Each individual MRE meal kit contains approximately 1200 calories and 1/3 of the military’s recommended amount of vitamins and minerals. It is important to note that the average citizen will not require the suggested 3 MRE meals a day to keep them sustained, particularly if they are not burning excessive calories. Depending on storage temperatures, the average shelf life for an MRE is 11 years.

MRE menus have come a long way from their humble beginnings in the 1970’s. There are now 24 different meals, including 4 vegetarian meals, to choose from. This range of menu items is bound to please even the most picky eater as it is the military's wish that its servicemen and women are well nourished while on duty.

Each MRE comes with an entrée, a side dish, bread or crackers with an accompanying jelly or spread, dessert, candy, hot and cold beverages, hot sauce or seasoning, an accessories packet, and a flameless ration heater. 2010 entrees vary from chicken pesto and pasta to cheese tortellini.

Although everything in an MRE pack can be eaten cold and right out of the individual pouches, it is highly recommended to take advantage of the flameless ration heater, as it enhances the flavor of the food. All that is required to heat your MRE is a small amount of water. This causes an environmentally friendly chemical reaction inside the pouch, causing the temperature of the water to rise rapidly, heating the food in 12 minutes.

If you are interested in MRE meals, you can purchase them online.  Below are auction items where you can buy military MRE cases at discount prices.

NEW!!! Army Military MRE Camping Meal Chicken & Noodles    US $.99

Case A Military MRE's Meals Ready to Eat Insp 2010    US $36.00

Cold Weather Meals Mre's    US $50.00

Fresh Sealed Case-B MRE's (Meals 13-24)Test Date 11/11    US $41.00

MRE- Military Rations- Meals Ready to Eat (Lot of 13)    US $22.50

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

UNOPENED BOXES OF CLASS B MILITARY MRE's    US $40.00

Military MRE Entree Minestrone Camping Food 2010 Sealed    US $.99

26 MRE Entres and Side Dishes in Packets    US $41.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S SNACK CHEDDAR/NACHO CHEESE PRETZELS    US $1.75

Up to 25 cases MREs Meals Ready to Eat. Military Grade    US $65.00

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The ER Food Bar is prepackaged into a daily ration. Each ration provides 100% of the daily nutrients, vitamins and calories needed to survive an emergency. There is no cooking or preparation require. Emergency rations are specially formulated not to provoke thirst and come in a variety of flavors including lemon-vanilla. There is no cholesterol. For those having food allergies, emergency rations do not have nuts or tropical oils. ER Food Bars have a 5-year shelf life.

MREs have been used by the US Military for years. MREs have a shelf-life of five to eight years. Military MREs are, basically, field rations. However, todays MREs are distinctly different and better tasting than were the old C-Rations. A complete MRE meal will include an entrée, a desert, a snack, a side dish, crackers or bread, a beverage base and an accessory pack which includes instant coffee. MREs are best warmed but may be eaten cold. MREs are not a long-term storage food. The best use for an MRE is to be prepared for an emergency or disaster of short-term duration.  You can buy military MREs or try the various civilian MREs available which are just as good.

Freeze dried foods are generally pre-seasoned and pre-cooked. All that is needed to prepare freeze dried foods is to cook or to rehydrate the foods using hot water. Freeze dried foods are the easiest and fastest of the long-term food foods to prepare. Since most freeze dried foods are seasoned, they generally better taste than other emergency foods.

Dehydrated foods are either a single ingredient food or mix. A single ingredient food would be, for example, rice. Mixes include, for example, soups. The mixes have been seasoned and are a complete meal. However, most dehydrated foods are single ingredient food without any seasoning. Dehydrated foods need to be cooked. Water is added to rehydrate the raw food. Dehydrated food may be cooked either on a stovetop or by adding boiling water and allowing the food to steep. When using only boiling water to cook dehydrated food, preparing the dehydrated food will take much longer than would the freeze dried food because freeze dried food has been precooked. Dehydrated foods have a shelf life of at least 25 years.

