PREP MRE's... Expiration Date Question

[DannyBoy]

How long beyond the expiration date is an MRE worth keeping? I am sure the food is edible to some further date after having been zapped, but I am not sure what the nutritional value might be. Then again, I would prefer not to get sick either! I tried some of the cookies in one of the packages that expired in 2012 and they were great... lemon sugar cookies.

Found a cool expiration date calculator on line... http://www.mreinfo.com/civilian/mre/civilian-mres.html

Look on the left side bar of the page... Gives you the expiration date based on the four digit code on the packages.

 

[erichtmobile]

It really depends on the storage conditions and the temperatures they have been exposed to.

I cant give you info about degraded nutrition values, but if they have been stored absent extreme heat they should be fine for a good while.

 

[Used Camels]

Have a look here: http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/mre-shelf-life.html

 

[Palmetto]

I ate some this summer that expired in 1995. They tasted just fine.

Not sure of the nutritional value.

They were stored in a basement for 19 years.

Palmetto

 

[DannyBoy]

I ate some this summer that expired in 1995. They tasted just fine.

Not sure of the nutritional value.

They were stored in a basement for 19 years.

Palmetto

Cool... Very good, I will not throw them out just yet then...

Well, literally cool... all of them have been stored in the basement in an air conditioned house (mine) the whole time.

And yes the link in my OP did have a temp factor built in... but of course it has to have a CYA factor built in.

JC, I may have bought these from you?? They look to be in good shape! Will have to try one of the entree's out.

Edited to Add... Wow, checked out the link you shared JC... very good info. Per this... "Old Shelf Life Chart [don't use] Another MRE "Time and Temperature" chart like the one to the left can be found on the Internet. This chart was developed in the 1980s when the MREs first came out and projects up to 130 months of storage at 60 °F. These first MREs had a number of freeze-dried components that accounted for the longer projected shelf life. But civilian and military MREs today no longer use freeze-dried components so their shelf lives follow the newer chart above." http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/mre-shelf-life.html

Palmetto's MRE's might have been of a earlier vintage, that would have lasted longer... because of the freeze dried components.

Thanks!

Dan

 

[night driver]

Like HoHo's, limitted by the life expectancy of the shelf they are sitting on if stored in stable temps...

 

[DannyBoy]

Thanks all for the info... I learned something!
Dan

 

[ainitfunny]

I just ate an expired MRE Day before yesterday (soy meatballs in Marinara sauce)
HINT: boil up some macaroni or rice to pour this meat sauce over because WITHOUT an accompanying carb there is no "real FOOD there" satiation to the act of eating that meal! It comes with two very thick, hard, unsalted "crackers" that I would only eat if starving, a powdered chocolate "shake" that was passably edible for taste and a BIG package of SKITTLES candy and a packet of instant coffee. No fruit, no vegetables. Even raisins or peanuts/peanut butter would have been WAY more nutritious than skittles!

I feel it was probably created to please our black troops eating choices. Probably WAY, WAY,OVER HALF THE Listed CALORIES IN THE MEAL WERE FROM SUGAR in the skittles candy, the sugar in the milk shake, and sugar in the marinara sauce and sugar packets for the coffee! Needless to say my blood sugar went nuts for a while.

It is No wonder that our troops, eating empty calories like this instead of real food, for long periods of time, are getting physically ILL!

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

Don't store them in a vehicle for more than 6 months without consuming. The heat and cold really kills the shelf life. Consumed one in my truck as emergency rations to rotate things and things were not that good.

 

[DannyBoy]

I just ate an expired MRE Day before yesterday (soy meatballs in Marinara sauce)...

How expired was it? I have MREs from a couple different vendors. Seems like there are lots of variation in the quality level available. Were you using an equivalent .gov military version MRE?

