Noodle Journey Supplement Review: Ramen Bae Dried Enoki Mushroom

I’m reviewing the second of Ramen Bae’s new April 2024 products: Ramen Bae Dried Enoki Mushroom. Enoki mushrooms are those long, delicate strands you often find in Asian soups and hot pots, adding crunch and a mild, sweet mushroom flavor. They’re fantastic to cook with, but fresh enoki usually has a short shelf life and isn’t easy to find. I’ve got one Asian market about half an hour away that sells them, and they only last around a week before going bad. Ramen Bae’s dried version solves that problem with a pack that stays shelf-stable for over a year.

This 3-ounce bag sells for $7.49 on Ramen Bae’s website, which might sound pricey until you realize how lightweight mushrooms are before dehydration. Once rehydrated, a small handful expands a lot, so the bag goes a long way. By comparison, a smaller fresh bundle runs about $4 and spoils within two weeks. Preparation takes more effort than their other mixes: you’ll need to rinse and separate the clusters before cooking, but that’s just the nature of enoki mushrooms.

I decided to test these with Nongshim Shin Green, one of my favorite vegan instant noodles, along with a scoop of Ramen Bae’s Kimchi Mix for pairing. As soon as they hit the boiling water, the mushrooms softened pretty quickly. Their aroma is mild, with just a touch of earthiness, letting the soup’s base stand out rather than competing with it.

Spiciness:
This probably doesn’t need to be said, but mushrooms aren’t spicy. However, they do blend nicely with spicier soups like Shin Green or Shin Black without changing the heat balance.
• 0/10

Overall:
This is a clever, well-made product that fills a real gap in the market, considering I’ve never seen dried enoki mushrooms in any store near me. The texture is delicate and adds nice contrast to noodles, though the flavor is very mild, more sweet mushroom than earthy umami. Enoki fans will appreciate how easy these are to store, but mushroom lovers who prefer a bolder, deeper taste may want a mixed variety pack down the road. The only drawbacks are the light flavor and a bit of prep work, but otherwise, this is a solid, versatile addition to Ramen Bae’s lineup.
• 7.5/10

Notes since filming:

These have really grown on me since filming; I actually use them a lot! But holy shit are they difficult to work with.