CHILI_MAC - 6 PAK (same as 2+ Cans) DISASTER & CAMPING    US $33.94

NEW!!! Army Military MRE Camping Meal Chicken & Noodles    US $.99

Case A Military MRE's Meals Ready to Eat Insp 2010    US $36.00

Cold Weather Meals Mre's    US $50.00

Fresh Sealed Case-B MRE's (Meals 13-24)Test Date 11/11    US $41.00

MRE- Military Rations- Meals Ready to Eat (Lot of 13)    US $22.50

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

26 MRE Entres and Side Dishes in Packets    US $41.00

Up to 25 cases MREs Meals Ready to Eat. Military Grade    US $65.00

Very Fresh Case-A MRE's (Meals 1-12)Test Date 6/2012    US $46.00

2 Cases 24 MRE Genuine Military Meal FRESH 2011 SEALED    US $189.99

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These meals originally came in plain brown boxes, and food choices were limited. Taste was also an issue as well. After numerous complaints from soldiers military scientists decided to beef up their act and create better tasting foods in newly designed packages. The new bag designs came into play in 2008 along with the MRE XXVI.

In 1987 the MRE menu consisted of only twelve food items. As the years progressed the number of food items increased as well. Currently the numbers of food items in the Military MRE Menu 2011 are (24). While some of the food items are the same, there have been some additions, as well as some improvements. The military prides itself on healthy, and well balanced meals, for their working men and women. The menu changes as often as the military deem fit, they must constantly keep up with the needs, and demands of it soldiers.

NEW!!! Army Military MRE Camping Meal Chicken & Noodles    US $.99

Case A Military MRE's Meals Ready to Eat Insp 2010    US $36.00

Cold Weather Meals Mre's    US $50.00

Fresh Sealed Case-B MRE's (Meals 13-24)Test Date 11/11    US $41.00

MRE- Military Rations- Meals Ready to Eat (Lot of 13)    US $22.50

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

UNOPENED BOXES OF CLASS B MILITARY MRE's    US $40.00

Military MRE Entree Minestrone Camping Food 2010 Sealed    US $.99

26 MRE Entres and Side Dishes in Packets    US $41.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S SNACK CHEDDAR/NACHO CHEESE PRETZELS    US $1.75

Up to 25 cases MREs Meals Ready to Eat. Military Grade    US $65.00

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The basic menu consists of a combination of meats, pasta, and vegetables. With the new and improved menu; some new food items have been added, and some previous food items have been removed. The menu of the new Military MRE Menu 2011 is as follows:

Chili w/ Beans, Chicken Fajita, Beef Ravioli, Maple Sausage, Mediterranean Chicken, Beef Patty, Beef Brisket, Meatballs w/ Marinara, Beef Stew, Chili & Macaroni, Vegetable Lasagna, Spicy Penne Pasta, Cheese Tortellini, Ratatouille, Southwest Beef & Black Beans, Pork Ribs, Pork Sausage w/ Gravy, Chicken w/ Noodles, Pot Roast w/ Vegetables, Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce, Lemon Pepper Tuna, Chicken w/ Dumplings, Chicken Pesto & Pasta, and Buffalo Chicken.

The main new additions in the 2011 Military menu are the; Lemon Pepper Tuna, Ratatouille, Pork Sausage w/ Gravy.  There has also been some food revision in the snacks, dessert, and condiment selection as well. The deleted food items from the 2010 menu are the; Veggie Burger w/ BBQ Sauce, Sloppy Joe, and the Plain tuna. The Military MRE Menu 2011 currently has 24 menus, and four accessories menu that will be readily available soon.

You can find military MREs or military grade MREs for sale on various websites and can be ordered online by anyone. They can be ordered by the case or per package. Every so often the military changes the way it does things. Obviously, the military scientists are always tinkering for the best taste and nutritional value.   In this case, progressive changes are good and the new military MRE menu is eagerly anticipated.

CHILI_MAC - 6 PAK (same as 2+ Cans) DISASTER & CAMPING    US $33.94

NEW!!! Army Military MRE Camping Meal Chicken & Noodles    US $.99

Case A Military MRE's Meals Ready to Eat Insp 2010    US $36.00

MRE case A insp 10/2011    US $41.00

MRE case A insp 3/10    US $30.00

Cold Weather Meals Mre's    US $50.00

Fresh Sealed Case-B MRE's (Meals 13-24)Test Date 11/11    US $41.00

MRE- Military Rations- Meals Ready to Eat (Lot of 13)    US $22.50

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

UNOPENED BOXES OF CLASS B MILITARY MRE's    US $40.00

Military MRE Entree Minestrone Camping Food 2010 Sealed    US $.99

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Here is a list of the military 2010 MRE menu.

