PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for drying instant noodles capable of producing excellent non-fry noodles free from binding between noodle lines, easy to be loosed, and uniformly recoverable, and capable of preventing the noodle lines from popping out of retainer during the drying process.SOLUTION: Provided is a method for drying instant noodles comprising a step of throwing in α-modified noodle lines into retainer and a step of blowing a high speed air flow to the noodle lines within the retainer from above the retainer, characterized in that, to the opening of the retainer, a detachable cylindrical ring having an opening of substantially same shape and size as the opening of the retainer is mounted, and the high speed air flow is provided as an air flow at air velocity, to which the noodle lines within the retainer are exposed, of 60 m/s or more, to dry the noodle lines as if they are dancing in the retainer, preferably as if they are in a floatation agitation state.COPYRIGHT: (C)2015,JPO&INPIT【課題】 本発明は、麺線同士の結着がなく、ほぐれやすく、均一に復元性できる優れたノンフライ麺を得ることを目的とし、その乾燥工程中に麺線がリテーナから飛び出さないようにする。【解決手段】 リテーナにα化処理した麺線を投入し、該リテーナの上方からリテーナ内の麺線に高速の気流を吹き付ける工程を含む、即席麺の乾燥方法であって、前記リテーナの開口部に、該開口部と略同形同大の開口部を有する筒状の着脱自在なリングを取り付け、前記高速の気流が、リテーナ内の麺線がさらされる風速として60m/s以上の気流として、麺線がリテーナ内で踊るように、好ましくは浮遊撹拌状態として乾燥させる即席麺の乾燥方法。【選択図】なし