These guys in mystical brown packets have been around for some time. But it’s only nowadays that more and more people are starting to catch interest in MREs.
They may all look the same… but don’t be fooled!
Inside those packets that scream “business,” these military meals are actually made very different from each other.
Let me show you how.
In this review and guide, we’ll be taking a look at the best military MREs on the market today.
After an intriguing and interesting taste test, we’ve narrowed down what’s already a short list of the best MRE packages and laid down our verdict, including:
- The best “meals ready to eat” for different situations;
- How do military MREs taste;
- Their ingredients and nutritional values;
- How to properly store and consume your MRE;
- And a whole lot more!
So if you can’t wait to get your own (I know – I was excited too!) take a moment and read through this guide first.
So without further ado…
boots on the ground, boys and girls!
What is an MRE?
MRE only means “Meal Ready to Eat”. This idea originated as far back as the American civil war all throughout World War II and Vietnam War when soldiers were provided canned food rations.
After some improvements considering the weight of the heavy canned foods, as well as their costs, the packed Meal, Ready to Eat of MREs were introduced in the 1980s.
These military grade meals are made to have higher amounts of calories than a regular person’s everyday foods.
They also tend to have way more sodium content than the regular foods we eat on a daily basis.
Why is that?
Well, the best MREs are made to provide the soldier with more than enough energy to last him throughout his very active day.
And in any survival situation such as if you’re stuck somewhere, you’d need a meal that can stuff you up with the energy and nutritions you need to last for a few more days while waiting for relief or rescue.
And that’s where these military meals come in.
Because of this…
They’re vacuum-packed and made to have a long shelf life.
A regular MRE can have a shelf life of around 6 months to 5 years but it would still depend on how and where you’re going to store it.
There was a time…
When these “meals ready to eat” were just slabs of unrecognizable pastes and crumbly crackers or peas.
Then the US government realized that what they needed to make the soldiers eat all of their rations was to add individual flavors and more variety to their MREs.
In short…
Make them actually edible and pleasant to eat so the soldiers could at least have something to look forward to.
Now here comes the exciting part.
A regular MRE contains:
- Main entree
- Side dishes
- Bread, biscuits, crackers, or any snack bread
- Spreads like cheese, peanut butter, or jelly, or compotes
- Candies
- Desserts with long shelf life such as pound cake
- Mint candies or chewing gums
- Beverage powder (coffee, cocoa, juice) with a bag to pour into
- Moist napkin or towelette
- Condiments (salt, pepper, sugar, hot sauce, etc.)
- Utensils and toothpicks
- Flameless heating elements
- Some packages have matches in them too
Some are pre cooked and dehydrated and some you need to cook with the flameless heating element that comes with the MRE.
They’re also actually made to taste good and some even have sumptuous Italian, Mexican, Thai, and Chinese meals among many others.
One thing is for sure…
They’re all calorie dense and some MREs are even made for people with special dietary needs.
There’s an MRE for everyone. Read on to see what fits your palette!
