Doshirak is harmless. Or not? What Russian scientists found out about popular cheap food

I wonder if there is such a person on the planet who has never tried Doshirak. Instant noodles that allow you to satisfy your hunger without any physical or mental effort. It seems to me that there are very few such people.

But have you ever wondered what it consists of, how harmful it is or, on the contrary, beneficial for our body, and why people who have tried it once are drawn to it again. Today I will try to talk about such a seemingly simple and unpretentious food as Doshirak instant noodles, and you decide for yourself whether you dare to try it or not.

In Russia, “Doshik” appeared in the 1990s, when the main slogan of the era was “Time is money” and many did not want to waste time on cooking.

Really, why waste time standing at the stove, peeling and cutting vegetables, preparing sauces and dressings, frying meat until crispy and similar actions that require patience and effort, and most importantly TIME! When you can open the lid of Doshirak, tear open the spice packets and pour hot water over it all. Five minutes and lunch is ready.

Composition of "Doshirak"

The manufacturer does not mislead people and honestly indicates the composition of Doshirak. Anyone can look at the ingredients. The list of components included in the product is impressive in quantity:

• Premium wheat flour.
• Palm oil.
• Modified starch.
• Salt.
• Food additive emulsifier (sorbitol, soybean oil, lecithins).
• Gluten.
• Complex food additive “premix” (potassium carbonate, guar gum, sodium polyphosphate, riboflavin).
• Dried kelp powder.
• Dried onion.
• Beta-carotene dye.

The noodles themselves have this composition. Let's look at each component in detail.

What components in Doshirak are not harmful?

So, we know the composition of Doshirak, let’s now see what won’t harm us.

• Modified starch contains useful and even necessary substances for humans: sodium, magnesium, potassium, monosaccharides, dietary fiber. There is no harm in it, but like all genetically modified products, it can pose a potential threat. Modified starch is added to foods as a thickener, and can be found in products such as sauces, mayonnaise, sour cream, sweets, ice cream, jellies and other products.

• Kelp powder is a well-known seaweed that contains iodine. There is little of it in noodles, so you can’t expect much benefit, but no harm either.
• Gluten, which serves to impart elasticity and maintain shape, as well as the elasticity of the finished product, is not considered harmful. However, it may not be suitable for some due to individual intolerance to the product.
• A packet containing herbs and soy meat. There is practically nothing harmful in it.
• Dried onions, garlic, ginger - prepared on the basis of natural products, do not pose any harm, unless you have chronic gastritis, which can become acute when using grains of dried spicy products.

Beta-carotene dye

Here comes the second pleasant surprise. Although it is produced artificially, it has identical properties to the yellow-orange pigment that is found in carrots and gives the vegetable such a bright color. A powerful antioxidant and the owner of numerous positive properties. It is definitely harmless in Doshirak.

But in addition to the noodles, and sometimes the fork, the package also contains the seasoning that gives the cooked pasta such tasty and aromatic characteristics. Many consumers are wary of these spice packets. What do they contain?

• Broth seasoning (salt, broth base, flavor enhancer (monosodium glutamate), sugar, maltodextrin).
• Seasoning made from dried vegetables (soy texture, carrots, onions, dried seaweed).

Of all the ingredients, 3 substances cause the greatest concern: monosodium glutamate, soy texture and maltodextrin.

• Yes, monosodium glutamate will be addictive if it enters the body frequently, but it is found in many products, not just Doshirak.
• Soy texture is just a meat substitute that is made from soy flour. Rich in protein, loved by vegetarians and absolutely harmless.
• Maltodextrin, like modified starch, is used in the production of baby food. This substance has no contraindications and is completely harmless to health.

What can you say after studying the composition? The fact that Doshirak cannot and should not replace natural, freshly prepared food. But the harm from this product is greatly exaggerated and embellished. After all, then numerous products from stores, the composition of which is similar to instant noodles, are also harmful. Therefore, the main thing in nutrition is moderation. After all, consuming Doshirak in small quantities will not cause destructive harm, but a systematic addiction to instant noodles can lead to the following potential problems:

• allergies;
• gastritis and ulcers in the future;
• digestive dysfunction;
• disturbances in the functioning of the heart;
• kidney pathology.

In matters of the harmfulness of food and its effect on the body, along with facts and common sense, you need to rely on the opinion of experts.

Beneficial features

Doshirak, the calorie content of which in finished form ranges from 350 to 372 kcal, does not bring any benefit to the human body.

Among the advantages of this product are:

• quickly satisfy hunger (but for a short period);
• simplicity and convenience of preparation;
• the presence of a plate and fork included (in some product variants);
• bright taste.

At the same time, regular consumption of Doshirak noodles can seriously harm your health.

