I bought this MRE because I wanted to see how different SHTF food stuffs taste and I’m also trying stock the food stash with different types of things like freezed dried, canned and MRE’s so there is some type of variety. It’s great to have 90 days worth of food but I thought it would make it a little more palatable and thereby stress reducing if you didn’t have to eat the same thing or type of food for every meal.

I had already purchased, prepared and eaten some freeze dried Mountain House scrambled eggs with bacon. CM2, CM3 and I thought they were just fine. I’d eat them as a fast food replacement if they weren’t so expensive. I was impressed with the flavor, not what I expected.

So, I bought an MRE. It was manufactured by the Wornick Co. in McAllen, Texas. These are the same folks who manufacture them for the military.

After reading that the heater produces Hydrogen gas, I thought it best to conduct the taste test and heating out side, sans cigar.

Best tasting, the cinnamon Imperials candy and the apple cider drink. I opened and ate the candy first, I figured it was the easiest to prepare and I like cinnamon imperials.

Second up, the crackers. They were almost a saltine but not quite. More like a salty Matzo cracker.

The jelly had an odd taste, so I pitched it.

The cheese and vegetable omelet would never be a first choice for me. I would never even order one at a restaurant. I did eat half despite the over powering green pepper taste. I dislike green peppers and they don’t like me.

The hash browns were okay, (I ate them all) had a fake bacon flavor that over powered even the real bacon in them. The Red Hot improved the flavor but it does with most everything.

The toaster pastry looked like a Pop Tart but didn’t taste like one. It was kind of cardboard tasting. The sugar cinnamon coating helped the taste. There was ¼ left of it. I’m saving it for Pop Tart junkie, Alex (CM2)

The apple cider drink? The empty bag speaks for itself; it was sugary but had a nice flavor.

The condiments and the Drink package. I couldn’t bring myself to open the Tabasco bottle it is neat. I’m going to but in my Boonie.

My wife would only taste the cracker, but only after CM3 shoved it in her face. She was not having any of our fun. She just crinkled her nose and said “No Thank You.” Kinda like when I ask her for a kiss. (That will teach you for reading over my shoulder dear.)

I understand the nutritional value was first and taste was second when developing the MRE. They were designed for the folk that defend our freedoms, not some lazy civie who could drive to a local restaurant anytime he wanted to.

I’m sure there are MRE’s that are better and worse. All said and done, if I was hiking, camping or in the service and hungry, I would have eaten it all. As I stated earlier I purchased something that I don’t really like and would normally not eat. I still ate half and I was just hungry for lunch, not starving. If this meal would have been only one of only one or two meals that day, it would have all been gone, including the jelly. No questions asked. I would have probably scrounged for leftovers

I was surprised how hot the heater was and the length of time that it’s stayed hot. I’m sure you need a lot of water with freeze dried food. The only water I needed was for the drink and to get the heater operational.

MRE’s would be a welcome addition to the stock of SHTF preps.

I stick to my theory that Red Hot can make almost anything taste better.