The main difference between Maruchan and Nissin noodles is their broth taste and noodle texture. Maruchan has softer noodles with a creamy and light broth, while Nissin offers chewier noodles with a more flavorful broth.
Maruchan and Nissin are two of the most popular noodle brands worldwide. While both originated in Japan and have numerous variants, they have several differences that you might want to know.
Read on as I thoroughly differentiate Maruchan and Nissin in terms of origin, flavor variants, ingredients, broth taste, noodle texture, nutrition, price point, and distribution. This article will also give healthier recipes using instant noodles, so be sure to read until the end.
Table of Contents
- Maruchan vs. Nissin: Origin and History
- Maruchan vs. Nissin: Flavor Variants
- Maruchan vs. Nissin: Ingredients
- Maruchan vs. Nissin: Broth Taste
- Maruchan vs. Nissin: Noodle Texture
- Maruchan vs. Nissin: Nutrition Facts
- Maruchan vs. Nissin: Price Point
- Maruchan vs. Nissin: Distribution
- How To Make Instant Noodles Healthier
- Recipe
- Recipe
- Recipe
- Related Questions
Maruchan vs. Nissin: Origin and History
Maruchan Origin
Maruchan noodles have been a staple of Japanese cuisine for over 50 years. The story of Maruchan noodles began in 1953, when Toyo Suisan Kaisha founded his company in Japan and branched out to make instant noodles in 1961.
The company's mission was to bring a new, delicious, affordable noodle product to the Japanese market, with instant ramen noodles as their first product.
Maruchan quickly expanded its reach and began to export its noodles to the United States in 1977.
Today, Maruchan ramen is one of the most popular instant ramen brands in the United States that you can find in most grocery stores, including instant ramen, cup noodles, and yakisoba.
Nissin Origin
Nissin's instant noodles were first invented in 1958 by Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Foods. After witnessing the post-World War II food shortages, Ando wanted to create an easy and affordable food option for people everywhere.
He got inspired by the traditional Japanese food ramen, a type of noodle soup, and began experimenting with freeze-dried noodles. After years of perfecting his recipe, he released the first Cup Noodles product in 1971.
In 1973, Cup Noodles reached the United States and instantly became popular due to their convenience.
The company now produces over 50 flavors and variations of Cup Noodles, which are available in over 80 countries.
Maruchan vs. Nissin: Flavor Variants
When it comes to products and flavor variants, Maruchan wins. While both claim to use no artificial flavor in their products, Maruchan offers a wider variety of products and flavor selections (more than 60 variants) than Nissin (over 50 variants).
Maruchan Products
There are over 60 different flavors of Maruchan noodles available, with some of the most popular being chicken, shrimp, beef flavor, oriental, chili, Picante beef, and vegetable, which are free from artificial flavors and colors.
Their other must-try flavors include creamy chicken, roast chicken, Picante chicken, lime chili shrimp, and their Yakisoba flavors.
Aside from instant noodles and cup noodles, Maruchan has a product line called Instant Lunch, Ramen Bowl, and Maruchan Gold. None of the Maruchan variants are vegan, as all their seasonings contain animal products.
To check out Maruchan's complete product list, click here.
Nissin Products
Nissin claims to use no artificial flavor in its products while maintaining the authentic Nissin taste. The most famous Nissin food products include Cup Noodles, Top Ramen, and Instant Noodles.
- Nissin Cup Noodle is a ready-to-eat, portable instant ramen in a cup.
- Nissin Top Ramen is instant ramen noodles with flavor packets.
- Nissin Instant Noodle is a cup full of pre-cooked, dried noodles with various flavors.
Nissin's most popular flavors include oyster flavor, beef flavor, seafood flavor, Nissin hot beef flavor, curry flavor, chicken flavor, shrimp flavor, teriyaki chicken flavor, pork, spicy pork, pork tonkotsu, and spicy chicken flavor.
Nissin also offers two vegan noodle flavors: soy sauce and chili.
To see Nissin's complete product list, click here.
Maruchan vs. Nissin: Ingredients
While each noodle variant contains different ingredients, I could compare Maruchan's and Nissin's beef ramen. Right off the bat, I first noticed the use of bioengineered food products in Nissin's ingredients list. However, Maruchan did not state that their products are non-GMO.
Aside from that, Nissin beef ramen declared the allergen information in their product, including wheat, eggs, soybeans, and milk.
On the other hand, Maruchan beef ramen has wheat and soybeans but no egg or milk in its ingredient list.
Below is a quick overview of each product's ingredient list.
Maruchan Beef Ramen Ingredients
Ramen noodle ingredients: enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), vegetable oil preserved by TBHQ, salt, soy sauce, potassium carbonate, sodium phosphate, sodium carbonate, and turmeric.
Soup base ingredients: salt, sugar, less than 1% of maltodextrin, monosodium glutamate lactose, dehydrated soy sauce, caramel color, spices, beef fat, yeast extract, hydrolyzed corn, wheat, and soy protein, dehydrated vegetables (onion, garlic, chive), natural flavor, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate.
Nissin Top Ramen Beef Ingredients
Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid), palm oil, salt, contains less than 2% of beef fat, caramel color, citric acid, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, disodium succinate, dried leek flake, egg white, garlic powder, hydrolyzed corn protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, lactose, maltodextrin, natural flavor, onion powder, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, sodium alginate, sodium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, soybean, spice, succinic acid, sugar, TBHQ, wheat.
