Friends, today we are going to try instant soups. We have very cheap soups, mid-priced soups, higher-priced soups. We even have variants of these same soups that I found in the supermarket to be very fascinating. And we will try to determine which is the best instant soup, considering its price, its looks and of course its taste. Which one gives us more dehydrated shrimp than the other? Which tastes less like plastic? Which one could feel fuller? And the only requirement for a soup to be able to compete in this competition is that they are cheap or relatively affordable, that can be cooked very quickly and that can be devoured within its own bowl. Are you ready for this microwave food competition? This is going to be tasty, this is going to be succulent. Let's go! (Music) Instant soups Let's start by analyzing their presentation and how many ingredients they include. We're also going to tell you the price of each one. By the way, this is a tribute to instant soup because now in Mexico several of these are about to disappear or they're going to have to change their recipe because the authorities determined that they were not entirely healthy, so they're taking several off the market. So I thought it was a good time to do this tribute before a lot of these, with which many have become attached, they no longer exist, they are no longer sold, they are no longer found. Oh, and clarification, this is not paid mention by any brand. I'm wearing my Maruchan t-shirt. Just because it makes me laugh, okay? I find it hilarious and is is great time to be able to wear it. And well, let's start with the classic of classics. Let's see, I don't know in your countries, but at least here in Mexico this I would say is the most popular, the powerful, the infamous Maruchan! Its price in an average supermarket is about $11.50 mexican pesos, 60 cents on a dollar. Ok, the classic, typical presentation comes lined with its little cardboard that tells us all the information. Now, something that I really don't like about this type of soups, I'm already seeing that not all of them, but many of them. It is that they come in a styrofoam container. Styrofoam, foam...I don't know what you call this material in your countries. It is this plastic material that you make it like this, and it disintegrates into little balls? Not good at all! And it comes lined in another layer of plastic. So, look, it must cause some bad things, right? Another interesting observation, I'm struck by how the soup clearly says, don't put it in the microwave. It even brings a little picture that says, don't put it in the microwave. And everyone puts it in the microwave, it's very normal. In the street stalls that sell you the chips with the Maruchan on top, that exists, I've seen it with my own eyes, they put it in the microwave. They tell you three times on the packaging, three times, don't put it in the microwave and people keep putting it. Let's see, for $11.50 pesos, okay. I'm looking at one, two, three, four, five shrimp, okay? Five dehydrated shrimp, a powder on top of the soup and more dehydrated carrots. But yes, I think the most important thing is the shrimp and I'm looking at five, five little ones. How come they are so small? Is it a specific species of shrimp? Or will it be a baby shrimp? Like they are born, and guess what? You are going into the Maruchan! In a moment we will cook them and see them in more detail, let's go with the next one. Next challenger, equally popular, is the $10.50 pesos Nissin soup. $50 cents of a dollar. Wow, $10 pesos! In this price range, one peso is 10%. So it's a significant price difference. The cardboard, the traditional presentation and something that is very interesting is that it says that it includes a packet of sauce. Ah, so it's cheaper and comes with sauce. Now that's interesting. Oh, by the way, I grabbed all the soups of similar flavors. All of them are like spicy shrimp, except for the ones that there was nothing similar, but so that we take these parameters into account. Likewise, it is a styrofoam container. Ah, this one... I'm seeing that even though it's in styrofoam, it doesn't specify that it can't be put in the microwave. What's going on? What's going on? Let's take a look at the inside. Wow, they weren't lying! Here's the sauce package. A small package, "La botaneta" And this one I'm seeing what it brings... Well, no, it's just that this one has less shrimp. I'm seeing like a siamese shrimp, like it's one shrimp attached to another. And like two tails, I mean, it's... Well, let's leave it at two and a half shrimp, to be honest. Also bring pieces of dried chili. And this... Oh, look, this is also important. I can only see that the Maruchan has carrots. And this one includes peas and corn. Oh! Let's see, I guess the extra weight of the maruchan comes from the extra shrimp it brings, I guess. This one, well, is not bad either. I think the sauce makes up for it. It also smells remarkably much spicier, obviously because of the chilis it comes with and so on. It costs less and I think it comes with more things. To be determined. Next one! We've got, this is the cheapest of them all. Really, this one it cost $8 mexican pesos, $40 cents of a dollar. It's the Great Value brand soup. It is the supermarket's patent-free brand. It's the one they sell at Walmart, Aurrera, etc. Let's see, how many shrimp does it bring? Will it bring one, half, one-quarter baby shrimp? Oh, wait! It does come with the microwave warning, ok? Yes, it does. Here it is, don't heat. Yes, it does. These three, by the way, have all been of equal weight, okay? 64 grams, that's what they all weigh. It is the standard of soups. Let's take a look inside. Ah! OMG, this doesn't have any pasta! What is this? No, no, no, what is this? Is this all the pasta in the soup? No, I know why it's so cheap. What is this? No! Walmart Great Value, we demand an explanation. It's not a lie, look. This is all the it pasta has, the rest is the shrimp and so on. It can't be, at