Where Is Rapid Ramen Cooker From Shark Tank Today?
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Momofuku Ando invented instant ramen in 1958, according to the Cup Noodles Museum. Simplifying ramen down to only needing to add hot water meant that this favorite dish was something anyone could do. On top of that, it's inexpensive, and there are countless simple ways to upgrade your ramen.
Insider sums up some clever ways to make instant ramen your own, and more of a complete meal. But, none of those tasty options address the common struggle of making ramen in the microwave. Whether you're in a dorm, or just don't want to wait for some water to boil, there are plenty of ramen enthusiasts who want their instant noodles even faster.
According to businesswire, in 2021, North Americans bought 5.6 billion packages of dried noodles and seasoning packets. That's just North America. They predict there's still room for growth. That number could be 6.4 billion by 2027. Grabbing even a tiny portion of that market by getting ramen into a microwave could be incredibly profitable.
The Sharks' Rapid Ramen Cooker reaction
Chris Johnson's better way to cook ramen began in 2010, according to his company's website. Within a few years, he was invited to "Shark Tank" for the fifth season to show off what he'd come up with — the Rapid Ramen Cooker. It's a microwave-safe, square-shaped bowl that matches the shape of a block of instant ramen. After placing the dried noodles into the bowl, fill it with water to the indicated line, and microwave. The result promises to be perfectly cooked ramen noodles fast, without boiling a pot of water. It could make ramen an even easier food you can cook in a hotel room.
Johnson's visit to "Shark Tank" can be seen on Hulu where there was a ton of respect for his hustle which got his product into 2,500 stores and $164,000 in sales in the prior three months. But, the simple product seemed ripe for being duplicated and undercut by knockoffs. Shark Mark Cuban was quick to deem Johnson a "fool" for his optimistic $3 million valuation. But, Cuban shared Johnson's skepticism about royalty-laden offers from Kevin O'Leary and Robert Herjavec. In the end, Johnson and Cuban agreed to a deal that gave Cuban 20% equity and no royalties.
Rapid Ramen Cooker's rapid growth
Since this 2013 episode, Johnson's company has become Rapid Brands, and the Rapid Ramen Cooker has inspired a lineup of other rapid cookers. The first was the Rapid Mac Cooker, which allows you to cook a box of macaroni and cheese in the microwave. According to Rapid Brands' website, the lineup of microwave cookers based on those first two cookers now includes a Rapid Rice Cooker, Rapid Oatmeal Cooker, a Rapid Brownie Maker, the Rapid Egg Cooker, a Cup Noodle Cooker, and a double-sized Deluxe Ramen Cooker, to name only a portion.
The deal with Shark Mark Cuban doesn't appear to have come to fruition. The Rapid Brands' website never confirms the deal was struck, the Mark Cuban Companies' website has no mention of the Rapid Ramen Cooker, and the Gazette Review also claims the "deal was never finalized." Although after appearing on the show, the company's sales went through the roof.
In an interview for Comstock's Magazine, Johnson states, "I want to help other people's dreams of products and ideas come true." They plan on taking on good ideas and products in exchange for a royalty deal to the inventor. That sounds like a shark in the making.
The original Rapid Ramen Cooker is still an Amazon best seller with almost 25 thousand ratings that average 4.7 out of 5 stars. Maybe it deserves a spot in the museum where you can make your own instant ramen.