Best MRE
Best MRE For Camping
1 – Mountain House 3-day Emergency Food Supply
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 18u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 1,706u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 3.6 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 30-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – Mountain Houseu003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
96
The Bottom Line:
3 day bug out and run setup is easy with this brand!Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003eLight weightu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eGood mix of different foodsu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eOnly 3 daysu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eIf you’ve been researching the best MRE today, you’ve most probably come across the name Mountain House.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eMountain House has managed to build a credible and well-established name in the world of Meals Ready to Eat or MREs.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eJust a little trivia.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eMountain House doesn’t only make survival food for disaster situations, but they also make military meals for the United States Armed Forces!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThey also sell military meals for civilians, with reduced sodium content usually, but these supplies are sometimes limited.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eBut then…u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIf you’re looking for filling ready to eat meals as a part of your emergency bags or even just for camping and hiking, this Mountain House 3-day emergency food supply might be your best bet!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis meal pack contains a total of 1,706 calories per day that you can consume for a period of 3 days.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIt’s made to provide you with the energy you need for strenuous activities like going up the mountains, building tents, and well… just surviving.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis 3-day meal pack contains:u003c/pu003enu003cpu003e1 serving of Biscuits with gravyu003cbr /u003e2 servings of Granola with milk and blueberriesu003cbr /u003e2 servings of Chicken fried riceu003cbr /u003e2 servings of Chicken and dumplingsu003cbr /u003e2 servings of Beef stroganoff and noodlesu003cbr /u003eNow, if you love junk food and rich saucy foods, this menu might take you aback, but let me tell you that you might not regret it either.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eHere’s the kicker.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThese meals don’t contain artificial colors or flavors. Plus points if you’re a health buff.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eBut then, it won’t hurt to be extra healthy, especially when you’re surviving and preserving your energy.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eMoreover, this pack has the longest proven shelf life in the industry.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAs a matter of fact, this is backed by a 30-year taste guarantee by the company for your peace of mind.u003c/pu003en
Best Civilian MRE
2 – ReadyWise Emergency Food Supply
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 60u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 7,520u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 7.3 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 15-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – ReadyWiseu003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
90
The Bottom Line:
We find this as the best value becuase it has 60 servings with 7,520 Calories and only 3.6 lbs.Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003eLight weightu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eLarge amount of different foodu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eVery portableu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eOnly 15 year shelf lifeu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eNow, if you’re looking for something with a longer shelf life and can cater to more people or for an extended period of time, ReadyWise Emergency Food could be your best friend. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis set of vacuum-packed emergency meals are encased in a durable plastic container that you can also call a bucket. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eWe were pleasantly surprised. u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe container alone was already a winner. It was extra sturdy, which we realized is important in a disaster or survival situation. What you’d want is for your emergency supply to be in something that’s unbreakable and could protect your foods in any situation. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eBut that’s not even the coolest thing. u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eListen up. The MRE inside consists of u003cbu003eu003ciu003e80 total heaping servings of meat.u003c/iu003eu003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThese meats include seasoned beef and poultry in different recipes that would make anyone feel giddy with excitement. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAside from that, it also includes a bonus of 20 servings of long-grain instant white rice with an equally long shelf life. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis bucket contains a total of around 13,400 calories with the food sealed in Metallyte pouches to make them easy to consume but also well-protected. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnd to avoid waste…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eEach pouch serves 4 servings. Very convenient!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eNow brace yourself and read on for the entrees included in this bucket.u003c/pu003enu003culu003enu003cliu003e12 total servings of roasted chickenu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e12 total servings of Southwest style chickenu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of Stroganoff beefu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of cheesy ground beefu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of Teriyaki style chickenu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e12 total servings of savory roasted ground beefu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e20 servings of long-term instant long-grained white riceu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003enu003cpu003eThis kit could last for 1 month for one adult or 1 week for four adults. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eIn addition to this…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eYou can just store this sturdy bucket in your garage or your shelf at home because it has an amazing shelf-life of up to 15 years. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eNot to mention that it’s also made to be very portable and easy to bring for hiking or camping trips!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAll you need is hot water and 12 to 15 minutes of rehydration to have a piping hot meaty treat. u003c/pu003en
