MRE's

[Jendeere]

Jendeere - If you haven't figured it out we're all about storing what the family will eat. Most of us anyway. If they eat Mountain House, good for you. Just don't spend a small fortune on foods that no one will like. It will just add one more misery to your predicament. And don't forget to add in some comfort food. If you have kids then marshmallows or something similar could be a real treat in a bad situation. Food is a good way to lift the spirits.

Rick, I agree completely with you. I am all about stockpiling my pantry and couponing for the best deals on things we do eat. I just meant for long term food storage that is what I am storing.

[Rick]

So did I. No one will be very happy if they are used to eating bacon sandwiches at night then are forced to eat rice cakes during a disaster. You want to plan your long term storage with items everyone will eat. If everyone likes Mountain House, that's great. Nothing wrong with it. i happen to like some of their entrees.

If you wind up in a shelter some place or out in the desert then having something you enjoy to eat will help make the experience a little better. And the comfort food will give a lift to the spirits in an otherwise bad situation. Keeping a positive mental outlook in a bad situation is essential to surviving it.

[toughsord]

my uncle is in the army and often gets all the extra mre's when he comes home. great for over night fishing trips

[ncffp163]

I'm just surprised no one's pulled out references to Meals Rejected by Ethiopians, or MR. E...

"Meals Refusing to Exit"

[TangoFoxtrot]

Does anyone purchase MRE's to keep on hand? I have been looking at them online and even on ebay they seem to be very expensive.

WOW MRE's Make sure you drink planty of water with them. They use to bind me up something terrible.

[Nath1985]

I use pack' n' go MRE. There endorced by some famous explorer guy.

Two that I have atm are lamb with palif, and beef shepherds pie. Havent tryed them yet, mite do a review on "mre taste" lol

[Trabitha]

Thats the route I am thinking also,much cheaper to buy a dehydrater and food saver and do it yourslf I think

I agree, Nell. We're making 3 serving soup packs that accommodate our own tastes. Just add water to the spice packs, rice, and dried veggies and there ya go! We're vacuum sealing them and storing them. They're great for hiking/camping trips IMO. Fast, easy, take up little room, and well...I like soup! LOL!

Side note:
Military MRE's sold on line are usually sold in pieces because the seller has already cherry picked what he/she wants to keep. They also have an expiration date IF they are stored properly...and we can't know how they were stored. The military MRE will contain the right amount of calories per pouch...usually you can get away with stretching one meal into 2 because of it's calories. Store bought packs don't have ENOUGH calories in them. Three packs that can run about 6.00+ each...have barely enough calories to get you through a day.
Just an FYI on that one if no one touched on it already...

[Rick]

You might be interested in A-Pak meals, then. They are an MRE manufacturer for the military. The A-Pak is their civilian version and you order direct from the manufacturer.

http://www.readymeal.com/

[Trabitha]

Great! Thanks again, Rick!

[crashdive123]

Trabitha - The date on MRE's are the "born on date" not the expiration date.

[Durtyoleman]

I ate mre's when I was in the army 20+ years ago (before the added heater packs and as they came out). They we edible. Taste was not a major concern after a 20 mile hike with full pack but they were better than a feast of grubs...lol. Most were not too bad and we did alot of tradeing of portions of the packets, some wanted the dried fruit others the meat ect but it worked. Even the folgers coffee was a welcome change after a day of just water.
D.O.m.

[Trabitha]

Trabitha - The date on MRE's are the "born on date" not the expiration date.

I know, but if you do the math on an MRE stored in perfect condition, you find it's estimated expiration. Like I said, you don't know how they've been stored or handled when you purchase them. Like beer, the "born on date" can give you a lot of insight on the shelf life.

That site that Rick posted is a great option. One MRE can be eaten per day to "survive", but if you're hoofn' it 2 is more than sufficient. Not to mention their prices are really good.

[linkmissing]

Right now Emergency Essentials has a special for 21 main course pack for $35.99

[crashdive123]

Right now Emergency Essentials has a special for 21 main course pack for $38.99

Thanks for the heads up. Since your link is missing, here's one you should try. http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...splay.php?f=14

[Beans]

On a training excrise in 1963 the USMC issued us Assault Rations that had been canned in 1944.

Everything inside was ok to eat except of the largest Tootie roll I have ever seen. We were advised to toss that as it was wormy.

It even had a full pack of Lucky Strikes Cigerettes. I gave them away since I didn't smoke. I understood even they were ok to smoke.

[Alec_end]

There is a really good Army surplus near where is live and the guy that runs it is an ex-aemy officer. He has real ary MREs for sale for $45 each so about $40 U.S for a whole days wouth of combat rations.

[beetlejuicex3]

We did a review of MREs on *****************our survival blog recently. In short they taste as good as most alternatives but they don't last as long as conventionally thought (only 1-5 years) and when you look at their calories per weight, per volume and per $ there are better alternatives for short term food rationing. For longer term items, freeze dried foods last much longer though they ar slightly more expensive than MREs.

One exception, if you can get your hands on any first strike rations, do so.

Greenbeetle

[beetlejuicex3]

Here's a handy MRE storage life chart:

(based on taste testing at U.S. Army's NATIC Research Laboratories)
Temperature (Fahrenheit)..100...90...85...80...75....70....60
Storage Life in Months........22...55...60...76...88..100...130+

Hey Rick,

Im not sure that shelf-life chart is up to date. Apparently the newer MRE storage life is much lower. Check this out at MREInfo.com and let me know what you think.

greenbeetle

[Rick]

Yeah, looks like a lot has changed in three years since I posted that. The new chart comes from Readymeal and they are a supplier so that new chart is good in my book. Thanks!!!

[huntermj]

There is a really good Army surplus near where is live and the guy that runs it is an ex-aemy officer. He has real ary MREs for sale for $45 each so about $40 U.S for a whole days wouth of combat rations.

Is that 40.00 per meal?
You should be able to buy a case of 12 for 80.00 delivered.