 

[Red Baron]

I just ate an expired MRE Day before yesterday (soy meatballs in Marinara sauce)
HINT: boil up some macaroni or rice to pour this meat sauce over because WITHOUT an accompanying carb there is no "real FOOD there" satiation to the act of eating that meal! It comes with two very thick, hard, unsalted "crackers" that I would only eat if starving, a powdered chocolate "shake" that was passably edible for taste and a BIG package of SKITTLES candy and a packet of instant coffee. No fruit, no vegetables. Even raisins or peanuts/peanut butter would have been WAY more nutritious than skittles!

I feel it was probably created to please our black troops eating choices. Probably WAY, WAY,OVER HALF THE Listed CALORIES IN THE MEAL WERE FROM SUGAR in the skittles candy, the sugar in the milk shake, and sugar in the marinara sauce and sugar packets for the coffee! Needless to say my blood sugar went nuts for a while.

It is No wonder that our troops, eating empty calories like this instead of real food, for long periods of time, are getting physically ILL!

Have to agree with you.

I like collecting all kinds military surplus items that I find useful. I also found MRE's to be a neat idea. If nothing else, MRE's are a triumph of food packaging technology.

As far a food source, MRE's are pretty much just sugar, salt and starch with a little "meat" thrown in and there is almost no vegetable content whatsoever in a MRE. Real fruit is scarce also, usually bathed in sugar and starch. All in an effort to get the calorie count up but no real regard for proper nutrition or lasting energy.

The newer "First Strike" rations are even worse and resemble a 14 year olds foray to a 7/11. First Strike rations are essentially convenience store junk food tossed into a bag.

Last summer, MRE's caused severe "food fatigue" when I tried to get myself and the family to finish off the three cases I had stored since 1999. Nothing really went bad but the menu is just so awful that after a couple of days nobody wanted anything to do with them.

I -never- throw out usable food, ever. That was a -sin- when I grew up and still practice that today.

Much to my own surprise I tossed out two of the three cases after almost finishing one case. Despite the high calorie count I would not depend on them, especially out on the trail or during extreme exertion. One needs a better source of high quality protein, fats and vegetables.

I would rate MRE and First Strike as very basic (and expensive/heavy) survival rations, nothing more.

 

[DannyBoy]

Have to agree with you.

I like collecting all kinds military surplus items that I find useful. I also found MRE's to be a neat idea. If nothing else, MRE's are a triumph of food packaging technology.

As far a food source, MRE's are pretty much just sugar, salt and starch with a little "meat" thrown in and there is almost no vegetable content whatsoever in a MRE. Real fruit is scarce also, usually bathed in sugar and starch. All in an effort to get the calorie count up but no real regard for proper nutrition or lasting energy.

The newer "First Strike" rations are even worse and resemble a 14 year olds foray to a 7/11. First Strike rations are essentially convenience store junk food tossed into a bag.

Last summer, MRE's caused severe "food fatigue" when I tried to get myself and the family to finish off the three cases I had stored since 1999. Nothing really went bad but the menu is just so awful that after a couple of days nobody wanted anything to do with them.

I -never- throw out usable food, ever. That was a -sin- when I grew up and still practice that today.

Much to my own surprise I tossed out two of the three cases after almost finishing one case. Despite the high calorie count I would not depend on them, especially out on the trail or during extreme exertion. One needs a better source of high quality protein, fats and vegetables.

I would rate MRE and First Strike as very basic (and expensive/heavy) survival rations, nothing more.

Red Baron, sounds like you and Aintitfunny were eating some of the military MREs which made it to us civilians? The MREs available these days for civilians are supposed to mimic the newer military... the one I taste tested tonight was a civilian version, but... Mine had some dried fruit in it, along with peanut butter in a tube (which was pretty good) along with spaghetti with meat, a side dish vegetable and a large cracker. The downside to the newer ones is evidently a relatively short shelf life. There are at least a couple levels of calories available in the civilian versions. I hope what they are feeding our military is as good!

 

[bw]

Never found a MRE that wasn't edible. I never eat the cheese thing, but other than that, it's all good. Had some that lived in my car trunk in Baton Rouge for over ten years. No problem.

