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Going away to college means sampling microwave- and hot-plate-ready culinary delicacies from all over the globe. Two classics when funds are low: ramen and ravioli. Which reigns supreme?

Category: Savory

Maruchun Beef
Ramen Noodles
Chef Boyardee Beef Mini-Ravioli

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Appearance: A hard block of noodles in an nondescript shade of ivory.

Appearance: Plump, ground beef-filled little pasta squares covered with deep red sauce.

Stats: $1 for 3; calories: 292; fat: 13.1 g.

Stats: About $1.50 per can; calories: 232; fat: 8 g.

Taste: Ramen pack consists of mostly tasteless noodles and copious quantities of sodium. Once the noodles have been soaked in a water and seasoning mixture, and microwaved into submission, the stringy, globby noodles become almost edible.



Taste: Hearty, soulful and reminiscent of the poor, struggling masses of Italy. Every element is perfection: the tender, chewy pasta, the wonderfully seasoned ground beef, and then, of course, that sauce that perfectly straddles the line between a heap of salt and fresh-cut tomatoes.

Downside: Though we quite enjoy the no-frills taste of Ramen, the salt content makes us wonder how anyone lives to eat another bite of this mystery pasta.
Downside: The bite-size nature of the ravioli moves the dish from Mediterranean delicacy to Spaghetti-O territory.

Our pick: Ravioli. For any adventurous young lady climbing the walls of her ivory tower, this is surely the way to go. We recommend pairing the pasta with a bottle of aged Chianti.