Maruchan vs. Nissin: Broth Taste
There's no "better" when it comes to comparing the broth of Nissin and Maruchan noodles, but rather a personal preference.
Nissin noodles offer a savory and flavorful broth. The broth has a delicate balance between the salty and umami flavors, with a hint of sweetness from the vegetable-based broth. The broth is light yet rich, with a slight hint of ginger and garlic that adds depth to the flavor.
On the other hand, Maruchan noodles' broth has a rich, creamy, and savory flavor, with a hint of sweetness that adds a unique twist.
The broth has a blend of spices, giving it a deep, earthy flavor. It has a warmth to it that can be both comforting and satisfying. Overall, Maruchan has a lighter broth than Nissin.
I like Nissin's more straightforward flavor profile, as you can quickly identify the flavors. You will enjoy Nissin noodles if you like a more flavorful soup. On the other hand, you will love Maruchan if you want noodles with a creamy and lighter flavor profile.
Pro tip: I suggest only putting a little bit of oil or skipping it all to avoid tasting the oil film in your noodles.
Maruchan vs. Nissin: Noodle Texture
Maruchan noodles are springy yet soft, and they cook well after three minutes of boiling. I also noticed that if you let the noodles sit in the boiling water or hot water for longer, they tend to be mushy, so consuming them immediately is a must.
On the other hand, Nissin noodles are light and smooth, with a slight chewiness. You will notice that the noodles are thin yet still hold their shape well when boiled and have a slightly springy texture. Moreover, Nissin noodles absorb the broth's flavor better.
Overall, Nissin noodles have better quality.
Maruchan vs. Nissin: Nutrition Facts
For this comparison, I looked at the nutrition information on the back of the packages of the beef ramen from both brands.
Both brands offer the same calories (380 calories), total fat, and saturated fat content. However, Maruchan beef ramen has a higher sodium value of 1580 milligrams compared to the 1330 milligrams of sodium in Nissin.
Cup noodles are unhealthy as they are full of carbohydrates and sodium and contain few essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. But cup noodles were made to be a quick and easy food for emergencies, so people shouldn't eat them all the time.
Here's a quick comparison of the complete nutrition facts for both brands:
Maruchan Beef Ramen
- Calories: 380
- Total Fat: 14 grams (18% of DV)
- Saturated Fat: 7 grams (33% of DV)
- Sodium: 1580 mg (66% of DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 52 grams (18% of DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 1 gram (3% of DV)
- Protein: 8 grams
- Iron: 16% of DV
Nissin Top Ramen Beef
- Calories: 380
- Total Fat: 14 grams (18% of DV)
- Saturated Fat: 7 grams (33% of DV)
- Sodium: 1330 mg (58% of DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 54 grams (20% of DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 2 grams (6% of DV)
- Protein: 9 grams
- Iron: 3.4 mg (20% of DV)
Maruchan vs. Nissin: Price Point
Maruchan and Nissin product prices depend on the product line and flavor, but Maruchan is generally cheaper than Nissin.
You can buy Maruchan noodles for as little as $8 per 24 packs, while you can purchase Nissin noodles for as little as $11 per 24 packs.
Maruchan vs. Nissin: Distribution
Nissin noodles are primarily distributed in Japan and other Asian countries. Still, you can also find them in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Australia, South America, and Africa.
On the other hand, Maruchan focuses its product distribution in the United States and Canada.
How To Make Instant Noodles Healthier
A healthier way to make instant noodles is by skipping the seasoning or flavor packet (or adding just a little) and adding vegetables. Here are my top favorite instant noodle recipes, which you can follow at home.
Recipe
Spicy Ramen Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 2 packages instant ramen noodles
- 2 cuptbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- ¼ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced bell pepper
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp chili sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Cook the ramen noodles according to the instructions on the package.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the garlic, ginger, onion, and bell pepper and cook until the vegetables soften about 3 minutes.
- Add the cooked ramen noodles and soy sauce and stir to combine.
- Add the chili sauce and sesame oil and stir until everything is combined.
- Cook for an additional 3 minutes until everything is heated through.
- Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
Nutrition
Recipe
Ramen Noodle Salad
Ingredients
- 2 packages instant ramen noodles
- ½ cup diced cucumber
- ½ cup diced carrot
- ½ cup diced bell pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp honey
Instructions
- Cook the ramen noodles according to the instructions on the package. You can also use fried noodles if you want crunchy ramen salad.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked ramen noodles, cucumber, carrot, bell pepper, and cilantro.
- Whisk together the rice vinegar, sesame oil, and honey in a small bowl until combined.
- Pour the dressing over the noodle mixture and toss to combine.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Recipe
Ramen Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 2 packages spicy ramen noodles
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- ½ cup diced mushrooms
- ½ cup diced carrots
- ½ cup diced bell pepper
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
- 2 tbsp chopped green onions
Instructions
- Cook the ramen noodles in boiling water according to the instructions on the package.
- Heat the vegetable broth in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the mushrooms, carrots, bell pepper, soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger, and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the cooked ramen noodles and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
- Serve garnished with green onions.
Nutrition
Related Questions
No, instant noodles are not healthy, as they don't provide essential nutrients and are high in sodium, carbohydrates, and calories. However, you can still have it when you need convenient food.
Shin Ramyun from Korea, Sapporo Ichiban from Sanyo Food in Japan, and Albertsons Companies are also well-known noodle brands.
While you can eat both at the same time, I don't recommend doing that, as both instant noodles and canned goods are high in sodium and saturated fat, which are unhealthy.
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