 

[angelight]

Thanks all for the info on this thread. Daughter moved in with her bf end of August and this is what he has in the way of preps (mentality of said bf- bring it on Mother Nature I have my guns and my MRE's) no water- just MRE's. This is , I guess, what he plans on giving my almost 5 yr old granddaughter too. Looks like I will be prepping for her here.

 

[bw]

bring it on Mother Nature I have my guns and my MRE's

I seem to recall you're not supposed to eat MREs for more than 20 days. Something about the limits of your digestive system because MREs have little fiber.

 

[Satanta]

ad don't eat the toilet paper tho it might provide fiber.

I have a few MRE mains. I nnever appreciated the side crap ad it took up too much space.

I figure I will supplement it with 'other' and it's not bad for a quick on-the-go-zombies-are-coming meal.

I would not want to be in a bunker with only MRE's but heck, I figured out how to make many a meal with Ramen and tomato sauce so it would make-do.

 

[Publius]

From what I'm told there two kinds of MRE's and most are made to last 3 1/2 years on the shelf and then they have the ones that are made to last 10 years in a temperature controlled storage but I'm told they taste like crap right from the start. Best is freeze dried foods and yes they require that you carry water with you but will be lighter to carry and have a very long shelf life.

 

[Satanta]

From what I'm told there two kinds of MRE's and most are made to last 3 1/2 years on the shelf and then they have the ones that are made to last 10 years in a temperature controlled storage but I'm told they taste like crap right from the start. Best is freeze dried foods and yes they require that you carry water with you but will be lighter to carry and have a very long shelf life.

Well, if you want to sit down and cook a meal they require water but to eat on the move all that is required is a free hand and a open pouch or dump it in a pocket and forgo the pouch. Sort of like crunchy jerky. I'm used to doing things like keeping a can of pork and beans in my engine compartmet for lunch or eating 'whatever' is available cold, hard and dry as-needed.

It depends on what you are planning for and your worst-case scenario POV. I have a few MRE's for first go but for all-go/no going back I don't carry nearly as much.

 

[Ben Sunday]

My MRE stash has purchase dates of 1992, 1995, 1999, 2008 and 2011. Stored year round in a dark, cool closet between 68F and 70F. Never had a problem.

I do share the nutritional concerns and have added other foods that are appropriate to the stash.

In my view, MRE's are best used as a buffer against starvation. The lack of dietary fiber can be problematic so plan accordingly with some beans, etc.

 

[Satanta]

My MRE stash has purchase dates of 1992, 1995, 1999, 2008 and 2011. Stored year round in a dark, cool closet between 68F and 70F. Never had a problem.

I do share the nutritional concerns and have added other foods that are appropriate to the stash.

In my view, MRE's are best used as a buffer against starvation. The lack of dietary fiber can be problematic so plan accordingly with some beans, etc.

That is when you eat the TP.

 

[The Mountain]

You have to remember that MREs are NOT intended for normal, everyday consumption or as a long-term "survival" ration. They're supplementary meals for troops in the field, who might have to go a few days to a week without hot rations. And no, they don't have much (if any) fiber, and only a few of the menus have anything fruit-related. They are very heavy on carb-based calories, with a lot of salt.They are intended for consumption by young, healthy humans who are burning upwards of 10,000 calories per day in a high-activity environment, and who need food that is relatively easy to carry. One meal is, in a pinch, enough for an entire day. We generally figured on needing almost two canteens of water to get down a single meal (about a half-gallon).

If you want food that is long-term-storage friendly, and is actually intended to be eaten for more than a few days at a time, buy stuff like those Mountain House food packs. MREs are better-suited to that one emergency food stash you carry in your vehicle; just be sure to rotate it out often as the temperature swings will destroy it in short order.