Best MRE In The World
3 – Augason 30-day 1-person Emergency Food Supply
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 307u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 569,178u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 24 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 25-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – Augason Farmsu003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
94
The Bottom Line:
This is our top pick because it has a large amount of different foods to pick all in one bucket is watertight.Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003eGreat Mixu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eBucket is watertightu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eHigh calories per dayu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eBucket is heavyu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eIf you want to focus on nutrition and substance in your emergency meals ready to eat, Augason’s bucket is worth checking out. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eThe great thing is…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAside from being made exceptionally sturdy to withstand disasters, this bucket is watertight so if your place floods often, you’d surely do good with having food storage that will keep your foods dry and safe. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe Augason meals ready to eat contain u003ca href=u0022https://bugoutbill.com/best-survival-food/u0022u003efood supplies enough for one adult to surviveu003c/au003e in for one whole month or a family of four for one week. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eWhat’s cooler…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis bucket can provide you an average of 1,854 calories u003ciu003eper day. u003c/iu003eNow that’s enough calories if you’re not moving about or working. But that’s not even all.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAugason also took into consideration the amounts of protein the consumers will get. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAside from the calories, you’d also get 46 grams of protein per day, which is very essential especially when you’re trying to survive. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnd my favorite part?u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eYou also get to have 30-day and 45-day meal planners. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003ePlotting out your meals for the whole month may sound like a lot of work but it’s crucial to budget your food if you’re running out of supply and don’t know when you’ll be getting some next. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe planner didn’t only plot your foods for the whole month but also took into consideration the balanced amounts of calories and proteins you will get. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ciu003eInteresting, right?u003c/iu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis bucket also contains breakfast meals up to lunch and dinner. Check them out below. u003c/pu003enu003culu003enu003cliu003e39 servings of Cheesy broccoli riceu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e49 servings of Creamy chicken flavored riceu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e15 servings of Macaroni and cheeseu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e30 servings Hearty vegetable chicken soupu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e52 servings of Creamy potato soupu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e53 servings of Maple brown sugar oatmealu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e42 Morning Moo’s low-fat milk alternativeu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e16 Banana chipsu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e4 instant potatoesu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003enu003cpu003eI particularly enjoyed the breakfast stuff such especially the maple brown sugar oatmeal which tasted like pie somehow. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe milk also got positive reactions for tasting a little better than canned evaporated milk. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe bucket was also surprisingly easy to lift so there’s that for another point.u003c/pu003en
Best MRE For Bug Out Bag
4 – 4Patriots 72-hour Emergency Food Supply
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 16u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 3,760u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 3.2 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 25-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – 4Patriotsu003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
88
The Bottom Line:
This is a great 72 hour (3 days) bugout food kit.Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003epouches is the same ones used by NASAu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eLight weightu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eGood shelf lifeu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eOnly 3 days of foodu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eIf you’re looking to bring the taste of home-cooked dinner to your tents for camping or hiking, you’d love this 72-hour kit just as much as I did. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eOffering you over 3,760 calories for three days means around 1,253 calories per day. Now, that’s enough to keep you alive until help comes. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eBut again…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIf you’re doing strenuous activities such as hiking, you’d need more energy than that so you’d do well to bring more food aside from this meal ready to eat. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eNow onto the good stuff. u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAiming to bring us the heartiest standard MREs that taste like grandma’s cooking back there at home, this kit features the most common American family favorites such asu003ciu003e mac and cheese, creamy rice and vegetable dinner, and Grammy’s sweet oatmeal.u003c/iu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAnd what’s better is these treats are encased in not one but three layers of Mylar pouches to make sure they’re protected against too much heat, light, and moisture as these are the elements that could shorten your best MRE shelf-life. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eDid you know?u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe material used for the pouches is the same ones used by NASA to make spacesuits!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ciu003eNow talk about surviving. u003c/iu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAnother bonus is it can last as long as 25 years unopened, making it perfect for disaster preparedness kits and bags.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eHow about the taste?u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eLet me just say that the oatmeal was the crowd favorite during our camping trip. It was sweet as promised and would definitely raise morales in dire times. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe creamy rice was tasty as well and was even comparable to those creamy recipes you’d see in Southern Living magazines!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe servings are as follow:u003c/pu003enu003culu003enu003cliu003e8 servings of Grammy’s sweet oatmealsu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e4 servings of America’s Finest Mac and Cheeseu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e4 servings of Creamy Rice and Vegetable Dinneru003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Best MRE For Lunch
5 – ReadyWise 124 Serving Ultimate Preparedness Pack
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 124u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 210,800u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 11 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 25-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – ReadyWiseu003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
86
The Bottom Line:
This is a large kit with over 200k of calories and another good mix of foods.Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003eHigh serving countu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eGood mix of foodu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eLong lastingu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eBulky and heavyu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eAssembling a disaster preparedness kit for a family could be challenging and tricky. That is especially true if you’re dealing with food. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eGood thing, ReadyWise also has a bigger variety, an” u003ciu003eultimate” u003c/iu003eone actually, that’s fit for a group.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnd yes, you’ve read that right. u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis kit contains a total of 124 servings of meals, making it one of the best civilian MREs we’ve ever had for this review. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eOpening it up was like opening a present on Christmas morning! It sure was jam-packed and ready to fulfill you for days. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIn case you’re wondering, here are the contents of the bucket:u003c/pu003enu003culu003enu003cliu003e4 servings of cheesy macaroniu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of chicken noodle soupu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of creamy pasta and vegetablesu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e4 servings of pasta alfredou003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of southwest style rice with beansu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of beef stroganoffu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of pasta with tomato sauce basil soupu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of apple cinnamon cerealu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of brown sugar and maple multi-grain meal u003c/liu003enu003cliu003e12 total servings of whey milk alternativeu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e32 total servings of orange beverage powderu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings plus 4 bonus servings of vanilla puddingu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of creamy yogurt style dessertu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e8 total servings of freeze-dried peaches with 4 bonus servingsu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003enu003cpu003eu003ciu003eI know, we were pleasantly surprised too. u003c/iu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis kit was made to provide all the necessary meals an active person would need for the day, such as calorie-rich meals, whey drinks, sweets, and even fruits!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eu003ciu003eWho said civilian MREs can’t be exciting?u003c/iu003eu003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eWhat’s more, is we were given a few bonus servings for the dessert and fruits. Nothing can really cheer up than tasty fruits and a good vanilla pudding!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eHowever, just take note that one pack contains four servings of a meal, to minimize waste. But the good thing is some packets came resealable. Some, but not all so you’d want to put a pack of zip locks in there with your emergency supplies. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis kit contains a total of 11,520 calories and can support one person for around 10 days for a complete everyday meal lineup. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAs for the container…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAs it’s ReadyWise, it didn’t disappoint. It was sturdy enough not to bulge when I sat on it. This makes it ideal to be stored in your garage or at the bottommost of a shelf.u003c/pu003en
Best Foreign MRE
6 – Augason Farms Breakfast and Dinner Good To Go Variety Pail
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 106u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 19, 810u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 13 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 25-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – Augason Farmsu003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
86
The Bottom Line:
This is a great bucket of food to with a mix of different flavors.Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003eHigh caloriesu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eHigh nutritionallyu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eGood tastingu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eGood mix of different foodu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eLarge for a bug outu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eAlmost 20,000 calories and 106 nutritionally balanced servings of meals all in a humble 4-gallon pail? u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ciu003eYou’ve got to believe it, mate. u003c/iu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eOne of the most trusted names when it comes to meals ready to eat for emergency preparedness, Augason Farms offers individual kits for breakfast only or for dinners only. But we decided to get a variety version so sample them all before we get one for our stash. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eContaining a total of 15 pouches, the servings were balanced by nutritionists to make sure that they’re well-distributed for days. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIt has 13 varieties of entrees with soups and even desserts like puddings and nourishing milk. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIf you’re stuck at home with a hurricane going on, or in any situation where you can’t go out to buy groceries, you won’t have to sacrifice good-tasting food because this kit contains some of the best-loved recipes such as tomato sauce based meals, u003ca href=u0022https://bugoutbill.com/best-fertilizer-for-vegetable-garden/u0022u003egarden vegetablesu003c/au003e, chicken and beef stew and even pasta meals!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIt also has a total of 35 grams of protein to keep the consumers energetic and strong in the absence of food supplements. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ciu003eNot bad. u003c/iu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnd if you have children at home…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eYou’d be glad to know that this kit comparable to good military meals also contains flavored creamy wheat and a milk alternative to keep them strong somehow.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe 13 entrees totalling to 106 servings consist of:u003c/pu003enu003culu003enu003cliu003e1 pChicken-flavored noodle soupu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eCreamy potato soupu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eCheesy broccoli riceu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eItaliano with Marinara sauce or Lasagnau003c/liu003enu003cliu003eChocolate puddingu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eOatmeal with maple brown sugaru003c/liu003enu003cliu003eMac and cheeseu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eFettuccine Alfredou003c/liu003enu003cliu003eCreamy Stroganoffu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eCreamy chicken-flavored riceu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eStrawberry-flavored creamy wheatu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eHearty vegetable and chicken flavor soupu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eMorning Moo’s Low Fat Milk Alternativeu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003enu003cpu003eThat’s a lot, yes, and with lots of sweet treats which I loved!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAnother great thing is every pouch has expiration dates in them and all the nutritional facts are posted in the bucket so you’ll know what exactly you are getting. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnd as a crown on top…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIt has a shelf-life that ranges from 10 to 25 years, as always, depending on how you store it. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eWe opened it up just to know if we should get it again for our stash and one bucket can last for around 10 days or one adult or around 5 days for a small family.u003c/pu003en
Best MRE For Preppers
7 – Military MREs Style by Daff
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 6u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 6,000u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 9.77 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 3-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – Daffu003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
84
The Bottom Line:
Military grad MRE style food for the run.Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003eHigh caloriesu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eGood mixu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eSmall and easy to bugoutu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eShelf life is only 3 yearsu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eLooking for that authentic military surplus feel for your meals ready to eat?u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eGet that u003cbu003eu003ciu003ereal MRE experienceu003c/iu003eu003c/bu003e with Daff Meals Ready to Eat. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThey’re quite known as authentic military food producers so you’d know that what you’re eating is akin to what the armed or air force and marine corps are eating. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eEnclosed in a tough to open plastic pouch…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eYou’d find 3 packets of entrees including desserts and breakfast, along with a fruit dessert and jam, cookies, condiments such as salt and sugar (no pepper, sorry), and even utensils such as a spork and napkin. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAnd how can we forget the powdered beverages?u003c/pu003enu003cpu003e In a pack, you’d get a juice beverage that’s enough for a liter and a great-tasting black coffee powder. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnd since we’re talking about real military surplus food…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eDaff MREs have their own heating bags with each package. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eI can’t deny it, flameless heaters still excite me, and using one take me back to those fun nights out camping. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eu003ciu003eHow about the meals?u003c/iu003eu003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eYou have the choice to either get:u003c/pu003enu003culu003enu003cliu003e3 packs of Pasta Pomodoro with coffee, 2 big cookies, jam spread, and utensilsu003c/liu003enu003cliu003ePasta Pomodoro, Paella with salmon and salmon stew with coffee, 2 big cookies, jam spread, and utensilsu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eA pack of peach, apricot, and a pack for plum, with coffee, cookies, jam spread, and utensilsu003c/liu003enu003cliu003ePasta Pomodoro, Paella, and apricot breakfast with cookies, coffee, jam spread, and utensilsu003c/liu003enu003cliu003ePasta Pomodoro, salmon stew, and peach breakfast with coffee, cookies, jam spread, and utensilsu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003enu003cpu003eAnd what I also liked about this kit is that there’s no unpleasant surprise. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eThe thing with meals ready to eat…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIs that sometimes, you don’t know what you’re getting. You may be pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis makes Daff MRE one of the best MREs in the civilian market as they’re very transparent about what each packet contains. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnother thing…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eMRE as it is, the foods surprisingly didn’t look like the mushy mess we’re expecting them to be. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe pasta was whole and chunky, as well as the sauces. The rice wasn’t mushy as well and the fruit preserves looked like they’re packed just yesterday.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eDaff MREs have a shelf-life of 3 years, just like some of the best MRE brands for the military.u003c/pu003en
