U.S. MREs

[Schokakola]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meal,_Ready-to-Eat

^

The Wikipedia entry mentions there are 24 different meals and 150 additional side items, which ensures a better variety than in previous U.S. rations.

Is there a list of what these items are? Are the 150 additional items just different components available in the MREs?

Is it legal to own MREs? I think there is some confusion, as the packaging mentions that they are not for resale, but does that only apply to our servicemen and women reselling them? Are they not eligible to be sold legally to the public like other surplus items?

What is the legality on owning recreation rations? What about recreation rations from other countries?

[rationtin440]

The way it was explained to me, years ago, by a friend of mine who served in the U.S. Army CID (as he termed it,"glorified detectives"), was like this: a soldier cannot take a case of MREs to a flea market and sell the case or individual complete MREs while in or out of uniform on a drill weekend or active duty, on or off duty, because they are military property, but he can GIVE MREs to his civilian friends if he tears open the outer pouch and gives them the inner contents in their pouches......pretty bizarre, but hey so was the pentagon's psychic warfare program!

[dirtbag]

And the "Law" against selling does not apply to Buying, so...
Buy em wherever you can!

[Schokakola]

And the "Law" against selling does not apply to Buying, so...
Buy em wherever you can!

I would buy them, but I have read that those sold on eBay and elsewhere tend to be close to their expiration dates.

Does anyone know how long an MRE is designed to last?

If the components are taken out of the MRE labeled pouch they come in, yet remain in their individual packages, does that decrease their shelf life? Is it true that the packages are coated with rat repellant or is that a myth? Was that just the outside package or the interior ones as well?

Does the flameless ration heater sufficiently heat a package or would it be better to get a canteen cup and maybe a Nesbit stove to heat rations upon?

If you are going to recreate your own rations, are there proven methods to get a similar shelf life to an authentic MRE?

Is the lemon poppy seed pound cake dessert any good?

Are mixing and matching components acceptable or will that alter the nutritional value that each MRE is designed to have.

For example if you swapped a dessert in one MRE with another, would that make a difference nutritionally or are they all of comparable nutritional value?

How is the plastic bag beverage container supposed to work for hot drinks like coffee?

As you can see, I have a ton of questions about MREs.

[housil]

I would buy them, but I have read that those sold on eBay and elsewhere tend to be close to their expiration dates.

This is nonsense as MREs don´t have an expiring date.
Ebay had to close those auctions due to the complaints of "officials" as "resale is unlawful"

Does anyone know how long an MRE is designed to last?

Please read about "shelf live" ->over here<-

If the components are taken out of the MRE labeled pouch they come in, yet remain in their individual packages, does that decrease their shelf life? Is it true that the packages are coated with rat repellant or is that a myth? Was that just the outside package or the interior ones as well?

Does the flameless ration heater sufficiently heat a package or would it be better to get a canteen cup and maybe a Nesbit stove to heat rations upon?

If you are going to recreate your own rations, are there proven methods to get a similar shelf life to an authentic MRE?

Is the lemon poppy seed pound cake dessert any good?

Are mixing and matching components acceptable or will that alter the nutritional value that each MRE is designed to have.

For example if you swapped a dessert in one MRE with another, would that make a difference nutritionally or are they all of comparable nutritional value?

How is the plastic bag beverage container supposed to work for hot drinks like coffee?

As you can see, I have a ton of questions about MREs.

You are right, tons of questions...
Use the "search" as all your questions are already answered in previously postings and if a dessert is any good - give it a try. That´s how we do it

[Unimproved]

And the "Law" against selling does not apply to Buying, so...
Buy em wherever you can!

I would buy them, but I have read that those sold on eBay and elsewhere tend to be close to their expiration dates.

Does anyone know how long an MRE is designed to last? They are designed to last at least 3 years. But as long as they aren't stored at very high (30C+) temperatures they'll last more than 10 years.

If the components are taken out of the MRE labeled pouch they come in, yet remain in their individual packages, does that decrease their shelf life? Is it true that the packages are coated with rat repellant or is that a myth? Was that just the outside package or the interior ones as well? Nobody really knows, you'd need a few decades to test it. The rat repellent is is a myth, there has been no official information about it.

Does the flameless ration heater sufficiently heat a package or would it be better to get a canteen cup and maybe a Nesbit stove to heat rations upon?
The FRH is fine to just heat a meal, but Esbit is always better.

