Final 12 months I wrote concerning the home-made MREs I maintain in my emergency meals stockpile. Like most individuals’s my meals retailer leans in the direction of bulk dry items, however there’s one thing to be stated for having a reserve of particular person ration packs that may be rapidly grabbed and thrown in a rucksack.
On the similar time military-surplus MREs might be costly, exhausting to search out or of doubtful high quality, so I attempted to make my very own light-weight, handy and long-lasting packs. That was what my final MRE-related article was all about.
A few of these home-made MREs have been stacked in my shed for effectively over two years, although, and not too long ago I’ve been questioning how they’re doing.
I attempted to pick meals that may final a very long time in storage, however did I succeed? Or am I actually counting on rations which are not fit for human consumption?
Final week I made a decision it was time to reply that query, so I dug out two packs from the primary batch I made and had a take a look at them. Nothing regarded clearly mistaken; actually they regarded just about an identical to how they regarded once I first packed them.
However had been they nonetheless edible? It was time to check them out.
Day 1
Breakfast
For breakfast I had a pack of immediate oatmeal, which is a fast and straightforward technique to get one thing scorching.
I averted messing up my cook dinner pot by simply opening the sachet, propping it up and thoroughly pouring in some scorching water.
Then, I let it stand for a couple of minutes.
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Whereas that was soaking I ate the opposite half of the meal – a vacuum-sealed portion of Cheerios, eaten dry as a result of I didn’t have any milk (and don’t actually prefer it a lot anyway).
A whole lot of the cereal had caught collectively in clumps, in all probability on account of being firmly squeezed collectively by the vacuum-sealing course of, however the clumps broke up underneath strain from a spoon and the Cheerios tasted simply wonderful.
The opposite a part of breakfast was a scorching drink. I’d added 4 packs of immediate espresso to this MRE, however I hadn’t added any sugar. This was a mistake, however guidelines are guidelines, so I had a mug of unsweetened immediate espresso.
Lunch
The principle factor of lunch on this pack was flavored couscous with hen and mushroom, which I’d transferred from its authentic sachet to a bigger bag then vacuum sealed.
This meant I may put together it by simply pouring boiling water into the opened bag then leaving it to face for ten minutes. Whereas I waited I ate 5 graham crackers that I’d additionally vacuum packed.
These had been in excellent situation, and so they’re additionally surprisingly filling, however with nothing to placed on them they had been somewhat dry. Then again the couscous was very tasty.
After I make MREs I like to separate every one into separate sub-packs, one for every meal.
The lunch pack additionally contained some snacks – a granola bar, a Snickers and a vacuum-sealed bag of Haribo gummies. I caught these in my pocket to eat via the afternoon.
Dinner
My important meal of the day began with a packet of immediate hen soup, which had suffered no sick results from its two years in my shed.
After that I had immediate mashed potatoes, which I’d livened up with some Cajun spice combine and 1 / 4 cup of dried greens.
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For protein I’d packed two snack sausages, a form of thicker and fewer chewy Slim Jim.
I began off by boiling sufficient water to reconstitute the potatoes whereas I chopped the sausages into half-inch chunks, then dropped them within the water to warmth them via.
Then I dumped within the potato combine, gave it an excellent stir and left it to absorb the water whereas I loved my soup.
It seems that mixing the greens with the potatoes had been one other mistake; they might actually have performed with being simmered for a couple of minutes earlier than the potato granules went in, as a result of they had been distinctly chewy.
To any extent further I’ll seal the greens in a separate packet to allow them to go within the water first.
Aside from that, although, dinner was tasty; all of the substances had been in good situation even after two years, and nothing made me even barely nervous about consuming it.
I completed off the meal with the gummies, which had one way or the other escaped being eaten earlier, and a mug of espresso.
Breakfast
As soon as once more breakfast was immediate oatmeal and Cheerios, however I’d additionally added a protein bar to this one.
I didn’t really really feel any specific urge to eat the protein bar, as a result of to my slight shock I hadn’t woken up ravenous, so I saved it for later.
On this pack I’d equipped myself with 4 teabags and, fortunately, a substantial quantity of sugar. I topped off breakfast with a pleasant scorching mug of sweetened tea.
Lunch
What was I pondering once I packed this lunch? Two packs of 5 graham crackers, and that was it. I used to be glad I’d held on to the protein bar from breakfast.
I ended up consuming that and one pack of crackers. I undoubtedly want to enhance my lunches.
Once more I’d thrown in some snacks – a cake bar, a Snickers, a cup of salted peanuts and a few extra gummies – and that gave me one thing to eat via the afternoon, together with one other mug of tea.
Dinner
For dinner I began with immediate soup once more, whereas the primary meal soaked in boiling water.
To make that I’d emptied two packs of immediate pasta, the type that’s presupposed to be dumped in a mug with some boiling water, right into a vacuum sealed bag with an enormous spoonful of grated exhausting cheese.
I’d additionally added two ounces of sliced, dehydrated chorizo in a separate sealed bag.
After I wrote my final article a few folks within the feedback had some doubts concerning the chorizo.
It seems they had been proper.
Though dehydrating it ought to have eliminated any water, an excellent little bit of oil had seeped out. Vacuum sealing would in all probability have protected that from going rancid, and once I opened the pack and sniffed it nothing smelled off, however it simply didn’t look too pleased.
In the long run I binned it and ate the pasta with out protein. It tasted wonderful, however some sausage would have been very welcome. Then I completed dinner with the opposite pack of lunch crackers and the gummies.
The primary, and doubtless most vital, factor I realized is that these improvised MREs work.
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Aside from the suspect chorizo – which I feel was in all probability nonetheless fit for human consumption, however I didn’t really feel like risking it – all the pieces had survived two years at room temperature in my shed.
I by no means felt that I hadn’t eaten sufficient, and I didn’t really feel wanting power both. There was sufficient meals in every of those packs to maintain me in good condition for twenty-four hours.
Nonetheless, they did get somewhat boring in locations. I selected graham crackers for lunch as a result of they are often eaten on the go, I figured they’d final – which they did – and so they’re fairly power dense.
However, whereas not disagreeable to eat on their very own, they’re not all that thrilling both. I’m now taking a look at one pack of 5 crackers for lunch, together with a shelf-stable pouch of tuna.
I’m additionally not going to fiddle with meat anymore. My little packs of dehydrated chorizo can be changed with snack sausages, jerky or different prepacked, long-life meat.
I do like having some correct protein that may be added to the primary meal, however I must be positive it’s protected. The snack sausages labored; the chorizo… effectively, after having a look, I didn’t wish to danger it, so it failed the check.
My dehydrator remains to be going to get some use, although, as a result of I’m going to take one other suggestion from the feedback and add some dried fruit to future packs – to not change the sweet, however in addition to it.
I’ll additionally make certain each pack has sugar for warm drinks (and a few additional so as to add to the oatmeal) and take a look at including Kool-Assist or one thing much like make water style somewhat extra attention-grabbing.
Total, I realized an excellent bit from consuming these rations and most of it was constructive.
Over the subsequent couple of weeks I’ll be overhauling my present stockpile, eradicating issues I don’t belief anymore and changing them with higher alternate options.
My lunch meals will get extra attention-grabbing, and I’ll add extra wholesome, fruity snacks. However the primary factor is I do know my home-made MREs will keep edible and supply sufficient diet to maintain me going once I want them.
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