Vegetarian MRE Short Review

[gwanghoops]

I decided to eat one of my MREs today having never done this before.

"Menu No. 13 -- Cheese Tortellini"
Date Code: around 09/2000
Mfr: Wornick (says "US Government Property Commercial Resale is Unlawful")
Storage Conditions: always in a closet, probably 70-75
How Acquired: don't remember

Contents:
- Cheese Tortellini in Tomato Sauce (8 oz)
- Cracker
- Peanut Butter
- Applesauce
- Granola Bar
- Condiments Packet
- Spoon
- Charms

Entree -- smelled stale, sauce was kind of gross, tasted fine.
Cracker -- smelled stale, tasted fine
Peanut Butter --all good
Granola Bar -- just a commercial "Nature Valley" bar, smelled stale, tasted fine
Applesauce -- looked dark and smelled stale, tasted fine
Charms -- since it wasn't sealed, all of them "leaked" gooey stuff -- didn't attempt to eat
did not use the heater (saved it for later) or the condiments package

Overall, aside from the stale smells, it tasted like typical "dorm food" or worse than Home Town Buffet. I could easily live on this stuff in an emergency and possibly short term for fun.

The pictures show the entree to be gross looking, but I ate everything. Better than I thought.

[waxer]

Eaten plenty of these things in the Army. I don't care to any more... Yet I have about 4 cases stored away dated 2009. I'll save them for a last resort.

[FeuerFrei]

Maybe Crocodile Dundee had it right when he said "...you can live on it, but it takes like ****". Sums it up I think.


Sent with 2 cans & a long string.

[Socaliente]

I used to love the cheese tortellini. One of my favorites. Although we always said getting charms was like getting a kick in the nuts at xmas.

A few weeks ago I had a beef stew from a 2012 box. I dont know if it has just been so long, or they have improved, but it tasted 100times better than what I remember. They even added new shakes and pound cake flavors.

[223556]

I love the Veggie Burger w/ BBQ Sauce.
Not bad considering its about 12-13 years old.
I remember reading that MRE's will loose taste and texture the older they are, but still should be good enough to eat.
Dont quote me but I think they are normally good for about 10 years or so for "Best taste"

[fivebyfive]

The "Veggie" meals have better protein snacks and candy. "Meat" meals aren't bad...the trick is what can you eat cold?

[kaligaran]

I love the Veggie Burger w/ BBQ Sauce.
Not bad considering its about 12-13 years old.
I remember reading that MRE's will loose taste and texture the older they are, but still should be good enough to eat.
Dont quote me but I think they are normally good for about 10 years or so for "Best taste"

I had wondered if that was any good. I saw them at a store not long ago and pondered it. Then decided there was no way it would be. Now I'll have to try it.

[wjc]

"Get rid of the Charms, Trombley!"

:4#:

[frigginchi]

If you can get ahold of some VeeTee Ready to eat they are pretty good. So spicy they make your butt itch

http://www.veetee.com/discover-our-brands/curry-collection/

[Rider1k]

I haven't eaten an MRE I didn't like. Now thats not saying they are top shelf. I'd gladly eat them over worms or dog poo in SHTF.

[Gabriel80]

I'm a vegetarian and I eat mre's all the time. I backpack, hike and camp frequently. The thing about your particular one is its quite old. I can tell by the package alone. They have updated the graphics. You can check http://www.mreinfo.com/ for more information than you ever wanted about them!

[gwanghoops]

The thing about your particular one is its quite old. I can tell by the package alone. They have updated the graphics. You can check http://www.mreinfo.com/ for more information than you ever wanted about them!

My bad -- I really didn't trumpet the fact that this MRE was over 12 years old. Everywhere I read didn't have a good idea of the shelf life or how the taste/nutritional value of a MRE would degrade over time or if it would somehow make me sick. 10 years was my guess considering the storage conditions.

Since the applesauce was relatively dark and the general stale smell was obvious, I don't think I'd keep these MREs much longer.

Just wanted to share a little about old MREs.

[Gabriel80]

My bad -- I really didn't trumpet the fact that this MRE was over 12 years old. Everywhere I read didn't have a good idea of the shelf life or how the taste/nutritional value of a MRE would degrade over time or if it would somehow make me sick. 10 years was my guess considering the storage conditions.

Since the applesauce was relatively dark and the general stale smell was obvious, I don't think I'd keep these MREs much longer.

Just wanted to share a little about old MREs.

No, it's cool. You ate it and lived!!! If you dig around that site, it's wild. People have definitely eaten older MRE's (and photo blogged it on the site) They also have charts on the degradation of color/nutrition/taste of individual foods.

I might guess you probably would not have eaten it if you saw that site first, but the experiment continues!

It's a great site, very useful information when BUYING an mre.

thanks for sharing!

[Changalang]

it always pissed me off that the veggie MREs came with STUPID PEANUT BUTTER instead of some good cheese.

also, long live chicken tetrazinni

[The sarge]