MRE's.....

[Noahs ARK]

I'm checking out the Entree & Side Dish MRE's right now. Also looking at the Polytrays, but I'm not sure about those.

Anyone have any particular MRE's that they love and/or hate?

Anyone tried the polytrays?

My EE catalog says that they'll store for 100-130 months in my basement, where the temp is between 60-70 all year 'round. MREDepot says the polytrays only last about 3 years.

Any input you can give me about your own experiences with MRE's & polytrays will be much appreciated.

[arbilad]

I have three of the trays from mredepot.com. I haven't eaten any of them. Supposedly one tray feeds eighteen, but I'm sure that's one part of a meal per person. In other words, you would need a tray for every part of the meal. For instance, one tray for mashed potatoes, one for tamales, etc. But that's if you're feeding eighteen. In my mind the trays are very economical compared to full meals. It seems like it would be good for family meals, especially if you have guests who came for help.

[Noahs ARK]

Yes, it says it feeds 18 and that kinda made me chuckle cuz hubby can really pack it away. I'll have to make sure I have plenty of side dishes for him.

I started making up a "Wish List" and figured (for example) I'd get 1 polytray of chicken stir fry or tamales and 1 polytray of rice, which would equal a couple of meals. Then I saw beef stew and mashed potatoes - another good meal I could put together.

As far as the MRE entrees and side dishes, my husband could easily eat 2 of each, so I'd have to make allowances for that per meal.

Thanks, Arbi - I'm excited about this. I've got so much freeze-dried and dehydrated food that for the past year or so I've been concentrating on foods that don't require water.

[Noahs ARK]

Okey-Dokey....ordered some of the polytrays from MREDepot and will give them the old taste test before I order more.

I bought the Sweet & Sour Pork Chopettes, mashed potatoes, white rice & blueberry dessert. (They were out of the chicken tamales)

1 entree, 2 side dishes & 1 dessert = an experiment on how far it will stretch with hubby needing 5,000 calories per day. :sosp:

[mirkwood]

Here are the various MRE items I have had and what I would rate them on a 1-5 scale. 1 lowest 5 highest. This is based on taste/texture only.

Beef Ravioli 3

Chicken Noodles & Veggies 3

Grilled Chicken Breast 2.5 (no sauce/flavoring etc.)

Beef Stew 3

Spaghetti & Meatballs 2.5 (spicy)

Peanut Butter spread 3

Cheese Spread 3

Mashed Potatoes 2 (bland)

Fudge Brownie With Choc. Chips 3

Vanilla Pound Cake 3

Drink Mix (various flavors) 4

Mint Brownie 5

Choc. Covered Choc. Chip Bar 4

Short Bread cookie 4

Fig Bar 3

Snack Bread 2

Crackers (without a spread probably a 2) 4

Toaster Pastry 4

Osmotic Raisins 0 (inedible)



I've had others, but I can't remember. I don't eat them often and when I do, I have several cases of the beef stew, chicken noodles and spgh/mballs which I use first. I carry a couple in my car at all times and eat out of them from time to time.

[arbilad]

Heh. It's weird to think that my order of two chicken tamale trays sold them out (or was one of them that did). Those two trays are what brought me up to three. You've got me curious now. Maybe I'll try one of the trays, and see if it's something that I actually want more of in my food storage.

[arbilad]

Over a decade ago, a friend in the Army National Guard let me try a military MRE. It was an old one and had tomatoes in it. It was nasty. He told me that the tomato based ones are alright if you eat them quickly, but they become nasty over time. Now, that was over a decade ago and of a type that civilians typically can't buy. So I don't know if tomato based MREs that you can buy now are nasty or not.

[Noahs ARK]

Here are the various MRE items I have had and what I would rate them on a 1-5 scale. 1 lowest 5 highest. This is based on taste/texture only.

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me that information!

I did order 100 packets of both the peanut butter and cheese spread - I forgot to mention that. I thought those would be good to use on the Pilot biscuits I'd ordered from EE.

