US MRE Menu 18 - Beef Ravoli in Meat Sauce

[eXodus]

I want to thank parafireboy (memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1952) for sending me this MRE (first time eating an MRE!). I'm a little late on reviewing this, but better late then never

Inventory:
- Toasted Corn Kernels
- 57g, 270 Calories, Date Code: 2059 115
- Cranberries, Sliced
- 56g, 180 Calories, Date Code: 2061 135
- Cheese Spread
- 43g, 190 Calories, Date Code: N/A
- Sterling Foods - Wheat Bread
- 57g, 180 Calories, Date Code: 1287 2
- Beef Ravioli in Meat Sauce
- 227g, 310 Calories, Date Code: 901236-05 2048 M2A EST 19076 1 1409
- Orange Flavoured Drink
- 34g, 130 Calories, Date Code: N/A
- Creamer Non-Dairy Dry
- 3g, Calories: N/A, Date Code: 2032
- Nescafé Toasters Choice 100% Freeze Dried Coffee
- 1.5g, Calories: N/A, Date Code: 204858801T
- Splenda
- 1 Packet
- Iodized Salt
- 4g packet
- Moist Towelette
- 1 Packet
- Gum Chicklets
- 2 pieces, Spearmint Flavour
- Toilet Paper / Napkins
- 1 Packet nicely folded
- Tobasco
- 3.7g, 1 Packet, Date Code: 1336

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I started with the drink mix and toasted corn kernels while the entrée was heating up (this MRE came with a Flameless ration heater!)

Orange Flavoured Drink
- Smells very similar to tang
- Has a nice soft orange color, not to bright
- Took a few minutes to dissolve (was using cold water, should have used warm)
- Light orange flavor, very nice

Toasted Corn Kernels
- Smells and tasted almost like Fritos Corn Chips.
- Very fresh, not stale by any means
- A slight salty coat which was very nice
- These were pretty addictive
- Easily my favourite item of this MRE

Cranberries, Sliced
- Dried out cranberries
- Smelled and tasted stale, with a slight hint of cranberry
- Tasted cross between cranberry and a raisin
- My least favourite item of this MRE.

Beef Ravoli in Meat Sauce
- Smells and looks great
- Can smell the spices, meat sauce, mmmm...
- The taste reminds me of canned beef ravoli
- Nice color and portion
- Perfect 50/50 ravoli to meat sauce ratio

Sterling Foods, Wheat Bread
- Very firm, almost stale
- Smelt and tasted stale
- Crumbled on touch

Cheese Spread
- Smells and has the same viscosity as Cheez Wiz
- Had a slight chemical smell and taste to it
- Nice smooth texture

Gum
- Fresh
- Moderate mint taste
- Easily chewable and lasted for a nice while

Disliked: Cheese Spread, Sliced Cranberries
Liked: Toasted Corn Kernels, Beef Ravoli in Meat Sauce

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Additional images that I couldn't attach or view the whole album here: [/url]

[[ex-Member1]]

Awesome review man, very detailed and great pictures.

Cheese Spread
- Had a slight chemical smell and taste to it

Next time try warming up the cheese and try it like that, sometimes it helps with this issue.

[BTemple]

Great review! I had a 2014 version not too long ago, and the components look to be nearly the same, aside from switching out cranberries for raisins... which I don't is a positive or negative. Haha

[shawker71]

I just had Low Sodium version of the Ravioli for lunch today. It was quite tasty but heavy on oregano for my taste. Might be because of the lower salt content.

[housil]

Thx for sharing that very detailed review

[parafireboy]

Great review and pics!

[eXodus]

Awesome review man, very detailed and great pictures.

Cheese Spread
- Had a slight chemical smell and taste to it

Next time try warming up the cheese and try it like that, sometimes it helps with this issue.

Thanks for the tip, will have to try this next time!

[parafireboy]

No worries about taking a while to get around to it, we totally understand that life can be busy, I'm just glad you got around to trying it and shared your thoughts with us! I am kind of the same way with the cranberries (and the raisins), I'm just not a dried fruit person, unless it's mixed with some assorted nuts as well. The bread can be kind of hit-or-miss. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not very good.

Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to share with us!