 

[shoddy61]

Funny,
Like it's real food, they are for "Starvation Elimination" not for "Survival Cuisine". Wonder how many here would have ate the "C Rations" in Nam that were from WWII. "That things a chocolate bar, here's my cigarettes for it". HA HA.
sonny

 

[dogmanan]

Funny,


Wonder how many here would have ate the "C Rations" in Nam that were from WWII.

"That things a chocolate bar, here's my cigarettes for it". HA HA.
sonny

When I was in the navy I ate them all the time they were very good, most of the time they were better then the food in the chow hall.

 

[dogmanan]

I still have and carry a p2 50 or john wayne.

 

[dogmanan]

Man that brings back memories.

The c rations always had a can of some kind of fruit, a can of pound cake chocolate or white, crackers and a can of peanutbutter, they were very good to eat and still good even though they were from ww2.

They also would have a five pack of cigs, all filter less either pall mall, lucky strike, or camel, they were a little stale and dry but smookable.

sure would like to have a few hundred cases of them now, I bet they would still be good to eat.

 

[fuzzy]

I tried to eat an MRE (rice & chicken) that was over 20 years old. Gawd, it was awful! Tasted and smelled like it had been soaked in gasoline. Just couldn't do it. Granted for a period they had been stored under horrible conditions, but I thought my cast-iron stomach could handle it. Wrong.

I've been stripping out the coffee (it was drinkable,) sugar, gum, matches, creamer, chocolate covered brownies, potato strings, and crackers. The rest is going to the compost pit!

 

[ainitfunny]

I cannot imagine what retarded nutritional "expert" put together the MRE I ate.
With most all the calories from sugar, how can soldiers function very long?
A dollar sized pack of SKITTLES CANDY
A powdered chocolate milk shake
Two tasteless SALT FREE, thick, VERY hard crackers..
a packet of instant coffee with two sugars and a creamer
And the "MAIN DISH" BEING a packet of (sweetened) marinara sauce with 12 MARBLE SIZED (soy) meat balls??
HOW IS IT THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED A NUTRITIOUS MEAL?
No real meat, no fruit, no vegetables, no pasta, beans, rice, potatoes (non-sugar loaded carb) no cheese or peanut butter.
Whomever "signed off" on that menu SHOULD LOSE THEIR JOB.

 

[Red Baron]

I cannot imagine what retarded nutritional "expert" put together the MRE I ate.
With most all the calories from sugar, how can soldiers function very long?
A dollar sized pack of SKITTLES CANDY
A powdered chocolate milk shake
Two tasteless SALT FREE, thick, VERY hard crackers..
a packet of instant coffee with two sugars and a creamer
And the "MAIN DISH" BEING a packet of (sweetened) marinara sauce with 12 MARBLE SIZED (soy) meat balls??
HOW IS IT THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED A NUTRITIOUS MEAL?
No real meat, no fruit, no vegetables, no pasta, beans, rice, potatoes (non-sugar loaded carb) no cheese or peanut butter.
Whomever "signed off" on that menu SHOULD LOSE THEIR JOB.

Yup, essentially well packaged junk food.

 

[The Mountain]

I cannot imagine what retarded nutritional "expert" put together the MRE I ate.
With most all the calories from sugar, how can soldiers function very long?
A dollar sized pack of SKITTLES CANDY
A powdered chocolate milk shake
Two tasteless SALT FREE, thick, VERY hard crackers..
a packet of instant coffee with two sugars and a creamer
And the "MAIN DISH" BEING a packet of (sweetened) marinara sauce with 12 MARBLE SIZED (soy) meat balls??
HOW IS IT THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED A NUTRITIOUS MEAL?
No real meat, no fruit, no vegetables, no pasta, beans, rice, potatoes (non-sugar loaded carb) no cheese or peanut butter.
Whomever "signed off" on that menu SHOULD LOSE THEIR JOB.

