FRH: To Salt or Not To Salt: That is the question.

[EasyMre]

I've read a few random comments on articles something to the effect of:

"You should add salt to your water before you mix it with the FRH. The FRH works better and gets hotter."

Can anyone confirm that? True or some comment mysticism?

[Amelieee1]

It speeds up the chemical reaction, only required when the FRH is older

[housil]

Listen to member Rocky Raabs tutorial about FRHs

[EasyMre]

Listen to member Rocky Raabs tutorial about FRHs

This is an awesome video! Thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed his approach to FRH. I've been putting my main entrees inside the FRH. I'll try his approach next time.

[EasyMre]

It speeds up the chemical reaction, only required when the FRH is older

Ah yes! Thanks for letting me know!

[EasyMre]

Listen to member Rocky Raabs tutorial about FRHs

I noticed in the video he has a pre-mix brine solution. I wonder if he preemptively adds the salt solution to each MRE. Do you do something similar or roll the dice and work with whatever FRH comes with the meal without adding salt?

[housil]

I noticed in the video he has a pre-mix brine solution. I wonder if he preemptively adds the salt solution to each MRE. Do you do something similar or roll the dice and work with whatever FRH comes with the meal without adding salt?

Rocky Raab explained, once the FRH got old moisture traveled thru the plastic bag deactivated the magnesium inside. So if the FRH got "old" (~5 years) add salt from the beginning.
But they can get too old so even the salt doesn´t work anymore.

[mikeoverhere]

US heaters are the worst out there. New or not I always add premixed salt water. I often have to use two US heaters since I tend to heat more than one component. Ours still don't get items as hot as foreign FRH's.

[RockyRaab]

Yes, I pre-emptively add a bit of pre-mixed salt brine to the water every time I use an FRH. It can't hurt, it very often helps, and if the FRH is so degraded that even added salt won't help, you'll know it within seconds. As you may have noticed in the lecture, I use an old Visine bottle, which is just about the right amount. A quarter teaspoon of salt, fill the small bottle with water, and keep it in your ration kit bag. (If you should forget and use it in your eyes, that won't hurt anything, either. Your tears are salt water.)

[Smitty]

..Your tears are salt water.

I’ve been sad enough to cry over a Luke warm FRH. Going to remember this tip