In most prisons across the U.S., a 30-cent pack of instant ramen noodles is far more valuable than its store price would indicate. It’s much more than dinner. It’s money & comfort, as well as a survival tool, wrapped into cheap packaging. In fact, some sources claim it’s the most common item moving through the prison’s underground economy.
So why is it so important to inmates? That’s what we’re going to find out.
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What you’ll learn
You’ll learn all about:
- How ramen works as informal prison currency
- Why ramen is comfort food inside
- How ramen is a survival tool
- The rules & prices that affect ramen’s value in correctional systems
The packet that turned into “money”
After prisons banned cigarettes, ramen started taking over as the behind-bars currency pretty soon after. People needed something cheap & easy to count, as well as something that was always in demand.
Enter ramen noodles.
In a 2018 study of a state prison, researchers studied inmates and found that many of them traded ramen for laundry & cleaning. They also used the food to trade for help with legal papers. Eventually, the word “soups” became a nickname for money in this prison. The prisoners would talk about “two soups” for this, “five soups” for that.
People pass them around for everyday stuff, including:
- Services like laundry & haircuts
- Goods like stamps & hygiene supplies
- IOUs. When someone’s short, they promise “X soups on canteen day.”
One of the main reasons this happened is that the chow hall often doesn’t serve enough food. And commissary meals aren’t always filling. Ramen packs solve that problem since they last forever & are lightweight. It also helps that practically everyone eats them, as well as the fact that everyone knows the value.
Since they’re cheap, ramen noodles work like small bills because you don’t need to break a $20 bill. Two packs will do the job instead.
Comfort food, made on a bunk or in a dayroom
Beyond the trading side, the taste of the noodles & how they provide a routine also help.
A few inmates make “spreads” by throwing noodles together with other foods like tuna, chips, cheese, or chili. They microwave it & stir it in bags. Then, they share it around.
Some ramen meals involve crushing the bricks & then stirring in tuna or beef. Inmates sprinkle on seasoning & sometimes add chips for crunch.
Sure, cooking like this isn’t exactly fancy. But it breaks up the day & adds some flavor to a menu that would otherwise be bland, and researchers from the City University of New York (CUNY) wrote about these. They found that these meals sometimes get names & become part of prison food culture.
Eventually, ramen spreads become events & something for prisoners to look forward to.
A survival tool when the tray isn’t enough
There’s also the fact that ramen’s calories make it more than a snack. Official meals are often rather small, especially dinner, but having a supply of ramen tucked away gives you something to eat when you’re really hungry. It’s sealed & doesn’t spoil. You also don’t need much more than hot water to prepare it.
In other cases, some inmates smooth out ramen wrappers & fold them into envelopes or little bags since these packets are relatively light. They’re also tough enough to hold notes or small things you don’t want rolling around. As such, prisoners slip these wrappers into lockers or under mattresses to keep their belongings safe…or as safe as they can be in prison.
You can also turn the wrappers into writing surfaces, as long as you clean them up & flatten them out. They’re not exactly the best replacement for paper. But they’ll certainly work when you’re short on options.
It all comes down to making use of what’s on hand. After all, the commissary doesn’t exactly sell folders or storage bags, so ramen packaging ends up filling that gap, and many prisoners are determined to use every part of what they’ve got.
No wonder people stockpile it whenever they can.
And yes, sometimes they’ll trade those scraps, too. A neat stack of wrappers or a handful of foil packets can make small trades easier, which is important when you only have so many resources on hand.
Where ramen comes from
All ramen supplies in prison flow through the commissary. Prisons sign contracts with vendors, who set the product lists & prices, and ramen nearly always makes the cut. They’ll sell it individually and make sure it’s cheap enough for almost everyone, while also being in steady supply.
Since it’s everywhere, it’s a clear choice replacement for dollars when someone needs to make a trade.
Outside of prison, noodles are a quick & easy food. But inside the prison walls, they’re money & meals. They’re a way for inmates to just get through the day.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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