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rebel_chick
08-26-2009, 07:59 PM
Does anyone know how to dehydrate liquid such as coffee or beef stew? Was thinking about homemade MREs and how do they dehydrate those things? Like instant coffee is dehydrated already made coffee. Anybody with any ideas?

Also anyone know what they put in the military MREs to make them last so long?

AND-does anyone have any ideas on how to store them? They make a handi-vac with ziploc bags for storage but I have heard from people that they don't keep very long.

Rick
08-26-2009, 08:14 PM
Actually, they are neither dehydrated nor freeze dried. That's why they are ready to eat.
We actually have a sticky on MRE's:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/showthread.php?t=165&highlight=MREs

Here is some additional info:

http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/mres.html

And some more on shelf life.

http://www.aaoobfoods.com/Sopakcoinfo.htm

I have no idea what makes them shelf stable for so long. I suspect they are radiated. They are already shelf stable so you don't have to do anything to store them.

COWBOYSURVIVAL
08-26-2009, 08:16 PM
So far as coffee I would think the cans it is purchased in is as good as it gets. But I could be wrong...I know one thing I need to stock up...Got to have my coffee or is it the rest of the world needs to make sure I have my coffee, hmmmmmmmmm???

rebel_chick
08-26-2009, 08:18 PM
O I see, well I will do some more research then, thanks Rick. And I think you are right, they are radiated.

I am sorry if I wasn't supposed to start another thread, just had a few questions.

rebel_chick
08-26-2009, 08:21 PM
So far as coffee I would think the cans it is purchased in is as good as it gets. But I could be wrong...I know one thing I need to stock up...Got to have my coffee or is it the rest of the world needs to make sure I have my coffee, hmmmmmmmmm???

OMG I need to make sure david has his coffee, he will already go nuts without smoking!!! I think we are just going to stock up on the instant single packs!

Rick
08-26-2009, 08:37 PM
No problem at all.

If you are talking about the coffee bags, then cost wise, you'll be better off with cans I think and it won't go stale as quick.

SARKY
08-26-2009, 09:08 PM
you can also get the instant coffee packets which fit quite nicely in your BOB

pocomoonskyeyes
08-26-2009, 10:04 PM
So far as coffee I would think the cans it is purchased in is as good as it gets. But I could be wrong...I know one thing I need to stock up...Got to have my coffee or is it the rest of the world needs to make sure I have my coffee, hmmmmmmmmm???

No doubt which it is when it comes to me. I would be so grumpy and hateful without it that someone would shoot me for sure, just to get me out of their misery!!

crashdive123
08-27-2009, 03:01 PM
You people and your coffee......Personally, I can't stand the stuff.

Rick
08-27-2009, 03:04 PM
http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q348/safe_zone/coffee09.jpg


http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q348/safe_zone/laughing.gif

You funny navy man.

oldsoldier
08-27-2009, 07:16 PM
I've no idea what makes them shelf stable for so long. I suspect they are radiated. They are already shelf stable so you don't have to do anything to store them.[/QUOTE]

You are correct Rick MRE's are made/packaged right here in Evansville. A friend who works there told me that the contents of the main entree's are exposed to a "kind of radiation" then packaged and treated to a "extremely high temperature" water bath after they are sealed to remove any remaining bacteria. As for storage cool temps.= longer shelf life.

rebel_chick
08-27-2009, 08:00 PM
You people and your coffee......Personally, I can't stand the stuff.

O me too! It is nasty! I can't see how people can drink it. I was just using it as an example for what i was looking to do. LOL

crashdive123
08-27-2009, 08:12 PM
O me too! It is nasty! I can't see how people can drink it. I was just using it as an example for what i was looking to do. LOL

I'm sorry Rebel Chick. Sometimes humor is difficult with a keyboard. Being a retired Navy guy - I do like my coffee. I have cut back since I retired though. Now I only dring about 10 to 18 cups a day.

Rick
08-27-2009, 11:21 PM
It's true! Crash didn't walk anywhere while at the jamboree. He just sort of vibrated from place to place.

rebel_chick
08-30-2009, 08:05 PM
LOL I should have known that by now. I truly hate the stuff tho.

crashdive123
08-30-2009, 08:19 PM
Try it out of a bowl sometime. You'll come around.

rebel_chick
08-30-2009, 08:30 PM
A bowl? care to elaborate?

crashdive123
08-30-2009, 08:35 PM
Sometimes coffe justs tastes better out of a bowl. Especially when you're visiting a country where all they have are those little tiny cups. A word of caution though - people will stare.

rebel_chick
08-30-2009, 08:37 PM
LOL ok, well I will keep that in mind next time I want to try it again.

Rick
08-30-2009, 10:34 PM
Tip the bowl and sip. If you leave it on the ground and try to drink they will not only stare they will probably call the local mental health department.

rebel_chick
08-30-2009, 10:36 PM
LOL, Isn't that what happens to most survivalist anyway? I have noticed that most people think that we are crazy anyway.

Rick
08-30-2009, 10:39 PM
Well, for me, the white coat with the arms in back is a sure give away.

rebel_chick
08-30-2009, 10:45 PM
haha, how exactly do you survive in a padded room??????

crashdive123
08-30-2009, 10:47 PM
Very carefully.

http://www.sprayblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/fortner-05_padlock-pete-in-the-padded.jpg

rebel_chick
08-30-2009, 10:48 PM
Now Crash, it isn't nice to put the crazy pics of Rick where everyone can make fun of him!

Rick
08-30-2009, 11:12 PM
Ooh. Look. Butterflies.

finallyME
08-30-2009, 11:22 PM
Like rebel chick, I can't stand coffee. I almost gag when I walk past the coffee isle in the store.

hoosierarcher
08-31-2009, 01:22 AM
"I've always been crazy it keeps me from goin' insane."

canid
08-31-2009, 12:03 PM
...or is it the rest of the world needs to make sure I have my coffee, hmmmmmmmmm???


it's the later. i feel you all the way. i can live without my coffee and tobacco, but it would be a rather lonely life, after everybody kicked me to the curb.

rebel_chick
08-31-2009, 08:00 PM
I do need the caffine but I don't go crazy I just get really bad headaches. My bf being a truck driver and all loves his coffee. I used to get so mad at him, every ten miles of going somewhere we needed to stop for coffee. Then a potty break and coffee. He has slowed down a lot but geez, I wonder what the world would be like with out coffee...hmmm

Rick
08-31-2009, 09:03 PM
A lot like this...

http://www.godofhellfire.co.uk/images/covers/crazyworld.jpg

rebel_chick
08-31-2009, 10:18 PM
LOL yup, that pretty much shows it all!