01  Chili w/ Beans

02 Pork Rib

03 Beef Ravioli

04 Maple Sausage

05 Mediterranean Chicken

06 Chicken w/ Noodles

07 Beef Brisket

08 Meatballs w/ Marinara Sauce

09 Beef Stew

10 Chili and Macaroni

11 Vegetable Lasagna

12 Veggie Burger w/ BBQ Sauce

13 Cheese Tortellini

14 Spicy Penne Pasta w/ Vegetarian Sausage

15 Southwest Beef & Black Beans

16 Chicken Fajita

17 Sloppy Joe

18 Beef Patty

19 Beef Roast w/ Vegetables

20 Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce

21 Tuna

22 Chicken and Dumplings

23 Chicken Pesto Pasta

24 Buffalo Chicken

Military MREs are subject to stricter requirements than civilian MREs.  This is because these food rations are for operational and field use.  For highly active individuals, MREs must meet their nutritional needs.  Each military MRE is one self contained individual meal package which has about 1200 calories.  Each MRE case has twelve different meals so that provides the service members some variety which in turn encourages that proper nutritional needs are met.  Beyond nutritional requirements, military MREs meals are regulated for proper packaging.  This is to make sure that the MRE meal contents won’t be spoiled with variable temperatures from high altitude drops or scorching desert temperatures.  Therefore, the shelf life of MREs varies according to their storage conditions.  In ideal conditions, MREs are said to be good for as long as eleven years.  In high heat temperatures hitting 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees the expected shelf life is nine months.  For what is considered normal conditions, the shelf life is three and a half years at 81 degrees Fahrenheit or 27 degrees Celcius.

NEW!!! Army Military MRE Camping Meal Chicken & Noodles    US $.99

Case A Military MRE's Meals Ready to Eat Insp 2010    US $36.00

Cold Weather Meals Mre's    US $50.00

Fresh Sealed Case-B MRE's (Meals 13-24)Test Date 11/11    US $41.00

MRE- Military Rations- Meals Ready to Eat (Lot of 13)    US $22.50

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

UNOPENED BOXES OF CLASS B MILITARY MRE's    US $40.00

Military MRE Entree Minestrone Camping Food 2010 Sealed    US $.99

26 MRE Entres and Side Dishes in Packets    US $41.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S SNACK CHEDDAR/NACHO CHEESE PRETZELS    US $1.75

Up to 25 cases MREs Meals Ready to Eat. Military Grade    US $65.00

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MREs have often been compared with freeze dried food as well since it is used by the government to provide for service members as well along with the disaster relief efforts.  Freeze dried food pouches and cans do have the advantage of having longer shelf life than MRE meals.  With the Mountain House freeze dried food, they purport to last up to 25 years in the right storage conditions.  Freeze dried food is easy to consume as well.  All you have to do is add water and it comes out tasting very much like the original menu.  You can also find pretty extensive menus for Mountain House freeze dried food.  As far as cost goes, freeze dried food costs less than an individual MRE meal.

If you are looking for the 2009 military MRE menu, you can find it below:

01  Chili with Beans
02  Pork Rib
03  Beef Ravioli
04  Maple Sausage
05  Chicken Breast
06  Chicken w/Noodles
07  Brisket Entree
08  Meatballs with Marinara
09  Beef Stew
10  Chili & Macaroni
11  Vegetable Lasagna
12  Veggie Burger with BBQ Sauce
13  Cheese Tortellini
14  Spicy Penne Pasta
15  Beef Enchilada
16  Chicken Fajita
17  Sloppy Joe
18  Beef Patty
19  Pot Roast with Vegetables
20  Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
21  Tuna
22  Chicken with Dumplings
23  Chicken Pesto & Pasta
24  Buffalo Chicken

Freeze dried camping meals and MRE packs are a complete individual meal designed to meet your nutritional needs after strenuous physical activity.  Whether you prefer freeze dried food or MRE meals, there are advantages to both.

If you buy military MREs, you know that they have met the most stringent of tests in terms of field readiness.   Military MREs also contain flameless ration heaters that just require water activation so you can enjoy a hot meal without the need of a camp fire.  With civilian MREs, the FRH is optional on some packages and they are generally more expensive too averaging seven to eight dollars per meal.  Camping freeze dried food pouches on the other hand average four to five dollars a meal.  Obviously, in both instances if you buy in bulk MRE cases or freeze dried food cans, this will reduce the overall cost.  Another advantage for freeze dried food is that it weighs less than MREs.