least these are full, or... Yeah, they're pretty full. Or do they only have a small portion in the bowl? No, no! Obviously this one has more noodles, I feel it's full! What is this thing? That's why it's so cheap, why it's so affordable. But hey, in shrimp... Oh! It's surprising, huh? It's surprising. One, two, three, four, five shrimp! What is this? A buffet at the Intercontinental Hotel? This is the pinnacle of success in instant shrimp, I'm telling you right now. Five shrimp, it has some herbs, it has some dehydrated carrot and that's it. No sauce packet, no chili. It's okay but there are very few noodles. What is this thing? Next one! And this is the most expensive of them all. Look at this! Veggie soup for 23 Mexican pesos, one dollar and 15 cents. No way, it costs twice as much as the maruchan, almost three times as much as the very cheap one equipped with shrimp. Let's see why. Let's see, this promises to be a fitter option, ok? It kind of feeds you better. And it comes in a cardboard cup, ok? That seems more sensible to me. Let's take a look at the inside of the content. Ah, ok. Let's see, this is super interesting, wow. It appears to be very little soup, really, very little soup. But it's because it's like a different kind of noodle. Ah, well, sure! Well, as the name suggests, of course, they are all vegetables, not pasta! Ah, wow, this is so interesting. It's vegetable paste. Surely with water it is inflated much more. This is very curious, very interesting. I see there as dehydrated corn, like zucchini, carrot. Wow, interesting option. Next one, next one! Knorr soup! This one is also expensive, at least within our category. It costs 15 mexican pesos, 75 cents of a dollar. Comes in a cardboard cup, microwave safe, ok! These cups specify it, they clarify it, they are microwave safe. And why will it go up in price so much? Let's see, we're talking about a 50% price increase. If we compare, for example, with the Nissin. Could it be that it has a lot more shrimp, more pasta? The weight is the same, 64 grams. Let's see! So, at least here, with the naked eye, I'm seeing one, two, three shrimp. But maybe the others are hiding on the bottom. No! This is what it has, 3 shrimp! No way, what? Why is it so expensive? I don't understand. Let's see, it has peas, it has carrots, it's okay. But the Nissin too, right? And Nissin even has a sauce. It even seems that Nissin is paying me, no, not really. It's not like that, that's not the case. But it is the one with the most shrimp and everything, even sauce. What's going on? Why is this one so expensive? We will be trying it. And let's move on to our alternatives with something that is striking, that is different. This one here, Ottogi, costs 17 mexican pesos, 85 cents of a dollar. This is the only one that comes out of the category because it does not bring a bowl as such. But, it seemed interesting to me to put it in so that it has variety. This is remarkably more expensive, but why is it? Oh well, let's see, no, there is no mystery. It brings a lot more noodles and it has two packets of shrimp flavor powder seasoning. Ok, it comes more complete, but it does not bring shrimp as such, I mean, there is shrimp powder but they are not shrimp as such. Yeah, no, this is just herbs. Wow, interesting. We will have to analyze why it is more expensive, besides the fact that it is bigger. I mean, these all have 60 grams and this one has 120. So, starting there, it makes sense. And now, yakisoba and maruchan bowl. These are interesting because, let's see, they are much bigger. This makes sense, this costs 20 mexican pesos, one dollar. It raise the price remarkably. So it is understood why it is big. But this, the maruchan yakisoba, has a price of 12 Mexican pesos, 60 cents a dollar. And it has double, it has 120 grams, 113 to be more specific. Let's analyze them, okay? Let's see, you remove the wrap and it is a plastic bowl that you can put in the microwave, okay? And inside, wow, this comes much more complete. It has many more noodles, it has its seasoning and its vegetable sachet. It is much more complete and for the same price! Or did I find it at a discount? Did it lower its price due to the current situation? I don't know, I'm surprised, I'm fascinated. And maruchan bowl, which is much more expensive, 20 pesos, it brings, let's see, not even 100 grams, 94 grams it says it has. And let's analyze. It's very similar, it's just a bowl with a lot more pasta, seasoning, sachet of vegetables. This one brings 1, 2, this one brings many more shrimp. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 baby shrimp, I'm counting. Well, let's pour hot water on them, let's wait for them to be ready and we come to the conclusion of tournament of instant soups. The preparation instructions were followed, this thing smells delicious. Let's try the 12 pesos Maruchan. Soft noodles, it smells very good. It's what it is, it's a maruchan. I feel that the flavor of the noodles is very present and the flavor of the shrimp is not very present. Nor the chili it claims to have. It feels a little spicy, but that's all. Very, very light, very, very light. Let's see its closest opponent, the Nissin. Let's see it, I'm curious if they do taste different or if all the soups really have the same flavor. I won't add the sauce to be as fair as possible. Simply with what our bowl has, well, our styrofoam cup. Well, I would say it is the same flavor, maybe it only changes the consistency of the noodles. This one feels softer, like I don't have to chew it to loosen it up. You just stick it to the roof of your mouth and it dissolves. The maruchan feels a little more consistent and this one does feel a little more spicy due to the fact that it has dehydrated chilies. Now, the one that makes me most curious is the very cheap one, the Great Value one. 8 pesos! I mean, how is it possible that a meal, a soup, can be sold for 8 pesos? This is not believable, it is not possible. Let's see. The noodle looks whiter, paler. Oh