I know better, but I'll ask anyway - why not MRE's

[Lynn]

I can't stand mac and cheese, but if you can... However, it doesn't really meet the OPs concern about easy clean-up. Maybe after you cook the mac you could put it in a freezer bag with the cheese? Then just throw away the bag?

One thing I really used to like for backpacking meals was Shin ramen noodles from the oriental food store (not the top raman stuff).

Dump it in a pan with some hot water for a few minutes, then drain it and add cheese and/or diced ham. Yum.

 

[BKCowGod]

I can't stand mac and cheese, but if you can... However, it doesn't really meet the OPs concern about easy clean-up. Maybe after you cook the mac you could put it in a freezer bag with the cheese? Then just throw away the bag?

Um... After I cook the mac, I usually put it in my stomach with the cheese. It comes in a paper bowl that you can burn or crumple and deal with later.

 

[gonejeeping15]

heaters

Several years ago (OK, 10), when I was on the SAR team, I thought MREs would be a great thing to carry along. And I did to some extent: stripped-down. One guy we found after he spent a cold night, buried in pine needles trying to keep warm, was particularly happy to get a hot meal. And I've got a few in my emergency kit.

However (at least back then?) it's hard to get the heaters. AFIK the chemical heaters can't be sent by mail, so the mail-order sources sell the MREs without the heaters, and most I saw for sale in surplus stores lacked the heaters, as well. Someone prove me wrong on this one.

On the other hand, the backpacking stuff like Mountain House is readily available and typically cheaper.

One of these days I want to really spend some time with that 'no refrigeration required' thread (and link), to see if I can find recipes my family likes, then assemble DIY MREs for camping and emergency kits

That's what c-4 was for?

 

[Lynn]

Um... After I cook the mac, I usually put it in my stomach with the cheese. It comes in a paper bowl that you can burn or crumple and deal with later.

Guess I hadn't seen the in-the-bowl mac and cheese. I'm used to the stuff that requires a pan and is hard to clean out. But, as you can imagine from my first line, I hadn't looked.

 

[Project510]

I keep a few MRE's handy for emergencies, or if going on really short camping trips and I am alone and want to bring as little as possible. Anything longer than 2 days, or any trips with the wife we pre-cook/package what we can.

That's pretty much the reason I bought the fridge.

They are deff bulky if you bring them un-opened. I guess if you were back-packing you cold jsut bring the main part of the meal in its box and that would be much smaller..

 

[Black Dog]

One of these days I want to really spend some time with that 'no refrigeration required' thread (and link), to see if I can find recipes my family likes, then assemble DIY MREs for camping and emergency kits

You might check out http://www.backpackingchef.com as your first step in the DIY MREs. And a while back I had a thread here that I posted a link to another forum where the guy showed off his DIY MREs but I can't seem to find it now. Its probably still here though if you look for it hard enough.

 

[jim65wagon]

I gotta agree with FlyFishExpert on this one. Pictures of his food speaks truth.
.
Why not MREs? I'm not in the military, I'm not backpacking, and I'm not roughing it. There is room in the truck to pack Porterhouses, escargot, real bread, bottles of wine and makings for pie.
.
If it means doing some dishes in the dark before a bear comes calling, so be it.
.
There is absolutely nothing better than a well prepared meal, a glass of wine, and a nice fire to make your horrible workweek disappear.....

 

[stankfoot]

MRE= Meal Refused by Ethiopian.

they are not that good. they have gotten better. i agree with james. if i am driving the jeep why not pack some nice steaks, eggs, pancakes, a nice salad and other goodies.

 

[EdwardBernal]

Looks like I ran with the culinary-challenged contingent of the ARSES on my initial
campout - loooks like I'll have some competition this spring...

 

[overlander]

On a positive note, the MRE's have gotten much better in last few years. Seems everyone time we go to the field and open a box, there's a few new entrees we've never seen before. And it also seems that vegans are taking over the military as the vegetarian choices are increasing dramatically.

 

[jim65wagon]

Looks like I ran with the culinary-challenged contingent of the ARSES on my initial
campout - loooks like I'll have some competition this spring...

You were running with Al, his most impressive meal to date has been Spam on a Plank:sombrero:

 

[NothingClever]

Ultra high in calories. Better be doin' some high-octane exercises to burn off the ton of calories if you eat more than one in a day. Agree with everybody else here....great for emergencies but why eat them if you can carry some quality ingredients?

 

[Yossa]

I don`t know what they cost in the US, but most MRE`s in Europe (including American brands) are quite expensive for what they are - around 7 USD per ration. 7 bucks for some crappy pasta in a hideous chemical-tasting sauce? Not if I can help it! As an emergency item or if I´m doing some serious winter climbing, then I´ll pack them , but sometimes I`d rather eat the packet than the contents or toss them straight down the crapper and cut out the middle man...

 

[john101477]

You were running with Al, his most impressive meal to date has been Spam on a Plank:sombrero:

ok that might be the funniest thing I have read in a month of sundays.


I do like mountain house foods for hiking or if I am out alone. dinner time and clean up get in the way of me taking pictures lol.
If I am out with the family, we generally eat like royalty for breakfast and dinner and something quick for lunch. I enjoy cooking a lot and am one of those spur of the moment cooks that can make almost anything with mismatched groceries. I dont do spam, bologna, or brussel sprouts though.

 

[Project510]

I don`t know what they cost in the US, but most MRE`s in Europe (including American brands) are quite expensive for what they are - around 7 USD per ration. 7 bucks for some crappy pasta in a hideous chemical-tasting sauce? Not if I can help it! As an emergency item or if I´m doing some serious winter climbing, then I´ll pack them , but sometimes I`d rather eat the packet than the contents or toss them straight down the crapper and cut out the middle man...

Totally forgot to add in the cost to the debate..

Another reason why I bring them when I camp alone is I do not actually pay for them. Another plus. The food is not bad at all.. but I do not think I would pay for it.