I had the pleasure of tasting the 1000 Kcal kit – Cold menu and the 2000 Kcal kit – Menu 1 of the MRE rations.
Here is my report!
Focus on these rations
Each of the rations classified by nomenclature 12 and 24 (include 12h and 24h i.e. 1 meal and 2 meals) has food and accessories allowing to be in total autonomy.
You just need to add 60ml of water per hot meal to activate the flameless heater.
The kit does not contain the water necessary for your hydration.
Kit 12 – Cold menu
This kit consists of a cold dish to be eaten directly and a few other elements:
- 1 x Rice and tuna salad, 300 g
- 1 x Isotonic drink, 20 g
- 1 x Fruit paste, 30 g
- 2 x Chocolate Bar, 25g
- 1 x Savory biscuits, 55g
- 1 x Fruit bar, 40 g
- 1 x chewing gum, 2g
You can also find there:
- 4 x Water purification tablets
- 1 x Tissue paper (1 pack of 10 units)
- 1 x Set of cutlery
Nutritional values:
- Energy value in Kcal – 1018
- Energy value in Kj – 4259.3
- Protein in g – 20
- Carbs in g – 167
- Lipids in g – 27
Kit 24 – Menu 1
This 24-hour kit consists of a cold dish to be consumed directly and a few elements:
- 1 x Pasta Bolognese, 300g
- 1 x Garden chicken, 300 g
- 1 x Cake, 85g
- 2 x Isotonic drinks, 20 g
- 1 x Chocolate Bar, 25g
- 1 x Savory biscuits, 125 g
- 2 x Fruit paste, 30 g
- 2 x chewing gum, 2g
You can also find there:
- 4 x Water purification tablets
- 2 x Flameless Heater
- 1 x Tissue paper (1 pack of 10 units)
- 1 x Set of cutlery
Nutritional values:
- Energy value in Kcal – 2062
- Energy value in Kj – 8627.4
- Protein in g – 58
- Carbs in g – 324
- Lipids in g – 55
Zoom on the flameless heater
Rest assured, not only is the manual also in French, but above all it is very easy to use.
It is available for sale individually and is found in all MRE kits with hot dishes and in all self-heating meal kits, there is a choice…
As you can see on the packaging photos, simply open the bag at the level indicated, place your dish still in its airtight packaging and add 60 ml of water (variable according to the heater models).
Finally, you have to close the bag and wait a good ten minutes.
It is the chemical action of the water and the mixture of calcium oxide and dihydroxide that produces a source of heat strong enough to reheat the dish.
This system is very practical because it does not produce a flame.
You are in complete autonomy and you can reheat your dish without using gas, fuel or wood stove and without a microwave.
You can therefore use this system discreetly, without risk in your car or at the office… in short, it is an ideal system!
And the taste in all this?
It’s an emergency ration and not a little meal lovingly cooked at home on a winter’s evening.
The real advantage is not the gastronomic side, but the Kcal intake. This all-in-one kit guarantees you sufficient energy for 12 or 24 hours (depending on the model).
It is complete and offers a savoury dish and a sweet touch.
On the 24-hour MREs, you can also snack on salty crackers all day when you feel hungry.
Be careful, I’m not saying that it’s not good either! It goes far beyond the canteen or the meal tray…
The hot Bolognese pasta dish is even worthy of a good student party!
I’m also quite surprised by the rice and tuna salad.
I really like the little chocolate (very sweet!!!) and the chewing gum after a meal, it’s very pleasant.
To be perfect, you have to add a little coffee, but too bad the Warm Up self-heating coffees are not conclusive…
In use, what does it give?
One can imagine this kind of ration for emergency or occasional use.
When you dig a little deeper, you can see that some athletes or day walkers are happy to use a kit that provides meals and dessert with a very simple heating solution.
No need to bother with cooking equipment and a cooking pot, the 12-hour kit meets your expectations.
For less than €10 you have enough to eat without having to interrupt your activity for more than a quarter of an hour.
In a frame of “prepping“, it is recommended to have one or two of these rations in the car Where in his bag if you find yourself stuck far from home.
It can also be a good gift idea, the packaging is quite attractive (graphic designer’s word) and it’s a good way to introduce the notion of foresight into your entourage (without sounding crazy!)
What is the price of these MRE rations?
You can find these MRE rations in online shops like Amazon for example.
OK, my conclusion.
You have understood that there are 2 real reasons to invest in this kind of pack:
- 100% autonomy: this kit allows you to meet your food needs over a period of 12 or 24 hours (depending on the pack)
- Eating hot without a stove: the flameless heater is ideal because it can be activated everywhere, without risk and very simply.
We can also add to that the compact side, the practical side of the pack which then serves as a trash can, and the design which allows, in an emergency, to quickly identify the kit.
We can also note the lifespan of the product (BBD 2 years or more for certain elements) as well as the reasonable price if we take into account the energy/autonomy/conservation ratio.
Question choice, there are 3 menus for the 12h version and 3 menus for the 24h version. Note that each version offers a hot menu, a cold menu and a vegetarian menu.
