recommended MRE source? Trays any good?

[none1]

Hi all! I stocked a couple boxes of MREs a few years back, been slowly eating them on camp trips. Now its time to buy more .....

1) Anyone got a good recommendation for brand or source for MREs? Where's a good price?
2) Anyone tried any of the MRE trays? They look REALLY cheap (like, $10 for pounds of food). Do they last as long as full MREs?

Thanks for any current tips!

[woodsghost]

Personally, I would go with government MREs, and the best places are Ebay and your local surplus place. At least, Ebay used to be a good place. I have not looked at them in a few years. I currently go though local surplus places.

There are certain issues with buying government ones, so they are not sold in large quantities, last I checked. Well, your local surplus place does not care how many you buy, only that your money is green.

Check this place out for important information:

http://www.mreinfo.com/

[spanningtree]

Give http://theepicenter.com/ a check.

[crypto]

The t-rat trays taste pretty much like MREs. They're a good deal if you have enough mouths to feed. Not so much if there's only a couple people eating.


ETA: I just read a couple sources that say t-rats are only good for 3 years of storage from time of manufacture.

[Dragon80]

The T-Rats are the same as stated and are quite a bit of food. IMO They're far better for the price than MRE's, just much more difficult to carry. The best side I've had personally is the Sweet Potato and Coconut Casserole.

[CrossCut]

The best side I've had personally is the Sweet Potato and Coconut Casserole.

The apples and cinnamon desert here, actually very good.

Haven't bought any since a semi-large order back in about 2004. The trays of cubed potatoes weren't bad, if the gelatinous grease they were packed in was rinsed off in a strainer and the potatoes fried afterwards. The ham slices in brine were tolerable, spamish. The chicken (dumplings, I think) weren't very good imo - but I wasn't starving either. They've been stored at about 65 degs or less since then, next time I have a small crew to feed I'll try to remember to open one, see how well they stored, and report back.

[crypto]

The gigantic tray of sausage links is straight up ridiculous. It's 6lb of sausage. It's all you need to have a sausage party, but good luck getting them all in your mouth.

[Zimmy]

T-rat cheese grits and bacon are damned good.

Until I had shrimp and grits in a restaurant they were the only way I liked grits.

[Murph]

All of the T-Rats I've had have been horrible, especially the breakfast ones. I'd take a MRE over them any day.

[Das Sheep]

Another vote for http://theepicenter.com/

[Tobias05]

Max recommends skipping the T Rat sausages...I think I'll take him at his word.

[ghost792]

Another vote for http://theepicenter.com/

Third vote for The Epicenter. I purchased a half case of MREs and some additional side items from them about 18 months ago. They have a nice variety and they list production dates for all of the individual items. In my experience, their ratings were spot on for entrees and sides.

[none1]

Thanks all!

I went with https://theepicenter.com/mre_military_m ... o_eat.html got a few half boxes to try different brands, then got a TON of "miscellaneous" stuff ... first strike bars, first strike sandwiches, 12 packs of cookies, brownies, other stuff, then a bunch of single main entrees to try out different ones.

Stayed away from the meal trays, as they didn't seem to have good ones in stock at the moment.

Thanks!

[Doctorr Fabulous]

The gigantic tray of sausage links is straight up ridiculous. It's 6lb of sausage. It's all you need to have a sausage party, but good luck getting them all in your mouth.

By contrast, the eggs remind one of the type of thing that would be served on Hell, should Satan be a particularly cruel fellow.

[Gingerbread Man]

I never understood anyone's inclination to store military food. Jesus, that stuff is crap. We had recipes to make all of that stuff palatable, either masking the flavor or changing it drastically. There is a reason that most places have locals who make food for the troops when they pass by, we'd buy anything to avoid eating what they were giving us.

Really, the civilian stuff is light years ahead and after a shitty day of fighting zombies I'd rather have some good food that didn't come back to haunt me in one way or another.

[Dogan]

Another vote for http://theepicenter.com/

No coffee cake? I love the MRE coffee cakes, anyone know where I could get some?

ETA holy shitsnacks the Epicenter is in my AO, gonna have to pay them a visit!

ETA2 and they went through one of the same hurricanes I did.

[TheLastOne]

I never understood anyone's inclination to store military food. Jesus, that stuff is crap. We had recipes to make all of that stuff palatable, either masking the flavor or changing it drastically. There is a reason that most places have locals who make food for the troops when they pass by, we'd buy anything to avoid eating what they were giving us.

Really, the civilian stuff is light years ahead and after a shitty day of fighting zombies I'd rather have some good food that didn't come back to haunt me in one way or another.

Haven't tried the civi version stuff. I keep a couple cases of MRE's on rotation though (epicenter buyer here too btw). I canabalize them for hikes here and there, but mainly leave the shipped packages just the way they are. Easy to just keep 4 cases stacked in the closet. Could toss them in the car if needed in a hurry or they can just hang out there until they 'expire' and I donate them. Might swing a case of the civi's in to give them a try!