What scientists say about Doshirak

Having assessed the composition of the popular noodles, Russian scientists confidently declare: the amount of those substances in Doshirak, which most cause concern among adherents of a healthy diet, is not capable of having a negative effect on the body if you do not use them often and do not get carried away with this type fast food. But you can’t constantly eat fast noodles either, because this is fraught with a deficiency of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and the development of vitamin deficiency. The priority should always be natural products, meat, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Harm from consumption

• Doshirak has a high level of influence on the growth of blood sugar, which means it increases the feeling of hunger , despite the fairly high calorie content. Therefore, it is better for people trying to lose weight not to abuse such foods.
• Salt , contained in large quantities in seasoning packets (1 packet is equal to the daily salt intake), contributes to the accumulation of fluid in tissues, as well as an increase in blood pressure. To avoid such problems, it is recommended to add seasonings yourself or discard the resulting broth and eat only the noodles themselves.
• Wheat noodles are the main component of this product and are hardly recommended for people who follow a healthy and wholesome diet, because... it is poor in the content of biologically significant elements ( micronutrients ).
• Also, the seasoning bag contains a large amount of paprika , hot and red pepper, which is not recommended for use if you have stomach diseases (gastritis, ulcers), as well as kidney and liver diseases, which are the filters of our body.
• Artificial fats contribute to the development of chronic artery disease and also impair the absorption of nutrients.
• Monosodium glutamate , contained in excess in this product, can cause a pseudo-allergic reaction.
• It is impossible to predict harm to the body in the case of consuming counterfeit products, as well as their low-quality analogues.

Demand creates supply

There is a demand for Doshirak. And this gives rise to supply, which is located on store shelves in unimaginable quantities. Russians love instant noodles. But this is not due to the crisis, as many are sure, but to the simplicity, convenience and time savings that this product offers. And “Doshirak” in a container that can be used instead of a plate, the price is equal to a pack of good pasta. Noodles are for one meal, but a package of pasta can feed the whole family. Where is the financial rationale here? We are attracted by the fact that sometimes you can just relax and not rack your brains about which culinary delight to prepare today: but go to the store and buy Doshirak along with a pack of good sausages. By the way, they say they are also harmful. But we’ll talk about this in another article.

How to distinguish a fake from the original

When purchasing a product, you need to be sure that it is produced in compliance with all standards and all technological processes. Indeed, in the case of a fake, it is impossible to say anything about its constituent ingredients, what their quantity is and how harmful one or another of them is.

In order to distinguish the original from the fake, pay attention to the following factors:

1. The presence of original logos, which are contained not only on the packaging, but also on the bags of oil and seasonings, as well as on the included plastic spoon.
2. It is also worth paying attention to the structure of pressed vermicelli. It should be uniform, without clearly visible rows.
3. The seasoning should not be powdery, but, on the contrary, contain individual fragments of spices and herbs.
4. If vermicelli is not steamed within 4-5 minutes, then it is categorically not recommended to use such a product, because this means that gross errors were made in production technology.

Noodles for every taste

12 types of different flavors are produced on the Russian market: “Doshirak” with chicken, spicy chicken, kimchi, veal, mushrooms, pork, beef, bacon, cheese, tomatoes, seafood, and a special product for Russia - sauerkraut.

Overseas you can find other incredible flavors, such as seaweed, crab meat, teriyaki sauce, mirin sauce and many others.

Which instant noodles are best to choose?

On supermarket shelves you can find many different types of semi-finished and fast food products with a variety of properties. So, the famous Doshirak has quite a lot of competitors.

One of the most famous rivals to the legendary Korean noodles is Rolton brand products. Rolton has a composition identical to Doshirak, but the product of this brand is less spicy. In addition, consumers note a richer taste and aroma compared to the Korean product.

“Big Bon” noodles are also quite popular among domestic buyers. The advantage of the product is a rather tasty and satisfying sauce, as well as a healthy and aromatic vegetable seasoning.

Fans of fast food and semi-finished products should pay attention to Big Lunch brand products. They are distinguished by a rich meat taste, appetizing aroma, and also a very impressive serving size. Big Lunch has several more beneficial properties than Doshirak.

With Chiken

Doshirak is delicious to prepare with various additives. The dish will be more satisfying with meat. For example, you can supplement it with chicken. It's best to take chicken fillet. How to prepare this version of the treat is described later in the article. If you don’t have time to cook chicken for a long time, you can immediately take, for example, a smoked product.

What ingredients will you need?

For the dish you need to take:

• doshirak – 80-100 g (1 pack);
• large white champignons – 4 pcs.;
• chicken fillet – 80-100 g;
• garlic – 1 clove;
• lemon – ½ piece;
• sugar – 1 pinch;
• green onions, chili, sesame seeds, soy sauce, oil.

Step-by-step cooking process

The cooking process includes several stages:

1. You will need to remove the thin outer skin from the mushrooms. There is no need to wash them. It is enough to cut off the lower part of the leg. Otherwise, the champignons can absorb too much water.