If you are going to recreate your own rations, are there proven methods to get a similar shelf life to an authentic MRE?
Buying components from civilian MRE sellers?

Is the lemon poppy seed pound cake dessert any good?
You have to sample everything at least once. I can't say more since I've only found those damn carrot cakes.

Are mixing and matching components acceptable or will that alter the nutritional value that each MRE is designed to have.
Depends on how you do it. Each MRE has multiple "groups": Main meal (+side), Bread/crackers and spread and snacks.

For example if you swapped a dessert in one MRE with another, would that make a difference nutritionally or are they all of comparable nutritional value?
Depends on the dessert, a cherry cobbler has more calories than a bag of skittles.

How is the plastic bag beverage container supposed to work for hot drinks like coffee?
Nobody knows.
As you can see, I have a ton of questions about MREs.

[dirtbag]

Lots of MRE's for sale on ebay.....

[RockyRaab]

Regarding the hot beverage bag, it is possible to get an entree and a hot beverage bag inside the packing sleeve to heat both at once, if you make only six ounces of coffee. You could also wrap both in a towel or something instead of the cardboard sleeve. Even then, the FRH only heats to about 130°F, so your coffee/cocoa will be lukewarm at best.

I only use the FRH when I'm eating an MRE in my fishing boat. If I'm on land, I use my Swedish mess kit/cooker with its alcohol stove. Heat the entree and side dish in boiling water, then use the water to make my hot drink. Ahhhh luxury!

[Schokakola]

So really what you wise folks are telling me is that what I really need to do is go out and purchase a ton of different MREs and then have a taste testing field day thread, with lots of pictures and opinionated statements in regards to preparation ease and flavor?

I like that idea!

If you order all 24 MREs currently in production, does that ensure that I will receive those 150 side items as well or would it be better to purchase every little thing separately?

What should I expect to pay for these MREs? I figure that a thousand dollars or so spent now, to find out what all I like is better than buying a bunch of stuff that I might not like down the road.

I am very interested in food storage, just as a general rule, as my grandparents and so on before them for generations always made sure that they had ample food stores available to them at all times, just incase disaster struck. I feel compelled to do the same and while I have literally thousands of ordinary canned goods, MREs are completely different and longer lasting.

What is this about carrot cake? That is my favorite dessert. I want to try that one.

What about the rations of foreign countries? The Japanese Imperial Ration from WW2 sounds like the ration I would be the most pleased to receive if I were a Soldier.

I have seen things like canned hamburgers, which sounds like it would be a cruel tease to anyone far away from home in a fox hole, wanting a taste of Americana and thinking he has it, until he actually tries it.

I am sensing an interesting thread to come.

[Unimproved]

So really what you wise folks are telling me is that what I really need to do is go out and purchase a ton of different MREs and then have a taste testing field day thread, with lots of pictures and opinionated statements in regards to preparation ease and flavor?

I like that idea!

If you order all 24 MREs currently in production, does that ensure that I will receive those 150 side items as well or would it be better to purchase every little thing separately?

What should I expect to pay for these MREs? I figure that a thousand dollars or so spent now, to find out what all I like is better than buying a bunch of stuff that I might not like down the road.

I am very interested in food storage, just as a general rule, as my grandparents and so on before them for generations always made sure that they had ample food stores available to them at all times, just incase disaster struck. I feel compelled to do the same and while I have literally thousands of ordinary canned goods, MREs are completely different and longer lasting.

What is this about carrot cake? That is my favorite dessert. I want to try that one.

What about the rations of foreign countries? The Japanese Imperial Ration from WW2 sounds like the ration I would be the most pleased to receive if I were a Soldier.

I have seen things like canned hamburgers, which sounds like it would be a cruel tease to anyone far away from home in a fox hole, wanting a taste of Americana and thinking he has it, until he actually tries it.

I am sensing an interesting thread to come.

You only need 2 cases (a+b) and you have all meals. If you're in the US that'd be around $120 and in the EU it'd be around €150. Other than a few items (different M&M and pound cake flavors) you'll have everything in current production.

They seem to show up way too often in the cake lottery. I liked them too but after the 10th one they get boring.

We have 2 sections for just that. WWII ration are almost impossible to find tho.

Oh yeah, that hamburger. It ain't even a cruel tease, it's just nasty. viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2526