THEY'RE SUPER QUICK, SUPER TASTY, SUPER NOODLES (Batchelors Super Noodles)

Name: Butterfly-Wings

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Product:	Batchelors Super Noodles
Date:	19/06/08 (274 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: taste nice, filling, easy to cook, versatile

Disadvantages: high calorie and fat content, rubbery texture if cooked in the microwave

Batchelor's Super Noodles are a very quick and easy meal to prepare; you can either have the Super Noodles as an accompaniment to a main meal or as a snack on their own. Every time I go shopping I always pick up a few packs of Super Noodles because they are handy to have in the cupboard for a quick fix meal especially if you get hungry and cant be bothered cooking something from scratch. The best thing about the Super Noodles is the fact that they are very cheap to buy and a 100g packet costs less than 60 pence from Tesco's. In supermarkets like Tesco and ASDA you can purchase their own supermarket brand of Instant Noodles which are like an imitation of Super Noodles which cost less than 10 pence per packet, the only problem with the supermarkets instant noodles is the fact that they are only available in chicken, curry or bacon flavours and they aren't as tasty as Batchelor's Super Noodles. Some people may however choose the supermarkets own brand of noodles because they are cheaper than Batchelor's, but in my experience I find that paying the extra money for Batchelor's is by far the best option as you can be sure that they will taste great; and not bland and tasteless like the cheap supermarket imitations.

The Batchelor's Super Noodles are very easy to find in most supermarkets, they will most probably be situated in the rice and pasta aisle. The Super Noodles are supplied in a royal blue foil wrapper which boasts the Batchelor's trade mark near the top of the packet. On the front of the packet it also states which flavour the Super Noodles are and there is also a diagram which is of a forkful of noodles so as you get some sort of an idea of what the Super Noodles are going to resemble once they are fully cooked. On the back of the packet of Batchelor's Super noodles you will find all of the nutritional values as well as the ingredients which make up the noodles. There is also very clear and precise cooking instructions printed on the back of the packet which are really easy and simple to follow. You have the option to choose from two different cooking methods, which are on the hob in a pan of boiling water or alternatively in the microwave.

The Super Noodles are very light weight and easy to store, I find that because of the size and weight of the packaging that the Super Noodles are perfect to take on camping trips or trips away in the caravan as they don't take up much space and they have a long shelf life as well; so I don't need to worry about them going out of date. Once you open the foil packet which contains the super noodles you will find two things; a block of dried noodles and a silver foil packet which contains the flavouring for your noodles. The foil packet which contains the flavouring for the noodles has some tasty hints printed onto it; which give you serving suggestions so as your noodles taste better. Most of the time the suggestion printed on the foil packet basically suggests that you add more ingredients to your noodles such as diced bacon or chicken. Thus makes your noodles taste better but it also makes your noodles more satisfying and filling. I normally add more ingredients to the noodles if they are to serve two or more family members as it makes one packet stretch a little further.

Cooking the Super Noodles couldn't be easier even the most inexperienced cook could manage to cook these easily. I think that super noodles are one of the very few meals which my husband can cook unaided without any help. Basically you have to choose which method of cooking suits you best; microwave or on the hob. I prefer to cook the noodles on the hob as they do taste a lot better, I find that microwaving them gives the noodles a some what rubbery elastic texture where as cooking them on the hob gives the noodles a very soft texture. If you are cooking the noodles on the hob all you have to do is add half a pint (300ml) of boiling water to a saucepan, break the noodles up into four pieces and add the contents of the foil sachet. Let the noodles simmer in the boiling water for 4 minutes remembering to stir occasionally so as they don't stick to the bottom of the sauce pan.

If you are cooking the noodles in the microwave then you have to again break the noodles into four pieces, place them in a microwavable container and add half a pint of water (300ml), and then add the contents of the foil sachet and stir. Place them in the microwave uncovered and cook on full power for 5-6 minutes or until the noodles are soft. Cooking the noodles in the microwave takes slightly longer compared to cooking them on the hob; cooking the noodles on the hob is the best option as they are quicker to cook and the noodles have a better texture once fully cooked.