no, the flavor is non-existent, I am eating noodles with water, period. Let's see, there is the presence of the shrimp and others, but I don't know if... I don't know if it's because of the lack of seasoning, I don't know. But no, no, no, it lacks a lot of flavor. At what point do you dare to say that it is chili flavor? I mean, that it has piquin chili. It's not spicy at all, it's really not... It is just water with noodles, period. Let's go now with the most expensive of these, which really falls into the same category. The one from Knorr, shrimp with spicy chili. These four are the same category, same flavor, same presentation. Let's see how it is, for starters, this one, the smell is much more evident, okay? It smells a lot like shrimp, it smells like a lot like fish shop. In these ones... well, not really, I couldn't say that I perceive the shrimp. And this one, well, it does feel more reddish, let's see how it tastes. Oh look, wow, it does feel... Oh, It's much spicier, wow! You can feel the chili in this one. And it does taste a lot more like ocean, it does taste like shrimp, that essence much more. Yes, I would say that it is the one that tastes the most real of the four. I don't know, have you tried them all? Does any taste better than the other? They are very similar, these two really taste very, very similar. The maruchan, the Nissin, this one is bad, the Great Value one, is just bad. And this one, wow, it even left a good taste in my throat. Very tasty, a tasty spiciness. Let's see, the most expensive of all, the vegetable one. Oh! This one costs 23 pesos. Well, this is another category entirely. I thought they were going to be like vegetable noodles. But no, look, they are just pieces of dehydrated vegetable. Well, it is a vegetable soup. Let's see how it is. Well, well, let's see. I mean, it is not the same category, it is the same style of dish. But this does taste like it is nourishing you much more. It tastes a little more like your grandmother's food. Let's see, obviously not the same seasoning and everything. But it is something like that. Yes, it feels very different, the soup feels more substantial. If we could call it that. And better, but different. Yes, it is not the same category. The one that is, in a way, the same category is the the Maruchan Bowl, which also claims to be shrimp, lemon and chili, okay? Ah, look, in this one we do appreciate much more food. But obviously it is bigger, it is more expensive. Let's see how the flavor is. I imagine it's the same as this one. I mean, it's like... just like if you put two of these on a bowl. But let's see if something changes. The fact that it had the seasoning separate and so on. Yes, you don't perceive as much this smell of ocean or shrimp as I was telling you on this one, on the Knorr one. This one is spicier because it has a different flavor. This is piquín chile, this is habanero chile, so it's obviously spicier. But in itself, the noodles and everything else is the same. Yeah, completely the same. There are two of these in one and that's it. What I imagine is different is the yakisoba. From its presentation and so on. It has a little more of vegetables. And the impressive thing is that it costs the same. That's the curious thing. I repeat, I don't know if it was on sale or what. But it cost me, I think, 50 cents more than the little one. In this one I think even the noodles are different. Or at least I perceive it differently. Let's see, this one is chicken, is something else. But it feels a little tastier. And let's see how it is the oldest sister of them all. Or at least the most complicated to cook. The 17 pesos Ottogi. Let's see if it tastes different in something. Well, the seasoning is slightly better. It does tastes more like a seafood soup. It is chewed with more consistency. But yes, it doesn't feel like a filling meal either, like a meal that you say, after this I'm going to feel strong and want to work. Well, not really. At least that is my humble opinion. Well, the winner of all. Considering the price, considering the taste, considering everything. I would say that the winner is... The Knorr soup! Knorr soup of shrimp with chili. Congratulations, it is the winner. It is funny because, it was the one with the least shrimp. As I remember, it was the one with the least shrimp. I think its key is in the powder they put on top. In fact, it did feel more powdery compared to the others. I think that's the key. That it tastes better despite having less. Maybe that's where the price goes. Where the five more pesos go. In the powder or I don't know. Other than that, well, look. I'm going to stay with the classic one, with the maruchan. Merely because I think it is the most common flavor. The one we are most familiar with. That our palate has already gotten used to. And after these we have all the others. You tell me. Are you soup consumers? Which ones do you usually like the most? And I want to add a comment! Friends, friends. Let's try not to eat these things a lot, really don't. They are not good. Let's see, not that it's the worst. It's better than eating maybe a chocolate. Maybe. But yeah, it doesn't mean it's a good food. It is cheap. But how much will it fill you? And how many of these do you have to eat? Yes, no, no. It's not good food at all. So, if you like them, really, if you enjoy the flavor. Try to eat it as a treat. Like a guilty pleasure, like, I like it, I eat one every week, right? As a reward. But eat it every day as lunch? I wouldn't recommend it, I don't know, I'm clearly not a fit guy or anything, but that's what I think, okay? Well, with that we conclude this quality tasting of instant soups. I hope you liked it, I hope you found it entertaining. Leave me your opinions down here in the comments. What is your favorite soup? Did I miss any? Any important information that I missed? Leave it down here in the comments. Thank you for joining me, as always, I'll see you in a few days with a new video. Goodbye sweetie soup.
