IMP longetivity?

MR.EMAN · Post by **MR.EMAN** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:33 am

I just got back from obtaining several cases of IMP's all from around 96-97 or so. I've read where they say 3 yrs, and as seeing that these are past that, I'm wondering if anyone has eaten "old" IMP's. If so how old? I'm willing to dig in myself, as I figure there can't be much techological difference in retort packaging from an IMP or MRE, and as seeing I've eaten MRE's well past their project shelflive date, I figure, how bad can it be?

I will get into my own review later on, but for now, I opened one up, and everything looked in good order. Opening the pack I was greeted with the familiar smell of the contents, entree and dessert retort packs do not have any leaks or bulges etc. The bread is still soft, the sugar is still in crystals. So far only the onion soup mix seems to have gotten 'stiff'.

Post by **German_EPA** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:47 am

MR.EMAN wrote:I'm wondering if anyone has eaten "old" IMP's.

ask norge

the shelflife of an imp i similar to the mre - 3 years

as I figure there can't be much techological difference in retort packaging from an IMP or MRE

thats true - some of the imps have the same manufacturer (wornik)

Post by **kman** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:33 am

I can't speak to all the parts of an IMP, but at least for the entrees, I'd expect those to last as long as the MRE entrees I've seen. So easily 3 years but upwards of 15+ years depending on how they're stored.

After 7 years, though, I wouldn't count on using them as my main emergency food supply. I'd still eat them for fun but I just wouldn't want to stake my survival on it.

MR.EMAN · Post by **MR.EMAN** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:20 am

German_EPA wrote: ask norge......................some of the imps have the same manufacturer (wornik)

I've read some of his adventures with older rations. Hopefully he'll chime in. These so far, are by Freddychef. Not sure when they started to get outsourced to Wornick. I remember years ago, Freddychef and Magic Pantry were the 2 suppliers.

kman wrote:I can't speak to all the parts of an IMP, but at least for the entrees, I'd expect those to last as long as the MRE entrees I've seen. So easily 3 years but upwards of 15+ years depending on how they're stored.

After 7 years, though, I wouldn't count on using them as my main emergency food supply. I'd still eat them for fun but I just wouldn't want to stake my survival on it.

These are just for fun. A trip down memory lane, and a bunch of elusive IMP's in stock. I figure this way here I got something to keep me occupied from dipping into my current production stash.

I got one on the go as I type this, so here is a quick rundown. I'll be happy to do a more thorugh review with pics at another time. Up for chow this morning is Sausage and Hash Browns. I've started on the Pineapple tidbits dessert, and the bread. I put the bread in the boiling water for a few minutes to help moisten it. I'd do this with a current issue one, as the IMP bread can be a bit dry.

So far the bread tastes as I remember it. So it has held up well. The pineapple tastes pretty good as well, with a slighlty different taste of a fresher pack. This is from memory only. A bit of a metallic tinge, and slight discoloration, but nothing that tastes smells or looks off. Been several years since I've had a current issue one to compare to.

The entree too, has held up well. Still tastes pretty much as I remember.

Post by **German_EPA** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:32 am

the imps i ate were from 2005 and 2006 (wornick)

buttnut · Post by **buttnut** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:42 pm

I've recently eaten one from 98 with no adverse side effects, looked and tasted as if it were packed yesterday. As long as they were stored properly I wouldn't worry about it. The entree I had was Hungarian Goulash, very tasty. Here's a few pics.

Post by **kman** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:35 pm

buttnut...sorry dude, but as I was reading through this thread, I saw your name and then I saw the first picture you posted...and oh man...I'm sure glad I finished up dinner a while ago. The thought process went something like this:

buttnut
<picture>
wtf!!
oh...it's hungarian goulash from an IMP
whew!

:-)

buttnut · Post by **buttnut** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:00 pm

LOL. Yea, I guess your eyes could play a little trick on you with that first pic, it is kinda nasty looking. It looked much better in reality, the pic does not do it justice.

MR.EMAN · Post by **MR.EMAN** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:17 am

German_EPA wrote:the imps i ate were from 2005 and 2006 (wornick)

The latest IMP I've had were from 01-02.

buttnut wrote: snip..........the pic does not do it justice

Indeed, the Hungarian goulash was a good one to get. Only one better, IMO was the Salisbury steak. IIRC it had the bourbon creme cookies, which were almost impossible to find in stores.

Any parts from the old IMP you did not eat, or found too dodgy? So far I've noticed that the commercial items ie cookies did not fare too well. Everything else seemed good to go.

buttnut · Post by **buttnut** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:36 am

I agree the Salisbury Steak is my all time favorite too but the Scalloped Potatoes & Ham is a close second. I got these from a friend but his kids got to them before me so all the other items were long gone (cookies,chocolate,candy,juice crystals). I ate the fruit pack,bread,PB and jam and they were all fine.

IMP longetivity?

IMP longetivity?

Re: IMP longetivity?