Another point to consider is if there will be access to clean drinking water, as freeze-dried and dehydrated foods DO require water to rehydrate prior to consumption. MREs are ready to eat and do not require any water or additional preparation.
One way or another, how do MREs work? The ration heater contains finely powdered magnesium metal, alloyed with a small amount of iron, and table salt. To activate the reaction, a small amount of water is added, and the boiling point of water is quickly reached as the exothermic reaction proceeds.
Thus, can you eat an MRE without heating it?
MRE's are great because you can eat them absolutely any way you want. MREs are pre-cooked meals making them safe to eat straight from the package—warm or cold. But if you're just not into eating your food cold (when you've got the choice), here are five ways you can heat up your MRE to satisfy your taste buds.
Is it healthy to eat MREs?
The MRE contains similar amounts of carbohydrates, fat, protein and fiber as the average American diet, and the vitamin and mineral content is designed to meet Soldier nutritional requirements. ... Earlier studies demonstrated that consuming the MRE for 21 days had no negative effects on Soldier nutrition status.
“If the MRE is exposed to fire and the magnesium powder ignites, a Class D Combustible Metal fire will occur. In the event that the plastic pouch containing the FRH melts and the contents are exposed to water, hydrogen gas may be produced. ... “Unused MRE heaters…are considered…a hazardous waste.
Do not overfill the food heater, and don't seal it too tight. MREs come with a food heater that requires only a couple of ounces and a few minutes to get your entree off-the-stove hot. Adding more water does not make it hotter, but it will cause the pouch to burst open from added pressure.
An FRH heats food without the need for fire – safely and quickly. ... Zesto-Therm FRH MRE heaters are easy to store and have a five year shelf life. Spent pads are easily disposed, with no toxic materials. The FRHs are made from powdered food grade iron, magnesium, and sodium.
While the myth that the gum found in MREs contains a laxative is false (however, they are sweetened with xylitol, a mild laxative), the crackers in the ration pack do contain a higher than normal vegetable content to facilitate digestion.
Soldiers can choose from up to 24 entrees, and more than an additional 150 items in the MRE chain. MREs must be capable of withstanding parachute drops from 1,250 feet, and non-parachute drops of 100 feet.
Much of this cost comes from the packaging, each meal component typically being housed in a heavy duty plastic wrapper inside a cardboard box, and the entirety of a meal's contents make contained in a heavy vinyl plastic. Processing and extensive packaging are responsible for much of the cost of an MRE.
It has enough calories to sustain a human being for a whole day. Mind you, it is not enough to just eat one MRE per day, but you could survive for a very long time on its hearty 1,300 calorie count. Most people report bloating, gas, severe fatigue and intense constipation after eating just a few.
In 1996, military MREs (meals ready to eat) started appearing with the message that the meals are designed for military personnel and that they are not for resale. ... It is also illegal for civilians to buy MRE meals as they are government property.
Despite the strict diet of non-perishable MRE items contributing to fewer bowel movements — defecation reportedly returned to normal once participants resumed their regular diet — participants in the MRE group fared just as well as their non-MRE counterparts when it came to gastrointestinal health.
The short of it is - the hotter it gets, the faster the shelf life of an MRE deteriorates. This makes them an especially poor choice for vehicular storage where temperature extremes are a fact of life. MRE's only offer a 3 - 5 year shelf life on average if properly stored.
The heater is a simple combination of powdered food grade iron and magnesium, salt, and water. When water is poured onto the included heater pad, the heater releases enough heat to warm-up the pre-cooked meal to 100+ degrees Fahrenheit in approximately 12 minutes.
So, used and unused food heaters can be disposed of as ordinary trash. Large quantities of FRH food heaters can be returned to our factory for recycling for a nominal fee. Please call us toll free at 1-800-503-4483 for the details.