2. Chili should be cleared of seeds, and garlic should be cleared of its thin outer husk. Then finely chop all these components along with the onion. Their quantity can be adjusted to your liking.
3. For the sauce, mix soy sauce (classic) with warm boiled water in equal proportions in a small bowl. Then you can add citrus juice to this mixture. All that remains is to add the chopped components from the second step and sesame seeds.
4. The fillet must be cleaned of films and chopped into arbitrary pieces.
5. You need to heat a small amount of any oil in a frying pan. Then pour mushrooms and chicken onto it. The food will be fried until done, stirring frequently. You can make them rosy.
6. All that remains is to add dry noodles to the mushrooms and meat and pour the sauce over everything. Its quantity will be adjusted depending on the size of the pan.

Under a closed lid over low heat, the treat will cook for about 3-3.5 minutes. Afterwards you can take a sample from it.

Rules for serving dishes, decoration

The dish should be served immediately freshly prepared and still warm. Then it will turn out to be especially tasty. A variety of mushrooms can be added to the treat. These can be not only champignons, but also oyster mushrooms or even any wild mushrooms. The latter should first be boiled, and only then sent to fry.

With cheese

Doshirak (how to cook it deliciously with cheese is described later in the article) can be supplemented with various dairy products. There are even options when the noodles are boiled in milk. But cheese fits best into the dish.

What ingredients will you need?

For the dish you need to take:

• processed cheese – 35-40 g;
• dry doshirak – 1 package;
• chicken fillet – 65-70 g;
• salt, spices.

It is very tasty to use not ordinary processed cheese for the dish, but with additives. For example, with ham, garlic, herbs or even mushrooms. The easiest way to take salt and spices is from the bag that comes with the noodles.

Step-by-step cooking process

The cooking process includes several stages:

1. The chicken must be cut into thin slices and fried in any oil until golden brown. You can even make the bird slightly crispy.

2. The noodles should be poured with boiling water and left in this form for approximately 3-3.5 minutes. Spices and salt are also added here. Afterwards you need to drain the excess liquid.
3. The finished doshirak is mixed with fried pieces of poultry and melted cheese.

If desired, you can also add green onions to the treat. It is first finely chopped.

Rules for serving dishes, decoration

If you want to get a more refined dish, you can add pieces of Camembert to a container with noodles. Under the influence of heat, the product will melt inside, and the appetizing crust will remain on top. All that remains is to add a piece of butter to the dish. It will fully reveal the taste of the cheese.

Useful tips and tricks

The following tips will help you prepare the dishes under discussion deliciously:

• it’s delicious to brew noodles not only in boiling water, but also in other liquids (for example, milk, cream, various broths - meat, vegetable);

• You can make a delicious soup based on the noodles (to do this, it is brewed with broth, pieces of boiled/fried vegetables, herbs, and croutons are placed in a bowl);
• doshirak should not be prepared in advance; it must be brewed immediately before serving (otherwise the taste of the dish will deteriorate significantly);
• at the very end, it’s delicious to add chopped herbs to the treat - any (parsley, dill, cilantro, onion).

Today there are more than 10 known ways to cook delicious doshirak noodles. All of them are simple, clear, fast and affordable.

Reviews

Smolenskaya Liliya Alekseevna, 34 years old, Vladivostok

Sometimes I snack on Doshirak – it’s quick, tasty and satisfying! Very helpful when you don't have time to cook. However, I still try not to abuse it, because I know that this is not the healthiest food.

Vaneev Igor Stepanovich, 21 years old, St. Petersburg

I am a student, and student life in a dorm is impossible without Doshik. I eat noodles several times a week because I have absolutely no time to cook anything substantial. I have no health complaints, no gastritis or ulcers. But in the future, when I have more time, I plan to replace Doshik with something more useful.

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Contraindications to the use of Doshirak

1. People who have problems with the stomach and gastrointestinal tract (for example, peptic ulcer, gastritis, colitis) should not get carried away with instant noodles.
2. It is recommended that those who are trying to lose weight or are overweight exclude the product from their diet, since the dish is quite high in calories, contains almost nothing but fast carbohydrates, and also provokes increased appetite and overeating.
3. Giving Doshirak to children is strictly prohibited - the dish will not only not benefit the child’s body, but will also harm it!
4. Pregnant and lactating women should not consume the product, as the harmful properties of the dish will negatively affect the development and condition of the child.

Harm of noodles for children and pregnant women

Is it possible to eat doshirak during pregnancy? Does vermicelli harm a child’s body? If a pregnant girl wants to eat instant noodles, then a one-time intake of such a product will not be harmful, especially if you do not add a packet of spices.

Noodles are high in calories but have no nutritional value. In addition, the product contains an excessive amount of salt, which, if taken frequently, causes negative reactions (swelling, water-salt imbalance, headache, weakness).

A product like Doshirak will not benefit a child’s body. You can only use vermicelli, without additional packets of oil, spices and sauce. Harmful flavor enhancers, emulsifiers and preservative compounds are contained in additives.