[none1]

I never understood anyone's inclination to store military food. Jesus, that stuff is crap. We had recipes to make all of that stuff palatable, either masking the flavor or changing it drastically. There is a reason that most places have locals who make food for the troops when they pass by, we'd buy anything to avoid eating what they were giving us.

Really, the civilian stuff is light years ahead and after a shitty day of fighting zombies I'd rather have some good food that didn't come back to haunt me in one way or another.

Well, MRE are easy and convenient, and in places where there are no fires allowed, they still give you a hot meal where its harder to boil water for the MT House.

I actually don't mind the MRE taste, and don't have issues out the other end either. Long shelf life, and easy fast to go. I do have lots of civy stuff. They're just part of an overall supply.

[Gingerbread Man]

I never understood anyone's inclination to store military food. Jesus, that stuff is crap. We had recipes to make all of that stuff palatable, either masking the flavor or changing it drastically. There is a reason that most places have locals who make food for the troops when they pass by, we'd buy anything to avoid eating what they were giving us.

Really, the civilian stuff is light years ahead and after a shitty day of fighting zombies I'd rather have some good food that didn't come back to haunt me in one way or another.

Well, MRE are easy and convenient, and in places where there are no fires allowed, they still give you a hot meal where its harder to boil water for the MT House.

I actually don't mind the MRE taste, and don't have issues out the other end either. Long shelf life, and easy fast to go. I do have lots of civy stuff. They're just part of an overall supply.

Haven't tried the civi version stuff. I keep a couple cases of MRE's on rotation though (epicenter buyer here too btw). I canabalize them for hikes here and there, but mainly leave the shipped packages just the way they are. Easy to just keep 4 cases stacked in the closet. Could toss them in the car if needed in a hurry or they can just hang out there until they 'expire' and I donate them. Might swing a case of the civi's in to give them a try!

Yeah, I hear y'all and sort of agree but I've lived on those for weeks. I'll pass. Or in the case of my bowels, not.

[jeepinbandtrider]

I've never understood the MREs stop me up complaint. Maybe it's because I grew up eating them on and off with my Dad being an Army Infantryman, but I've never had any digestive issues with MREs. Infact the new ones are so probably better than most American's cooking lol.

The ones I grew up on were the dark brown packaged ones that had things like the Rat poison bar shaped oatmeal bar. That thing was awesome. Loved it. And the freeze dried peaches you could pour water in. I always ate them by biting off a piece then taking a drink of water and swishing it around in my mouth

After I joined the Marine Corps and everyone was miserable eating MREs up "north" at Camp Pendelton during Basic and MCT I was trucking along like it was no big deal in the bowel movement department.

Dunno guess over time and depending on how you grew up things just seem normal and not a big deal.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

Man, I really enjoy MREs now that I don't have to knife-fight to avoid the veggie meals. No-wipers all week.

[uncleben03]

Yet another vote for theepicenter.com from me. They also do great reviews of some of the food products they sell on their YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/user/EpicenterBryan

They are very honest about what they sell on their, giving thumbs down or mediocre reviews of their own product more than once.
I ordered a couple T-rats from them along with probably a full case of different sides and entrees. I'm about to tear into the T-rats because they are reaching their 3-year mark. I'll see if I can remember to post up on how they tasted.

[CrossCut]

So following a recent problem with leaking evaporated milk cans in my deep larder / Long Term Storage foods I've begun the review and re-inventory process, which admittedly may be a few years overdue. The vast majority of this LTS food is buckets of beans, rice, wheat flour, and pasta, and a lot of canned goods. I'm filling our everyday-use pantry to overflowing with the older canned goods to put it into rotation and will buy more to replenish the LTS stores, but in the back corner I find a couple cases of T-Rats and remembered this thread.

They're a little past the re-inspection date:



No bulging noted. Opened and drained off the brine, they look and smell fine:



Ate two out of the tray, they taste like I remember. Spouse wanted to try one but I made her wait an hour in case I should need medical attention lol. Think she likes them more than me. So, guess we'll be frying them up with eggs for breakfast for the next few weeks (assuming no mad dashes to the bathroom at 2am tomorrow morning). The rest of the case is going back to LTS, and need to open a tray of "Potatoes, Diced in Sauce" to see how they fared next.

Oh, and sorry for the late reply

[Laevatein]

Hi all! I stocked a couple boxes of MREs a few years back, been slowly eating them on camp trips. Now its time to buy more .....

1) Anyone got a good recommendation for brand or source for MREs? Where's a good price?
2) Anyone tried any of the MRE trays? They look REALLY cheap (like, $10 for pounds of food). Do they last as long as full MREs?

Thanks for any current tips!

Major Surplus and Survival
Address: 435 W Alondra Blvd, Gardena, CA 90248
Hours: Open ⋅ Closes 6PM
Phone: (310) 324-8855

You can buy just the meal's separately, and not have
to buy the whole pouch.