Frequently Asked Questions About MRE Meals
If you have spent any time in the military or if you enjoy activities like camping and hiking, you may have heard of MRE meals such as one from XMRE. These are specially designed meals that can be eaten without any preparation. In fact, the acronym MRE stands for “meals ready to eat”. You can tear open the packaging and start eating immediately without any need to waste time, making them a convenient option for situations where you don’t have a lot of time or space to prepare food.
One unique feature of these meals is that they also have a flameless heater included in the packaging. This heater is used to heat up the food as quickly as possible without the need for electricity. It works by combining certain chemicals with water to create a chemical reaction that produces heat.
These heaters make it possible to enjoy a hot meal anywhere that you are without needing to worry about whether you have access to a stove or microwave. You also don’t need to waste time trying to build a fire. Instead, all you have to do is activate the flameless heater and wait a few minutes for your meal to heat up. Here are some of the most common questions that people have about MRE meals:
Q: How long do MRE meals last?
MRE meals have a shelf life of about five years. With proper storage, however, they can last even longer than that. That makes them a good option for people who are stocking in emergency supplies. Having these meals available during a disaster can make a real difference in your chances of surviving.
Q: How can you tell if your MRE meal is expired?
Unfortunately, these meals don’t have expiration dates printed on them. That can make it a little bit difficult to tell when they have expired. They do, however, have the date that they were manufactured printed on them. Generally, a good rule of thumb is to count forward five years from that date. If you are beyond the five-year mark, there is a good chance that the meal has expired. You can also smell the food to make sure that it doesn’t have any unusual odors.
Q: How do you heat up an MRE?
The process of heating up an MRE is a lot easier than you might think. All that you need is the heater that was included in your kit along with a very small amount of water. The heater is essentially a flat bag that has special chemicals inside. At the bottom of the bag, there is a printed fill line. All that you have to do is add water up to the fill line. Make sure not to overfill the heater.
Once the water has been added, the chemical reaction that creates heat will begin. At that point, all that you have to do is slide the prepackaged meal into the heater and set it aside to heat up. Then, it is simply a matter of waiting a little while for the food to heat all the way through before you eat it. As you can see, this is far easier than trying to build a fire and heat up food when you are out in the wild. It is also perfect for situations where you don’t have access to electricity or cooking supplies.
Q: Do MRE meals have to be heated?
One of the great things about these meals is that they can be eaten cold as well as hot. Sometimes, you may not have time to wait for the flameless heater to heat up the food. In those cases, you can eat the food straight out of the packaging without having to worry about stopping to heat it. This can be a good option if you are in a hurry or if you are in a situation where using the flameless heater would be too cumbersome.
Q: How many calories do these meals have?
Most MRE meals have anywhere from about 1,200-1,300 calories. Of course, that number can vary depending on the items that are included in the meal.
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about MRE meals, if you still need more information about MREs then you visit Survival Food Super. Hopefully, they have helped you decide whether or not these meals are the right choice for you.