Best MRE For Civilians
8 – IRPRUS 72H RUSSIAN Army Original Emergency Food
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 3u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 2,400u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 1.03 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 5-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – MARIN PROu003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
82
The Bottom Line:
Super easy to bugout with these light weight bars.Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003eLight weightu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eEasy to eatu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eHigh Caloriesu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eFilled with a lots of vitamins and mineralsu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eEasy to bugoutu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eNot the best tasting baru003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eImagine a meal ready to eat that’s light, portable, easy to open and eat, and most of all, rich in calories that will give you energy while you survive. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eYes, I’m talking about this food for the Russian army, armed and air force, and marine corps. As real an MRE as it can get!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnd nope…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eYou don’t get to have the usual lentil stew, peanut butter, cheese tortellini, or any pasta dishes. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eBut instead, you get to have bars of miracle bars worth 800 calories each. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eRemember the u003ciu003eLembas u003c/iu003ebread in u003cbu003eu003ciu003eThe Lord of the Rings? u003c/iu003eu003c/bu003eThose power bread that will give you enough energy for the whole day with just one serving?u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ciu003eThis is pretty much a real-life Lembas, y’all.u003c/iu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eEach pack comes in 3 bars worth 800 calories to provide you around 2,400 calories (9 bars) for 2 or 3 days depending on how many bars you will eat. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eIn case you might be wondering…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThe bars are made of 32% wheat flour, 30% sugar, 28% vegetable fat, 10% oat flakes, and a variety of vitamins and minerals a good military surplus meal should contain to let you last long in any situation you might be in. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eu003ciu003eSo how did it taste?u003c/iu003eu003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eFirstly, the most dominant flavors you will get are sweet and starchy. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIt’s not sugary sweet, more like an oatmeal cookie kind of sweet with the starchy, floury undertone. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAnd let me tell you this: I ate one bar and I didn’t get hungry for the next 6 hours!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAppearance-wise, they may not look as appetizing as you’d want it to be but it sure is quite a treat when you’re stuck in a building or at home during a hurricane. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThese military grade bars are vacuum-packed and wrapped with extra wrappers and plastics to ensure their safety during transit and into your doorstep.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003ePro tip: u003c/bu003eIn desperate times, you can even crush these bars up and cook them with your soups or porridges for that extra nutritious goodness your body will surely need.u003c/pu003en
Best MRE For Sale
9 – MRE Vegetarian Entree Combo
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 18u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 3720u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 0.5 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 10-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – The Wornicku003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
84
The Bottom Line:
A really good vegetarian meal full with high calories pasta.Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003eVegetarianu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eRestaurant-gradeu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eLight weightu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eNo meatu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eNot because it’s an emergency or disaster situation should it mean that there are no options for vegetarians. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eVegetarian Meals Ready to Eat still aren’t that popular nowadays but some companies are already trying out manufacturing veggie kits for people with special dietary needs. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eOne of those is this MRE vegetarian entree combo from Long Life Food Depot. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eEnclosed in authentic military grade brownish olive packets are different entrees along with the name of the meal printed on the packets and their nutritional values. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eOne order comes in a box with a simple label saying “Vegetarian Entree Combo.”u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eOpening it up, you should see 18 packets and these are:u003c/pu003enu003culu003enu003cliu003e6 cheese tortelliniu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e4 vegetarian taco pastau003c/liu003enu003cliu003e2 creamy spinach fettuccineu003c/liu003enu003cliu003e6 elbow macaroni in tomato sauceu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003enu003cpu003eNow that sounds like a treat even my carnivorous taste would drool over!