How Many Of You Keep MRE's Handy, "Just In Case"?

[Hank Ellis]

By the way I'm getting conflicting reports on how long MRE's really last. What's the longest you've stored them, and what is the best way to do so? Fridge, freezer, or room temp? Thanks again.   Bill T.

Once the power goes out you chow down on what's in the 'fridge and freezer. After 3 days things start to go bad in the 'fridge. After a week the freezer contents are getting questionable. This assumes that ice isn't available, which after a major storm won't be for 3 days. And it also assumes that you don't have a generator to keep the fridge/freezer going. By the end of the week things normally get going and the markets are back open. But every so often the power is out for an extended period of time, fuel is difficult to get, and you have to dig into your emergency food stash. MREs. Down here in hurricane alley having MREs is considered normal, acceptable and a sign that you've been here a while.

During hurricane Gustave a large red oak fell crushing my house. Under the oak was the freezer. That food is gone. I switched to MREs while the wife worked the 'fridge. I had two batches of MREs. One was a case I purchased just prior to Y2K so they were about 10 years old. The other case was salvaged from a Civil Air Patrol squadron that was disbanding. It was kept in a conex container and subjected to extreme heat and cold. The date stamp showed it was 20 years old.

The 10 year old case was pretty darn good. Everything in good shape. The 20 year case was a different matter. All the food had a odd taste. The candy tasted like I wiped by butt with it. I didn't get sick but it wasn't a pleasant experience. Properly stored, MREs can easily last 10 to 15 years.

{One of these days I'd like to get debriefed by Banes and Pincus on what I went through during Gustave. Going through a hurricane is bad enough. Losing your shelter and most of your food jacks the danger level a notch.}

[Jackel]

Y2K? really? 

[tombogan03884]

Once the power goes out you chow down on what's in the 'fridge and freezer. After 3 days things start to go bad in the 'fridge. After a week the freezer contents are getting questionable. This assumes that ice isn't available, which after a major storm won't be for 3 days. And it also assumes that you don't have a generator to keep the fridge/freezer going. By the end of the week things normally get going and the markets are back open. But every so often the power is out for an extended period of time, fuel is difficult to get, and you have to dig into your emergency food stash. MREs. Down here in hurricane alley having MREs is considered normal, acceptable and a sign that you've been here a while.

During hurricane Gustave a large red oak fell crushing my house. Under the oak was the freezer. That food is gone. I switched to MREs while the wife worked the 'fridge. I had two batches of MREs. One was a case I purchased just prior to Y2K so they were about 10 years old. The other case was salvaged from a Civil Air Patrol squadron that was disbanding. It was kept in a conex container and subjected to extreme heat and cold. The date stamp showed it was 20 years old.

The 10 year old case was pretty darn good. Everything in good shape. The 20 year case was a different matter. All the food had a odd taste. The candy tasted like I wiped by butt with it. I didn't get sick but it wasn't a pleasant experience. Properly stored, MREs can easily last 10 to 15 years.

{One of these days I'd like to get debriefed by Banes and Pincus on what I went through during Gustave. Going through a hurricane is bad enough. Losing your shelter and most of your food jacks the danger level a notch.}

Up here in NH a major storm IS ice, refrigeration is no problem.

[Timothy]

Up here in NH a major storm IS ice, refrigeration is no problem.

And the word drought is something that occurs every twenty years or so.....and lasts about two weeks....

[tombogan03884]

Back in the 60's we had a drought that lasted a couple years, I remember my Dad hauling water from the spring fed pond at his buddies gravel pit in milk cans because the well went dry.

[Sponsor]

[CJS3]

I keep a case on hand as part of my hurricane kit. I'll use them over the year (hunting trips, camp outs with the grandkids), then I'll replenish my supply in the spring for the next season. They don't all get used, so when I do use them I'll use the older ones first.

[Ping]

Several cases of ramen noodles and plenty of water to hydrate. Then again, I would choose MRE's. They are edible and provide enough calories to accomplish the mission. Depending on the number of people I would prefer two a day for a crew of five for two weeks.

[tfr270]

I have a couple of cases of MRE's for two weeks worth of emergency food for the wife and I. Plus five cases of the water pouches. Plus about 30 gallons of water in containers that I rotate. Plus a bunch of those hardtack like calorie bars for extreme emergency. We also buy an extra of this or that canned food or dried goods; tuna, soup, pasta, sauce, rice, beans....we'll work through the fridge and freezer first, then the cupboard, then the rations. Water is the commodity I worry about most. Wouldn't mind increasing my storage capacity for water. This is predicated on staying for a bit though....if I decided to bug out the easy to carry stuff comes with and we head for hills...one of two spots we've picked out that we have access to.