Once your noodles are cooked you will have delicious, soft textured tasty noodles in a flavoured stock. You can either drain off the excess stock (which is just the water and flavouring from the foil sachet) before you serve the noodles or you can serve them in a large bowl with the stock contents. I prefer to serve the noodles in a bowl with the stock as they taste better because the noodles are soaking in the stock and absorbing the flavours. A few of the Super Noodles have quite mild flavourings such as the chicken ones as well as the mild curry and these are the flavours which I prefer to serve in the stock as it gives them a slightly stronger flavouring compared to draining the excess stock off. There is another way of serving the noodles which makes them taste a lot stronger and this is cooking the noodles in the water as above, but letting them simmer for slightly longer so as the water is almost all evaporated them adding the flavouring and stirring it in. This makes the noodles slightly drier and stickier but they taste a lot better because the flavouring is stronger because it isn't diluted in as much water.

The Barbecue Beef Super Noodles are the most popular flavour in my household, although I don't particularly like these ones as the flavour is far too strong for me. The Barbeque Beef Super Noodles have quite a smoky taste to them and I think that they taste more like Smoky Bacon crisps that Barbecue Beef. The smoky flavour from these noodles is complimented with a very subtle onion taste which somewhat dulls down the smoky taste. I also think that these flavoured noodles have quite a strong salty taste, and they leave my mouth quite dry after I have eaten them.

I really like the Chicken flavoured Super Noodles as these have a really nice taste compared to some of the other flavours. I find that these ones have a really nice chicken flavour which has a slight garlic and onion flavouring as well. Once the noodles are cooked they have a slight yellow colour which is from the chicken flavouring in the foil sachet, there is also some little green herb like pieces mixed in with them as well; which I think is possibly chives or herbs of some sort although I'm not too sure. The chicken flavoured noodles are my favourite because they aren't too salty, the flavouring isn't to strong and they don't leave a horrible aftertaste in my mouth.

The Mild Curry noodles again are another flavour which I like because they aren't too strong and they don't leave a horrible aftertaste in my mouth. Like the chicken flavoured Super Noodles the Mild Curry ones take on a slight yellow colour once they are cooked and served which is caused by the contents of the foil sachet. As these noodles are curry flavoured you would expect them to have a slightly spicy taste, but they don't really. You do get a very subtle tingly sensation on your tongue when you are eating them but that's all, again the curry flavoured noodles has a subtle onion and garlic taste as well to compliment the curry.

There are many other flavoured noodles to chose from and some have stronger tastes then others. The other flavours available are ~ Mushroom, Bacon, Barbecue, Thai Curry, Sweet and Sour, Chow Mein, Balti, Tex Mex, Spicy Salsa, Spaghetti Bolognese and Southern Fried Chicken.

The Super Noodles aren't exactly one of the healthiest foods available but they are quick, easy, tasty and very versatile. Each of the different flavours have different nutritional values; but on average a 100g packet contains 7.9g of fat, 180 calories, and approximately 1g of salt. This is quite high in fat if you are eating a full packet to yourself as a quick fix meal; however if more than one person is sharing the same packet as a part of a main meal obviously the fat and calorie content wont be as high as you are having a smaller portion. All of the flavours available are suitable for vegetarians to consume.

The Super noodles can be served as a part of a main meal as a substitute to potatoes or chips or you could have them with toast. Adding some of your won ingredients makes them so much tastier. I like to add some diced chicken and onion to the mild curry flavoured noodles or the chicken flavoured ones. I normally add my own ingredients as soon as I add the boiling water to the saucepan so as they can absorb the flavouring from the foil sachet during cooking.

Super Noodles are a great snack on there own or as a part of a main meal, they are cheap to buy and are available in a variety of different flavourings. You can purchase Batchelor's Super Noodles from a wide range of different stores such as ASDA, Tesco, Morrison's, Spar, Somerfield etc. I'm sure you can get them from just about everywhere although the price will differ depending on where you decide to purchase them from. Some retailers might not sell all of the flavours, they might just sell the popular ones such as the chicken and mild curry. Some places may also have the Super Noodles on special offer so it is a good idea to keep your eyes peeled and take advantage of the special offers when their on. I have often been able to buy three packets for a pound in Tesco, or get them half price or buy one get one free.

For more information on Batchelor's Super Noodles have a look at their website which is www.supernoodles.co.uk


© Butterfly-Wings
2008



~~~~Review written by me and also posted in ciao~~~

Summary: good as a snack or as a part of a main meal