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eMoreover, aside from the food packets, you also get to have 18 labels or what look like cardboard inserts where the ingredients and nutritional information are written. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnother thing that I liked about this…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIs that every packet has an expiry Julian code written on them in true military MRE fashion to let you know that they’re still good and safe to eat. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ciu003eOf course, you’d have to figure out how to read the code for that. u003c/iu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAgain, surprisingly, they actually tasted really good and even restaurant-grade! u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAnd most important of all, the meals were filling and gave us energy right after eating them. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eIn case you might be wondering…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIf they’re always fresh, Long Life Depot gets the freshest batches available and sells them immediately to avoid old and spoiled packages.u003c/pu003en
Best MRE For Backpacking
10 – Food for the Sole Vegan Backpacking Food
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eServing u003c/strongu003e– 7u003cstrongu003eu003cbr /u003eCaloriesu003c/strongu003e – 3,965u003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eWeightu003c/strongu003e – 1.35 lbsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eShelf Lifeu003c/strongu003e – 1.5-yearsu003cbr /u003eu003cstrongu003eManufactureru003c/strongu003e – Food for the Soleu003c/pu003en
Overall Score:
82
The Bottom Line:
This MRE is for vegan for people that don’t wan to eat meat.Pros
u003culu003enu003cliu003eVegan Foodu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eEasy for backpacku003c/liu003enu003cliu003eGluten-freeu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Cons
u003culu003enu003cliu003eNo meatu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003en
Summary
u003cpu003eI’m not a vegan but was overjoyed when I spotted yet another vegetarian/vegan full meal kit yet again as we scoured the market for the best MRE to get. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eMost MREs nowadays usually consist of pasta and stews. But how about the veggies?u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThis soulful combination of recipes from the equally soulful company Food for the Sole will make any vegan campers, hikers, and preppers giddy with excitement with their varieties of MRE that are easy to prepare and light enough to transport. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eMade to feel and taste like real food that’s freshly cooked at home, each box contains 7 meals of taster pack for one serving each including:u003c/pu003enu003culu003enu003cliu003eCinnamon cherry crispu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eLentil walnut pilaf with kaleu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eRatatouille with nutty quinoa pilafu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eRoasted sweet potatoes with kale and quinoau003c/liu003enu003cliu003eCoconut rice and Cuban black beansu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eTriple peanut slawu003c/liu003enu003cliu003eZesty miso broccoli slawu003c/liu003enu003c/ulu003enu003cpu003eAnd while most in this list weren’t really familiar to me, tasting them all ended up being a thrilling new experience, what with these unique and one of their kind food combinations. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eDo take note though…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eOf the portions per serving. As the box only says “taster packs,” you’d do well not to expect a big serving. They could be too small for you especially if you’re a big eater. But then, you can always get bigger ones if you happen to like them. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eI just thought of this kit as a sampler kit, saving me more money instead of blindly getting something I’ve never tasted before. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThese foods are dehydrated so you’d want to cook them first. u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eBut the great thing is, you don’t have to light up a stove because all you’ll need is boiling water. Pour it out and mix them well, then wait for the veggie goodness to unfold!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAnother thing that I liked…u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eIs how transparent they’re with the nutritional value. You can clearly see how many calories, protein, fat, carbs, sugar, and sodium you’ll be getting.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eEach pack also states whether they’re gluten-free or not and that means there are also gluten-free choices for people with special dietary needs!u003c/pu003en
Things to remember when buying Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE)
Military meals are great and all but since they’re meant to be stored for a long time, you should also pay attention to a few things as you buy your own MRE.
- Expiry and inspection date – Some sellers display only the inspection date of the MREs which can be misleading for the buyers as the inspection date is usually mistaken as the expiry date.
An MRE’s expiry date is usually written in a Julian date code that you’ll have to decode to know if your MRE is still edible. The Julian date code consists of four digits with the first digit representing the year, and the next three digits the days of the year.
For example, the Julian date code 1068 means 9th of March 2001 as the “068” stands for the 68th day of the year and 1 stands for 2001.
- Storage – Not because your MRE says it’ll be good for the next 25 years should mean that you can rest easy and consume it right after 10 years without any proper care. MREs shouldn’t be stored in a hot place such as your truck or car trunk as it will shorten the shelf-life of your food
Conclusion: Best MRE Military Meals
In case you might be wondering…
No stomach was hurt in this process and we all emerged full and satisfied.
If you’re asking what’s the best MRE to get, I’d tell you that these 10 guys in this list are the creams of the crop in the civilian MRE world… but at the end of the day, it will always depend on your needs and if you have a family to feed.
Getting some MREs may also look trivial for some, but it’ll prove to be beneficial for when disaster comes… Trust Bugout Bill on that one.
We sincerely hope the need to use these would never come, but if it does, you’ll be facing it with a full stomach and a plate of good homey, hearty dinner!
