So it has begun...my first MRE: #12 Veggie Burger

[calixtesaint]

Great review....and welcome to the forum!
Cali

[hOMEr_jAy]

Thanks for the warm welcomes, guys!

I saw (just lat night) on YouTube a guy saying during his review that up to 10 FRHs can be used at once in a well ventilated room??

Yeah, I heard that too, might even be from the same guy you mean. Youtube has quite some good reviews and tips on MREs.
One thing I like about MREs is the variety you get. Btw, I read in "Generation Kill" that the Marines ate their MREs cold because they didn´t have the time to prepare them while on combat missions. Did anyone here ever try eating cold MRE main meals?

For me, the main reason not to use a FRH indoods, is the smell!

Haha, yeah, even outdoors the smell was quite penetrant. I guess Í´ll prepare the meal outside then. Behind our company building we have a quiet spot, and with the (hopefully) good weather preparing the meal shouldn´t be too hard.

[housil]

Did anyone here ever try eating cold MRE main meals?

I eat most of the c-rations back in 1982 cold as I was just too lazy to warm them up. It´s "OK". When ever possible, heat them up, makes them just more delicious.
Sometimes you see "white pices", that´s the clogged fat. It will solute when getting warm.

See:


When cold


when warm (and liquid)



I saw all DVDs about "Generation Kill"

UK SAS were not allowed the heat their rations up as the food smell may give away their position (Falkland War)

[Treesuit]

Yes, I did eat a many of main meals as well as entire entree's cold. This was because I didn't have much time, or it was way too hot outside, or during my early career we didn't have FRH's. Mind you the first time I saw FRH's was just right after Desert Storm. Even them I really don't use them that much as it takes away some of my drinking water that I might need later. I carry some spices with me to the field and use them to enhance the flavour of the main meals.

Heating up MRE"s or not is simply one's preference.

[hOMEr_jAy]

"Everything tastes good when you´re hungry", that statement is just too true. In "Generation Kill" the Marines just ate the MREs cold and didn´t care, atleast they had something to eat (the author says that in the later stages of the invasion their rations were cut down to 1 1/2...not that much, considering the stress and strain they were under..).
The extra need of water is a slight disadvantage, too. I had basic training last summer and we had quite some high temperatures (over 30 degrees Celcius in the shade) and we were glad about every drop of water we got when we were out in the field. Each squad carried a 20l canister, but that wasn´t always enough, so you had to be careful that you won´t waste too much water.

Heating up MRE"s or not is simply one's preference.

Hehe, yeah

[Bypah]

Personally, I eat the MRE's cold....
I tried to do that with a spanish an a french ration entree and.... I eventually nuked the rest of the entrees and the became more palatable....
DON'T try to eat a russian ration cold!!!!!! Nuke'em Chernobyl style and still they taste weird!!!!!

Peace!

[calixtesaint]

At Bypah;
DON'T try to eat a russian ration cold!!!!!! Nuke'em Chernobyl style and still they taste weird!!!!!

lol!
Cali

[Nawt]

Did anyone here ever try eating cold MRE main meals?

...
ow, yes. some of them are good to eat even cold. should look ssome up that I've eaten cold actually.

...

See:



hmm, that's a yummy one. I liked it (especially warm ).
cheers, nawt.

[hOMEr_jAy]

Yeah, Russian rations seem to be odd to eat, from what I read. ^^
Anyway, here´s my 2nd MRE review, this time about the No. 3 Beef Ravioli.
I spent the whole weekend in the barracks and needed something to eat on Friday, so I prepared this MRE. I already had the EPA raviolis which were quite good and wanted to see the American counterpart. I first thought the menus are from 2004 but it seems like I was wrong. After comparing the content of the bags I found some differences so I think they´re from 2006, but I´m not totaly sure about that.
Anyway, here´s the bag:


And the content:


Unlike the 2004 meal it contained kippered beef and some sort of fruit salad. But fortunately it contained crackers and Jalapeno cheese spread
At first I tried the kippered beef. I wasn´t sure about the taste since it looks kinda odd, but I gave it a try and was positively suprised. It was a bit salty but I´m a salt lover so it was just fine for me. A nice little snack and definately good against the "little hunger". Also it´s easy to eat on the move. A bigger portion or a second beef bar would´ve been extremely cool.


Next were the crackers and the cheese spread. The crackers were a bit crumbly but softer than German EPA tank sheets. They tasted a bit like commercial crackers they sell in Germany under the label "Tuc". Adding the Jalapeno cheese spread made them even better and it was a delicious snack. It didn´t look like a 5-star meal but it fills your stomach and was also good. The cheese spread was just right. I ate both crackers and used most of my cheese spread on it but kept some spread for the raviolis.




Next was the fruit mix. Once I opened it it looked like something you could buy in your super market, but since I´m not a fruit lover I gave them to my room mate. After he finished the bag in a few minutes his oppinion was: "Pretty sweet, but also pretty good!". I guess I would swap it for something more "unhealthy" like chocolate or meat, but it seemd to be quite good (if you´re a fruit guy).


Now after I finished the appetizer it was time for the main meal, the raviolis. Once again the heater worked quite well and after about 15 minutes I had a warm meal. It wasn´t too hot but also not too cool, just right. Then, I added the rest of the cheese spread and some Tabasco, to spice it up (although it was pretty warm that day ^^). The ravioli themselves were a bit taste-less. They didn´t taste like much, but the sauce with Tabasco and cheese spread made it a tasty meal. IMO the EPA raviolis are a tad better, but then, the MRE wasn´t bad, so I can´t really complain. ^^


Now there was only the dessert left. In my case it was a fudge brownie. It was also a bit crumbly and I made a little mess with it in my room, but I really have to say it was just delicious. It was extremely sweet so I needed some time to eat it compeletly, but I love sweet chocolate, so I really enjoyed it. Perfect little snack that could make a sucky day in the field a bit more enjoyable!


Also in the bag was coffee, whitener and a tropical drink powder, which I didn´t try but will save and use when I´m out in the field again.Also there´s two pieces of chewing gum, "toilet paper" and other small things.
Conclusion
Pretty good menu. I didn´t like the fruit mix, but you can´t make everyone happy.
The ravioli didn´t have much taste, but the sauce was delicious. The side entrees were fine, especially the dessert, again. Having such a sweet piece of candy in your bag really improves morale, so it´s definatelly a great idea.
I have to see when I´ll open up the 3rd MRE (beef patty), but I´ll defiantely write another review about it.