Trader Joe's has been dabbling in making its own house brand globally-inspired noodles, including squiggly knife-cut noodles, which resemble instant ramen. One of the most interesting things about these squiggly noodles is how long it takes for Trader Joe's to make them, making them anything but "instant" to their manufacturer.

The squiggly knife-cut noodles may look like ramen, but pay homage to China’s "dao xiao mian" or "knife-shaven noodles," which are made by cutting long noodles off of thin handmade dough, sometimes directly into boiling water. These noodles are beloved for their chewy texture and pair well with broths, sauces, and stir-fries.

While a chef in China can make knife-shaven noodles in 60 seconds, Trader Joe's takes about 18 hours to make their own squiggly knife-cut noodles. Little information is given as to why, though the company's website says that they let noodles dry for this length of time, which is plausible given that they're completely dehydrated.