2002 Beef Enchiladas MRE Review

[SentientTootsieRoll]

Here is yet another MRE from a lot of early 2000s MREs I purchased from craigslist a few weeks back. Today I chose Menu 15, Beef Enchiladas. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? I couldn't wait to try it!

List of contents:

- Beef Enchilada in Sauce
- Mexican Style Rice
- Cheese Spread with Jalopenos
- Vegetable Crackers
- Beverage Base Powder, Orange
- Chocolate Chip Cookie
- FRH
- Brown MRE spoon
- Accessory packet with the following:
-- Taster's Choice coffee
-- Creamer
-- Sugar
-- Salt
-- Toilet Paper
-- Moist Towelete
-- Matches
-- Gum
-- Tabasco

I must say I like the items they put in this ration. Let's see what it looks like prepared!

This time around, I decided to use the included FRH rather than grabbing a newer one. I didn't add any salt (although I intended to, but forgot) but the FRH didn't do too badly! It took a few minutes to get going but it did eventually take off and did ok with heating everything up. As you can see, the enchilada looks pretty good! The menu name is plural so that had me a little curious, but this looks really good especially combined with the rice. And it was! The sauce was more in the "medium" range of sauce, which is perfect for me! I don't like things too spicy but luckily they thought of those that do because you can add Tabasco if desired. The rice also had a mild kick to it and tastes just like current production Mexican Style Rice. Since we're on the subject, I'd have to say the Santa Fe Style Rice is my favorite MRE rice.

I was a little concerned about the cheese spread. I've had some from MREs as new as 2012 that had bad cheese spread, so naturally I expected less than desirable results from this ration. While it did look a little off in color, it smelled okay and it even tasted okay. It went nicely with the vegetable crackers. The cookies were also pretty tasty, although the packaging has changed since 2002. Nowadays, they give you one big cookie opposed to two smaller cookies like this MRE had. Personally, I like the way they did it in this ration. The orange drink mixed nicely and was a great addition to this MRE.

I didn't even bother to open the Taster's Choice coffee. We can all probably guess why. I could tell that it was dry molded just by the texture of the packaging. Overall, this ration gets my seal of approval! I see no reason why they shouldn't bring this menu back.

[WorkmanMRE]

Excellent review sir! Cool so much of it was still good. Cheers!

[Mpitt]

Great review. I now see from where all those red sachet Tasters Choices are being sourced.

[housil]

Nice review. I never had a spoiled cheese spread, no matter how old they were.

[carlosflar]

Nice review. I never had a spoiled cheese spread, no matter how old they were.

Interesting... maybe its a cheese thing? i had yesterday a canned cheddar cheese from a CR1M from 2010, where more than half of the things where spoiled... but the cheese was amazing

[SentientTootsieRoll]

Thanks all! For the record, I felt perfectly fine after eating this one. To be honest, I'm having a craving for this meal again! Luckily I have one more left.

Great review. I now see from where all those red sachet Tasters Choices are being sourced.

The ones I gave you were mostly from 2004 era MCWs. There's a small possibility one of them came from an MRE from that same year or from the mid-late 90s. If you're interested, I can collect as many red Taster's Choice packets and send them to you for further analyzation. I have no use for them. Just say the word!

[Mpitt]

The ones I gave you were mostly from 2004 era MCWs. There's a small possibility one of them came from an MRE from that same year or from the mid-late 90s. If you're interested, I can collect as many red Taster's Choice packets and send them to you for further analyzation. I have no use for them. Just say the word!

Thanks, but one of the ones you already sent me is a white residue gold mine. I should not need anymore.

[NateP]

Excellent review, and great pictures! This is one of those meals whose components aren't bad, but seem like a lunchroom meal.

Too bad on the coffee though :/