[Noahs ARK]

Heh. It's weird to think that my order of two chicken tamale trays sold them out (or was one of them that did). Those two trays are what brought me up to three. You've got me curious now. Maybe I'll try one of the trays, and see if it's something that I actually want more of in my food storage.

That would be weird. I remember once I bought out all the apricots at EE and when my mom called to order some (just a few minutes later), they told her they'd JUST sold out.

She called me and said "Did you just buy all the apricots?" :smash: (Never fear - she got hers on back-order, but she was highly put out...ha ha ha!)

That's my plan - I'll give them a try and if I like them, then I'll order a case. Will try to coordinate side dishes to go with the entree.

[Noahs ARK]

Over a decade ago, a friend in the Army National Guard let me try a military MRE. It was an old one and had tomatoes in it. It was nasty. He told me that the tomato based ones are alright if you eat them quickly, but they become nasty over time. Now, that was over a decade ago and of a type that civilians typically can't buy. So I don't know if tomato based MREs that you can buy now are nasty or not.

Hubby and I were just having that same conversation. He said the tomato based MRE's get kinda nasty, but he said military MRE's are different than the ones we're buying.

I was watching the video on MREDepot - learned how to read the expiration date and other little tidbits of info.

I was wondering about the chili and other entrees with tomatoes - I think I'll just order 1 of each and see how they taste. Altho....MRE's that don't taste like they came from a 5-star restaurant are still better than no MRE's if you're hungry, right?

[caml]

We discovered a serious rodent infestation in our old farm house. We spent the whole day cleaning, organizing, setting out poison, and covering and filling where we think they are getting in. They had been into some of our boxed food storage and into our paintballs. They were even eating industrial grease of somesort. The funny thing, they wouldn't touch the MREs!

[Noahs ARK]

The funny thing, they wouldn't touch the MREs!

I do wonder what's in those things! I think I'll research more about sodium & preservative content.

We had a serious rodent infestation in our crawlspace. They were getting in thru the vents. Argggh - they chewed thru heavy plastic bins and were nesting in there.

We hired a company to clean it all out & cement the crawlspace, close off the vents, etc....no problems now, but I'm so glad I didn't have food down there!

[Noahs ARK]

Arbi ~ one last question...

Those MRE's you ate that were bland (chicken breasts, mashed potatoes) - would they taste better with some seasonings or gravy added to them?

Or were they beyond being helped? :ack2:

[mirkwood]

I think you meant to ask me. Yes, if there had been some sort of flavoring added to them they would have been fine. I have a case of MRE chicken breasts that I purchased for that exact purpose.

[arbilad]

Yes, Mirk is the one to ask with questions, because my experience with tasting any MREs has been about once every 5 years.

[Noahs ARK]

I think you meant to ask me. Yes, if there had been some sort of flavoring added to them they would have been fine. I have a case of MRE chicken breasts that I purchased for that exact purpose.

I think you're absolutely right - sorry 'bout that!

Soooooo ... how many MRE's are in a case?

[mirkwood]

Depends on what and where you buy. Typically you will see a case = 12 complete MRE's. The case I purchased was through Emergency Essentials. It had 73 chicken breast pouches. It was a killer deal at the time for around $40-45. Other cases I have bought, were the 12 packs. Wal Mart had MRE's for a short time and I bought several at a really good price. I think they were $5 each. Then when they were not selling I got a bunch more for $2 each. I have not bought any new ones for several years, but I always watch the prices. If they go low enough I would pick up a few extras. I like having them at work. I also carry some of the Mountain House freeze dried pouches. If I had to choose based on taste/texture the MH pouches win. They require water though. I've only had three MH items that I did not like: scram eggs with bacon (extremely salty) chicken breast with mashed potato (tasted awful) and the broccli/cheese/mash (tasted worse then the chick breast). The ease of the MRE is the appeal of them.