CHILI_MAC - 6 PAK (same as 2+ Cans) DISASTER & CAMPING    US $33.94

1 CASE BACKPACKER's - 7 DAY BREAKFAST VARIETY PAK    US $34.93

FREEZE DRIED APPLES FRUIT FOOD SURVIVAL EMERGENCY SM    US $14.09

FREEZE DRIED PEACHES FRUIT SURVIVAL EMERGENCY FOOD SM    US $17.85

FREEZE DRIED RASPBERRIES BERRIES FRUIT CAMPING FOOD SM    US $17.85

Mountain House & Gourmet Reserves Can Assortment    US $149.30

Mountain House Freeze Dried Food - 7-Day Just In Case    US $96.00

1 #10 CAN MOUNTAIN HOUSE 100% DICED BEEF NEW 25+ YR    US $50.20

Mountain House assorted meals, entrees, desserts, sides    US $29.77

EMERGENCY FOOD SURVIVAL SEED NON-GMO NON-HYBRID 17,000    US $19.99

CASE VANILLA PUDDING 6 LARGE #10 CANS SURVIVAL FOOD    US $78.01

28 CASES MOUNTAIN HOUSE, 168 POUCHES FRESH Pre COOKED    US $895.40

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There has also been some debate on which tastes better, freeze dried food or MRE meals ready to eat.  Obviously, this is up to personal tastes – literally.  The process of freeze drying food does preserve the taste very well and rehydrating it with water makes it a hearty meal.  And while there have been jokes at the expense of MRE meals with respect to taste, both the military version and the civilian version are always making new menus to style to accommodate their clients.  This also includes providing vegetarian meals and Kosher/Halal MRE meals.

There are many positives to freeze dried food for camping or MRE camping meals.  In both instances, you’re getting a convenient ready to eat meal.  Moreover, there are also other advantages such as keeping these food rations in stock for emergency food supplies.  Freeze dried food has a greater shelf life than MREs but if you’re going camping, hiking or backpacking often, you’ll undoubtedly need to restock no matter what camping food you pick.

U.S. military MREs are actually not supposed to be sold for commercial purposes.  However, this doesn’t stop sales of cases of MRE on eBay.  If you have no problem with buying military MRE, things you want to look out for are the packing and inspection date and the menu offered.  You also have to be aware that since this sale is prohibited by the U.S. government, you’ll have little recourse in legal actions should you find something wrong with your MRE.  In other words, buyer beware.  Since the military MRE comes to you second hand, you also do not have any idea how it was stored and what temperature conditions it was subjected to.  On the other hand, if you do get your hands on a case of genuine military MRE, it is a bigger meal than the civilian version and there’s more variety in the case as well.  Military MREs are also less expensive than civilian MREs.

AlpineAire Foods Mountain Chili - Serves 2    US $6.03

AlpineAire Foods Mexican Rice w/ Cheese - Serves    US $4.13

Case A Military MRE's Meals Ready to Eat Insp 2010    US $36.00

MRE- Military Rations- Meals Ready to Eat (Lot of 13)    US $22.50

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

26 MRE Entres and Side Dishes in Packets    US $41.00

Up to 25 cases MREs Meals Ready to Eat. Military Grade    US $65.00

10 Heater Meals 3 Entrees - MRE MREs MRE's    US $9.99

9 Heater Meals 3 Entrees - MRE MREs MRE's    US $9.99

5 MRE's (Meals-Ready-to-Eat)    US $10.50

Emergency Survival Food - Yoder's Canned Bacon    US $17.45

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The manufacturers of civilian meals ready to eat are listening to the public demands for more variety in the menus.  Each year, a greater selection emerges.  There are five main brands of civilian food rations and they include:  Ameriqual aPack, Sopakco Sure-Pak 12, Wornick Eversafe, Menu C, MREStar.  The packaging and contents of these companies are quite similar to the military version as the first three companies listed actually produce MREs for the military.  If you are buying civilian MREs, the chances are it won’t be left in the scorching desert sun and will be “fresher” when you get it.   You can then properly store it for your own emergency preparation without worries if it will go bad.

Whichever MRE meals you choose, be it military or civilian, know that you are doing the right thing in being prepared for any disaster.

