Why ramen is so valuable in prison
Instant ramen noodles have become like cash among inmates in the US.
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Cash is illegal in prisons. And that means everything from tuna to stamps to cigarettes have their own unique value in a trade and barter market.
But ramen has quickly taken over as the most in demand products the prison system offers.
Watch this video to see how ramen took over prison economies and why it’s the default item for trade among inmates.
The Goods by Vox explains what we buy, why we buy it, and why it matters.
Watch the rest of The Goods videos on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2PvjHCB
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@Vox
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
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Thanks for watching!
@TerrenceChilds-n6m
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Beef top ramen noodles are the best kind of ramen noodles in earth and we all know it
@coolbeansprogam
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Well how do they get ramen into the prison into the first place?
@kaine7831
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
ohio correctional meals are sub par to put it nicely and trust ramen is not our only way to make ends meet in lock up
@seancrockett896
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Maruchan is better than NISSIN
@Btcmax111
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
What if they served fried rice cheapest in bulk easy to add veggies and protein prob serve 2x calories for half the cost like oil rice are the two cheapest things for calories
@ssassin8072
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Funny. There were tons of Korean kids in my sleepaway camp and ramen was basically gold.
@theshadow1681
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Drug?
@totttrax
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Let me guess its somehow racist
@anactualplant9574
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Stop trying to make me feel bad for prisoners. They get free meals every day. I’m not worried about those chumps
@Killspawn666
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
A basic solution for a basic need, there 3 high selling commissary items: ramen, honey buns, and coffee, I could live without ramen and honey buns but I need coffee everyday, it's a must need item for me
@eobardthawne6903
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
So you compare college inmates with prison kids, really?
@neilbruce123
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
You can live on pinto's and rice.
@neilbruce123
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
hey Goose!
@AdolfKitlar
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
He went to prison and researched for 13 years . Passionate man 😂
@jeffreybodean7300
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
A chicken egg be like gold then.
@The-Long-Haul-Trader
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
It shows how important food is, we waste it while out here…
@Nagroddy
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Prisons have reduced food to inmates NOT to "save money" but rather to give higher profits to the share holders and investors of prison services and prison building industries.
@Procrastination_producst
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Got ramen add afer watching this
@franzpattison
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
I thought smokes were the currency in prison
@kristjanp.6613
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
0:40 ok, who tf first pours water and then throws the brick into the bowl?
@motifity3416
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Interesting how Aramark provides meals for prisons and schools… probably why school food tastes horrible
@letsmakeacomment1649
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
can we lay some foundation here? If you can't own cash, then how are they buying ramen? is there like e prison money account or something?
@Lojahod552
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Nah them jawns .80 cent in the county
@rosieg6989
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Wait I thought this was a B99 joke?
@akita96th
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Moral of the story is don't go to prison.
@elcochino8139
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
2 for 1 store. Used to make bank in jail
@23ezdunks
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
I would cut hair with a razor and comb for two soups in county 😎
@marklandwehr7604
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
When ramen is = to nutrition 😂hahaha hahaha🍝🍜 Spaghetti a carbohydrate is equal to sugar
@fglatzel
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Ramen is disgusting. Poor prisoners…
@kennyboudreaux1657
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Correctional Officer here… I can definitely vouch for Ramen, Cigarettes and Coffee making the prisons go round.
@Fat12219
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
It's good in jail 😂😂
@ghostdog1454
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
Yo got that ramen let’s do this…..
@SmallWhiteJewDick
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
So inhumane 😭
@DanWhite-n3t
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 am
69% of your daily allotment of sodium. And people wonder why they are sick. 👎
Comments are closed.