tell you whether it’ll be enough for you.
If you have boiling water and want to keep washing-up to a minimum, check the cup’s instructions. Auchan’s product listings for Daisuki Beef Gyudon and Nissin Classic Soba both give a three-minute preparation time.
With seasoned noodles, the format doesn’t replace checking the label. The ingredients list, allergens and nutritional information per portion can help you compare the products you’re interested in.
For a smaller household, first decide between a ready-to-rehydrate portion and noodles that you measure out and cook. Then compare products by checking the stated weight, preparation method and label.
Worth considering: if you want to open a single portion and prepare it with boiling water.
Bear in mind: a ‘1 portion’ label doesn’t guarantee that the amount will be right for your meal.
Worth considering: if a small cup isn’t enough but you still want a quick meal. Auchan lists the 113 g Nissin Classic Soba as one portion.
Bear in mind: a higher weight doesn’t tell you whether the recipe and portion will meet your expectations.
Worth considering: if you prefer to measure out your noodles and put the dish together yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to cook them and check the pack to see how much to prepare, rather than assuming one nest is a portion.
| What matters | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A portion with no leftovers | The ‘1 person’ or ‘1 portion’ label and the net weight. For cups, also check the prepared portion size if it’s stated. | If I’m eating alone, I want to open an amount that suits me without leaving a half-used pack. Around 31% of consumers would make a portion with no leftovers their top priority. |
| Quick preparation | The preparation method, whether boiling water is needed and the stated preparation time for that exact product. | For a handy meal, I want to prepare my noodles with minimal washing-up. Speed would come first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Salt and allergens | The ingredients and allergens, followed by the nutritional information for the portion you’ll eat. | Before choosing a seasoned cup, I need to know what it contains and how much salt is in my portion. Around 25% of consumers would put this information first. |
| Keeping some in the cupboard and portioning it out | How much you’ll use from a pack of nests, along with its use-by date and storage instructions. | If I keep noodles in the cupboard, I want to portion them out for meals and use up an opened pack. This would be a priority for around 19% of consumers. |
Not all cups labelled as individual portions weigh the same: the products mentioned range from small cups of around 60 to 70 g to a 113 g Nissin Classic Soba. The right amount for you depends on how you plan to use it.
Before choosing a product for a snack or a meal, compare its weight and, where stated on the label, the amount once prepared.
You can’t tell the salt content or allergens from the size of the packaging. According to Auchan’s product listing, the Daisuki Beef Gyudon cup contains 2.6 g of salt per 310 g prepared portion, and includes wheat and celery.
Read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details for the exact product. Don’t assume they’re the same from one cup to another.
Carrefour Sensation offers both a 62 g instant noodle cup and a 250 g pack of noodle nests in the same range.
This E.Leclerc brand offers, among other products, 70 g cups of dried noodles.
Auchan’s listing for the Beef Gyudon cup describes a portion that’s prepared in its pot.
Auchan describes the 113 g Classic Soba as a single-portion cup that’s ready in three minutes.
An ALDI listing features 72 g instant noodles in chicken, beef or curry flavours.
Not necessarily: the label doesn’t guarantee that the amount will be right for you. Before deciding how to use it, compare the product’s weight, the prepared portion size if stated, and the nutritional information.
Yes, if the instructions for your chosen cup say to prepare it in the pot and you have boiling water. For the Daisuki Beef Gyudon listed by Auchan, follow the stated water level, leave it to stand for three minutes, then stir. Take care, as the contents will be hot.
No. Check the ingredients list and allergen information for each recipe. Auchan’s listing for Daisuki Beef Gyudon mentions wheat and celery, among other ingredients; this information doesn’t automatically apply to other cups.
Compare the nutritional information on the same basis, especially per portion actually eaten if that information is given. As a guide for this specific product, Auchan’s listing for Daisuki Beef Gyudon shows 2.6 g of salt per 310 g prepared portion.
Follow the use-by date and storage instructions on each pack. For the Daisuki Beef Gyudon cup, Auchan’s listing says to store it in a cool, dry place away from light.