KnorrInstant Noodles#37 of 85 in categoryRating 2.7/5

Knorr Korean Ramen Gochujang Chicken Instant Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: High sodium (1944mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (6.6g)
  • Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base
  • Red flag: Palm oil listed

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (9.4g)
  • Green flag: Source of fibre

Ingredients, decoded

27 listed
  • Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)
  • Thickener (1420)
  • Palm Oil / Palmolein
  • Wheat Gluten
  • Potato Starch
  • Iodised Salt
  • Yeast
  • Acidity Regulator (500(i) and 501(i))
  • Texturizer (451(i))
  • Seasoning: Iodised Salt
  • Dehydrated Vegetables (Cabbage, Onion, Ginger)
  • Flavour Enhancer (627 & 631)
  • Milk Solids
  • Potato Starch
  • Spices and Condiments (Chilli Powder (0.8%))
  • Oleoresin Chilli
  • Sugar
  • Maltodextrin
  • Flavours (Nature Identical Flavouring Substances and Natural Garlic Flavour)
  • Anticaking Agent (551)
  • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
  • Dehydrated Vegetables (3.1%): Cabbage
  • Spring Onion
  • Mushroom
  • Broccoli
  • Bell Pepper
  • Zucchini
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CC4

Nutrition per 100 g
CNutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy418 kcal
Protein9.4 g
Carbohydrates65.8 g
Total sugars3.7 g
Added sugars1.4 g
Dietary fibre5 g
Total fat14.1 g
Saturated fat6.6 g
Trans fat0.1 g
Cholesterol0.9 mg
Sodium1944 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Gochujang Chicken, with neither in the pack

Knorr Korean Ramen Spicy Gochujang Chicken is a palm-fried maida noodle with a seasoning led by salt, dried cabbage, onion and ginger, enhancers, milk solids and chilli (0.8%), plus a small sachet of dried vegetables. Neither chicken nor gochujang is listed.

CleanPlate scores it [L]CC4. The [L] is for the name: there is no chicken. The C for nutrition reflects protein and some fibre. The C for ingredients reflects maida, palm oil and enhancers, helped by real vegetables and no colour or TBHQ. The 4 for risk comes from extreme sodium.

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • Product name

    “Spicy Gochujang Chicken”

    Misleading

    No chicken is listed, and no gochujang either; the flavour comes from chilli, flavourings and enhancers.

  • On the pack

    “Korean Ramen with Veggies”

    Holds

    Cabbage, spring onion, mushroom, broccoli, bell pepper and zucchini are listed (3.1%).

How CC4 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
C

Adequate nutrient density

Protein
9.4 g
Fibre
5 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
418 kcal

Scored on eight nutrients (protein, fibre, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, D and zinc), per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
Main fat
Palm Oil / Palmolein
Sweeteners
Sugar, Maltodextrin
Additives
5
Flagged
3 ingredients

Scored on six things: base processing, fat quality, sweeteners, additives, colours and flavours.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
1.4 g
Sodium
1944 mg
Saturated fat
6.6 g
Trans fat
0.1 g

Scored on added sugar, sodium and saturated fat, with a penalty for trans fat.

[L] The name or pack claims promise more than the ingredient list delivers. See Claims vs reality.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

The noodle is maida, a modified starch, palm oil or palmolein, gluten, potato starch, salt, yeast, acidity regulators and a phosphate. The seasoning is salt, dried cabbage, onion and ginger, enhancers 627 and 631, milk solids, potato starch, chilli (0.8%), oleoresin chilli, sugar, maltodextrin, flavourings, anticaking agent and hydrolysed protein. The vegetables (3.1%) are cabbage, spring onion, mushroom, broccoli, bell pepper and zucchini.

Per 100 g: 418 kcal, 14.1 g fat of which 6.6 g saturated, 1944 mg sodium, 1.4 g added sugar, 9.4 g protein and 5 g fibre.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1944 mg per 100 g; 1866 mg in one 96 g pack, 93% of the daily limit.

  • No chickenConcern

    Neither chicken nor chicken flavour is named.

  • Saturated fatWorth watching

    6.6 g per 100 g from palm oil.

  • Real vegetablesFine

    Six dried vegetables.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Gochujang ramen contains gochujang"

Not this one: no gochujang is listed.

Myth: "MSG is what makes instant noodles unhealthy"

Flavour enhancers are not the main issue at food levels. The salt matters far more.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsRarely; use half the seasoning
  • ChildrenRarely
  • High blood pressureAvoid

Smarter ways to eat it

Add real gochujang and chicken

A spoon of gochujang and some shredded chicken with half the sachet delivers the named dish.

Use half the sachet

Season the rest with fresh garlic, chilli, onion and a squeeze of lemon. The flavour stays; a large share of the sodium goes.

Common questions

Is Knorr Korean Ramen Gochujang Chicken Instant Noodles healthy?

Knorr Korean Ramen Gochujang Chicken Instant Noodles scores CC4 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: High sodium (1944mg per 100g); High saturated fat (6.6g); Refined flour (maida) base; Palm oil listed. On the plus side: Source of protein (9.4g); Source of fibre.

What does the CC4 score mean?

The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Knorr Korean Ramen Gochujang Chicken Instant Noodles should I watch?

Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Palm Oil / Palmolein (Palm oil), Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin).

Last reviewed September 29, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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