Price: 14¢
Serving: 1/2 block noodles + seasoning, 1.5oz. + water
Reality: 1 block of noodles + seasoning, 3oz. + water
Calories per package: 380
Fat: 22%, 14g
  Saturated Fat: 36%, 7g
  Trans Fat: 0%, 0g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 64%, 1520mg
Protein: 10g
Carbohydrates: 18%, 54g
Fiber: 16%, 4g
Sugar: 0g
Weight Watchers Points: 4 per serving
Weight Watchers Points: 8 per package

Great Value says: Do not purchase if bag is open or torn.

Abi says: Ramen at Wal-Mart is 14¢. As a lover of ramen, I wondered why I hadn’t tried it until just now. Then I realized that Wal-Mart ramen only comes in Beef and Chicken and I prefer Oriental Flavor Ramen. However, in these belt-tightening times (money wise, not actual belt-wise, I hate wearing belts – so uncomfortable!) I figured it would be great to feature less expensive modes of nutrition. Yes, I’m using the word nutrition loosely.

I grabbed a packet of Wal-Mart beef-flavored ramen and promptly forgot all about it. Then a quiety, dreary Saturday rolled around and I just wanted something super-fast and noodly. Ah, Beef Ramen to the rescue. Unfortunately, the ramen had expired last week. This put me in a quandry. Could I accurately review an expired product? Had the ramen changed significantly since the expiration date? And most importantly, does ramen actually expire or is the expiration date a ruse to get you to buy more ramen?

I dismissed the first worry and ripped open the ramen package. It looked like the same dried out block of deep fried noodles one would expect and just five minutes later I had a bowl of perfectly cooked ramen.

Not familiar with the beef flavor, I tore open the silver foiled pouch of seasoning (MSG) and was confronted with a smell that would make a badger blush. Either the beef powder had expired or beef flavoring for ramen smells like a dead body. My mind quickly churned through the possibilities (make my own sauce with peanut butter and soy sauce, try to find an oriental packet somewhere, give it up as a loss) before pouring the beef powder packet onto the ramen and stirring thoroughly.

‘Okay, tongue,’ I said to myself, none to convincingly ‘It is time to do your job.’ I count on my body all of the time to keep myself from eating spoiled food. My eyes alert me to mold, my fingers go ‘This apple is too mushy.’ and my nose and tongue combo say ‘Whoa, blue cheese is not your friend, hey stop eating that! Nooooo, stooooop.’

I twirled a forkful of beef-flavored noodles, took an exploratory bite and thought ‘Eh, I can eat this.’ So, if you’re on the Internet typing “Is it okay to eat expired ramen?” into Google, take it from me “You’ll probably be okay.”

[Please note that ramen is probably the only expired food I'd vouch for. Stay away from bulging soup cans, past-their-prime meats and these frozen meals being recalled by Lean Cuisine.]

Will I try Wal-Mart’s ramen again? Yes, I will. But I say yes because I run a blog that requires me to eat gross things, not because I’m suggesting you go and buy it.