Most survival experts say that in case of an emergency, you should have a kit prepared to provide you with food and shelter for the first 72 hours.  That is how long you are expected to hold out for until help arrives.  Looking around your house, if you were to be stuck in there without clean food or water, can you make it?  That is why you should have a clean source of drinking water available and emergency ration packs such as MRE meals ready to eat stocked up.

For drinking water, that is easy enough to get as you can buy gallons of pure bottled water.  For survival food supplies, there are many options such as canned food, freeze dried food or MRE meals.  All are excellent options in an emergency and it just depends on your preference of taste, storage and the convenience factor.

CHILI_MAC - 6 PAK (same as 2+ Cans) DISASTER & CAMPING    US $33.94

NEW!!! Army Military MRE Camping Meal Chicken & Noodles    US $.99

Case A Military MRE's Meals Ready to Eat Insp 2010    US $36.00

Cold Weather Meals Mre's    US $50.00

Fresh Sealed Case-B MRE's (Meals 13-24)Test Date 11/11    US $41.00

MRE- Military Rations- Meals Ready to Eat (Lot of 13)    US $22.50

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

26 MRE Entres and Side Dishes in Packets    US $41.00

Up to 25 cases MREs Meals Ready to Eat. Military Grade    US $65.00

Very Fresh Case-A MRE's (Meals 1-12)Test Date 6/2012    US $46.00

2 Cases 24 MRE Genuine Military Meal FRESH 2011 SEALED    US $189.99

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Obviously for canned foods, you will need to know where to find your can opener in an emergency.  Will you need to reheat it or can you eat it cold?  For freeze dried food, they can also come in cans or vacuum sealed bags for individual meal packs.  All you need to do is pour water and it tastes just like the original recipe.  For MRE meals, they also come in individual ration packs and if the pack calls for it, a flameless ration heater to eat up the entrée.  Regardless of what decision you make on emergency food supplies, these are also very good options for hiking, camping and backpacking for their convenience, portability, and being lightweight.  Also, let’s face it, sometimes it is also fun to eat out of your individual meal pack and explore the different menus.  Some of these are quite delicious to eat and families have even incorporated them into their regular meal plans.

While it is all fun and games to taste test the emergency rations, there comes a time when you have to decide what you should have in an emergency situation.  Do yourself a favor and be prepared for a crisis situation by having a disaster kit stocked in your house with MRE meals and freeze dried food cans and pouches available.

Most people are woefully ignorant in gathering emergency supplies they need beyond having a first aid kit in their house.  When you are stuck in your house for days on end, make sure you have at least enough food and water available for each member of your household in the first 72 hours. You might think that is not a big deal since you probably have enough food to last you for 3 days but consider that in a power outage, the food can go bad.  How will you cook the food?  In a flood, the food can also spoil if it is kept in the basement.

This is why MRE meals ready to eat are ideal to have as emergency food ration packs since they were originally designed for the military.  After Hurricane Katrina, people realized how important it is to stock up on emergency meals that are self contained and ready to eat.

Coleman 5010D700T Camp Oven NEW NIB    US $39.93

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

Military MRE Entree Minestrone Camping Food 2010 Sealed    US $.99

10 Heater Meals 3 Entrees - MRE MREs MRE's    US $9.99

9 Heater Meals 3 Entrees - MRE MREs MRE's    US $9.99

Coleman 24 Pc Set Dining Kit Camping Red Cookware NEW    US $54.99

German Military Surplus Butter Dish Brand New Condition    US $4.99

New 6 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven With Legs    US $32.95

Coleman Grill Stove Griddle Camping Tailgating Pancakes    US $36.49

Sopakco MRE, Meals Ready to Eat Emergency Food 12 Case    US $103.95

1 Case Powdered Egg Powder Freeze Dried Food    US $111.99

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Of course, it doesn’t need to be an emergency for you to enjoy a MRE.  Some people actually like the convenience of these packages when they have nothing else available in the house.  They are also great to take along as camping meals, backpacking food, or mountain house food when you are out in the wilderness.  Manufacturers now are clueing in on the demand of civilian MREs for such occasions.  Taste wise, meals ready to eat are quite palatable.  New menus are out every year and each MRE is really a full meal that generally contains the following items: main course, side dish, dessert, cracker or bread along with the spread, powdered mix for drink, utensils, flameless ration heater and other eating accessories.

It really is a wise decision to buy MRE packs and keep a few cases on hand.  The uses for these are multiple as stated but it all comes down to providing sustenance in a time of need and saving lives.