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1. Types of Ramen Noodles
Ramen on the market can be broadly divided into three types based on how the noodles are cooked and preserved.
– Fried Noodles (Yutangmyeon): These are the most common type of instant ramen, where boiled noodles are dried by frying them in oil (usually palm oil).
– Dried Noodles (Geonmyeon): These are noodles that are dried with hot air for a long time after being boiled, without being fried.
– Fresh Noodles (Saengmyeon): These are raw, uncooked noodles that are distributed under refrigeration.

2. The Difference in Calories and Fat
– Fried Noodles: They absorb a large amount of oil during the frying process. This results in high saturated fat content and the highest calorie count (usually around 500 kcal per serving).
– Dried/Fresh Noodles: Because they are not fried, their fat content is very low (less than 1/5 of fried noodles), and their calorie count is also more than 100 kcal lower (usually 350-400 kcal). Therefore, from the perspective of weight management or reducing fat intake, dried or fresh noodles are a much better choice.

3. Why the Blood Sugar Response is Similar
However, from a blood sugar management perspective, it is difficult to expect a significant difference.
– Same Main Ingredient: All three types of noodles are made from ‘refined white wheat flour,’ which raises blood sugar quickly.
– Similar Glycemic Index (GI): Because the main ingredient of the noodles is the same, there is no significant difference in the speed at which they are digested and raise blood sugar. Even if you eat dried noodles, your post-meal blood sugar can spike just as sharply as with fried noodles.
Of course, the sodium-laden soup is equally unhealthy in all three types.

Summary: While it is true that ‘dried’ or ‘fresh’ ramen noodles have lower fat content and calories than fried noodles, the fact that they are made from refined wheat flour that raises blood sugar quickly does not change. Therefore, for blood sugar management, they are a food that requires caution, just like fried noodles.