MRE expiration like best buy dates? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - MRE expiration like best buy dates?

Posted: 6/17/2022 1:59:08 PM EDT

My father passed and I took his old cases of MRE's. Are they like best buy dates? Won't kill you, just might not taste good or have full caloric value?

Talking 10-15 years

Posted: 6/17/2022 2:02:18 PM EDT

[#1]

They will last a long time past their “expiration” date.

Posted: 6/17/2022 2:52:15 PM EDT

[#2]

Good for several years after inspection dates unless stored in freezing or roasting hot conditions.

Posted: 6/17/2022 6:54:20 PM EDT

[#3]

I've eaten 15 year old MREs, the old brown ones after GWOT started. Didn't die.

Posted: 6/17/2022 7:42:14 PM EDT

[#4]

I'm still eating MREs, I bought at least 22 years ago.
I don't know how many years earlier, they were sealed.
The temps in the room, rarely got above 70 - and mostly 65 and cooler in summer, <55 in winter.
It might depend on the type of food in the MRE.
IF the package is swollen, it's definately bad.
Good luck!

Posted: 8/10/2022 12:06:19 PM EDT

[#5]

well, the package date on the box was 95. They were stored in my fathers barn and I moved them after he passed.

Just opened a chili mac. Everything was still airtight it looked like. tried the fruit, crackers, granola bar and grape drink. All tasted fine. Heating up the chili mac, although it seems like the heater doesnt work so hot. no pun intended

Posted: 8/10/2022 1:33:06 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
well, the package date on the box was 95. They were stored in my fathers barn and I moved them after he passed.

Just opened a chili mac. Everything was still airtight it looked like. tried the fruit, crackers, granola bar and grape drink. All tasted fine. Heating up the chili mac, although it seems like the heater doesnt work so hot. no pun intended

View Quote

27 year old MRE's stored in a barn?? I going to assume this barn is not climate controlled, even if it were...

WHY, would you even try to eat these? I would understand during end of times and the undead have been walking the earth for years... Unless Ohio is vastly different than Nevada we're not there, yet

Shit can and replace..

Posted: 8/10/2022 6:01:47 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
27 year old MRE's stored in a barn?? I going to assume this barn is not climate controlled, even if it were...

WHY, would you even try to eat these? I would understand during end of times and the undead have been walking the earth for years... Unless Ohio is vastly different than Nevada we're not there, yet

Shit can and replace..

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
well, the package date on the box was 95. They were stored in my fathers barn and I moved them after he passed.

Just opened a chili mac. Everything was still airtight it looked like. tried the fruit, crackers, granola bar and grape drink. All tasted fine. Heating up the chili mac, although it seems like the heater doesnt work so hot. no pun intended

27 year old MRE's stored in a barn?? I going to assume this barn is not climate controlled, even if it were...

WHY, would you even try to eat these? I would understand during end of times and the undead have been walking the earth for years... Unless Ohio is vastly different than Nevada we're not there, yet

Shit can and replace..

Bah! I would at least give em a taste

Posted: 8/10/2022 8:48:31 PM EDT

[#8]

Chicken food.....me and the wife tore into a case running 5 years over use by date. I was fine she was sick for 24 hours and pissed at me for pushing the experiment. There is a point where you need to eat it or replace it MREs in a barn sounds like a bad day. They have dates for a reason sure you can go over but MREs arent designed.for long term storage.

Posted: 8/11/2022 4:50:46 PM EDT

[#9]

Yeah, they were way old and not stored anywhere near properly. I really wanted to keep them for the heaters and just wanted to see if they were still, well, cant say edible since they never really were!

Still alive, although just sniffed the chili mac. Not brave enough to try that.

Posted: 8/11/2022 6:09:16 PM EDT

[#10]

The crackers seem to last forever, I ate some 30 y.o. ones with no ill effects.

Posted: 8/12/2022 1:34:56 PM EDT

[#11]

OP really needs to get that out onto a tray.

Attached File

Seriously probably some of the items will be ok, but others maybe not so much at that age.

Posted: 8/13/2022 12:06:30 PM EDT

[#12]

Depends on how they were stored.
Even under the best conditions you'll find certain components don't survive well past the expiration date

Posted: 8/15/2022 8:19:50 AM EDT

[#13]

I've been doing MREs well since they came out. My general impression is they're just like C rats with the major exception they are constituted. They're virtually bacteria free. They don't really spoil but because they contain water, they lose their constitution in time and the contents start reacting with each other. They'll break down. Some will outgas, package swells and some won't. Shelf life then depends on what's in it.

The real indicator is just like all food before date codes. If it smells bad or tastes bad, don't eat it.

My favorite topic movie line is in the movie "Down Periscope" Executive Officer Martin T. 'Marty' Pascal : Jesus, Buckman! This stuff's been on the Stingray since Korea! This can expired in 1966!

Seaman Buckman : [tasting contents of can] What's the matter, sir? It still tastes like creamed corn.

Executive Officer Martin T. 'Marty' Pascal : Except it's *deviled ham*!

Seaman Buckman : Now that would be a problem.

Tj

Posted: 8/22/2022 9:09:20 PM EDT

[#14]

Steve in the picture above always says trust your nose. If it smells bad it is. He was also hospitalized from a less than year old Chinese military MRE . He got a second one and the main course had the same funky smell. He did not eat it. He has eaten British Hardtack from 1898 and lots of WW2 rations.

Posted: 8/22/2022 11:15:41 PM EDT

[#15]

I had an MRE from 1984 in AIT in 2004.

Posted: 8/23/2022 9:51:17 PM EDT

[#16]

sound alot like those WW II powder bags they used to give us to fire our 155SP's in the guard,,,
purple stains on some of them, but they went BOOM

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - MRE expiration like best buy dates?

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