Sounds like you got a "pseudo" MRE, instead of one of the real ones. Real MREs are no longer commercially available (though they can be bought on eBay sometimes). The pseudo meals are put out by the same companies that make the official ones and are labeled very similarly, but they leave things out, or substitute some of the contents. The real ones almost always have some kind of fruit, and there's ALWAYS something to put on those crackers, whether jelly, peanut butter, or cheese (but yeah, they're pretty tasteless; they keep a long time, though). They may also change the entree sometimes. So, in answer to your question, no soldier would function on that meal but since they'd never get that particular meal it's a moot point. And no nutritionist was involved in creating it either, except indirectly.

 

[ainitfunny]

I just noticed the packet... what BRAND of "instant coffee" was in the MRE package.."Diario" brand instant coffee!

 

[eXe]

Don't store them in a vehicle for more than 6 months without consuming. The heat and cold really kills the shelf life. Consumed one in my truck as emergency rations to rotate things and things were not that good.

I just ate a few that were in my vehicle kit for over a year, both in the extreme hot and cold. They were all good, but I try to rotate them out every season change, just was too busy this year.. but they are all rotated now. I think a lot depends on the quality of the MRES, these are pretty decent ones, I get them at the Vegas gun shows.

 

[Last Resort]

I had, have and ate the military MREs that were available for sale back in the day (late '90s). They were passable, with jelly, peanut butter, and entrees that required a heater to really be edible. They were and are bland as all get out with minimal protein, no fiber, and carbs galore. Definitely emergency rations. If I were to buy again today, I'd purchase marine emergency rations, trail mix, hard tack, and jerky.

One thing to keep in mind: ALL emergency rations (and MREs are just that) require a LOT of water to digest.

 

[ainitfunny]

I had, have and ate the military MREs that were available for sale back in the day (late '90s). They were passable, with jelly, peanut butter, and entrees that required a heater to really be edible. They were and are bland as all get out with minimal protein, no fiber, and carbs galore. Definitely emergency rations. If I were to buy again today, I'd purchase marine emergency rations, trail mix, hard tack, and jerky.

One thing to keep in mind: ALL emergency rations (and MREs are just that) require a LOT of water to digest.

I hope by "marine rations" you are not referring to the name brand,EMERGENCY FOOD BARS that are nothing at all but PRESSED UNCOOKED WHITE FLOUR, SUGAR, SHORTENING, and SALT with a little lemon extract, or vanilla, or other flavor. They might put a bit of Vitamin C in it,but I don't think so.

They are strictly "avoid outright starvation" pure carbs.

 

[DannyBoy]

I hope by "marine rations" you are not referring to the name brand,EMERGENCY FOOD BARS that are nothing at all but PRESSED UNCOOKED WHITE FLOUR, SUGAR, SHORTENING, and SALT with a little lemon extract, or vanilla, or other flavor. They might put a bit of Vitamin C in it,but I don't think so.

They are strictly "avoid outright starvation" pure carbs.

I would still like to know what "brand" of MRE you were eating... also, how old it was. As I said above, mine was not nearly as bad. It was a civilian version of a newer military type.

Dan

 

[DannyBoy]

Have a look here: http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/mre-shelf-life.html

And JC Refuge's link here is extremely informational... poke around on that site if you are interested in MRE history and types of entrees available, etc.

http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/mres.html is the starting point...

ETA, and don't expect it to be tasty after 3 years or so... depending on how it was stored.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

I have more MRE's that I would care to mention here, including several cases of unit rations. Bottom line is my personal experience is that they are made for short term use and long storage (under proper conditions.) There are plenty of people with opinions on length of storage and such, however MRE's have lasted for decades in cool dry conditions. From my understanding, as long as the MRE is not subject to heat or compromised in some fashion as a pin hole in the package in which it will swell, it would be okay to consume.

As one who has kept MRE's for decades, in cool and dry conditions, the ONLY problem that I have had is the dry roasted peanuts. It appears that the vacuum packaging and the "sharpness" of the nuts, causes holes in the packaging, and they go stale. Otherwise, they appear AND taste as expected. JMHO.