You’ve probably been asking yourself for a long time now, what’s the big deal with MREs (meals-ready-to-eat)?
Are they worth the money? Do they actually fill you up? Do they taste like crap?
I had the same questions, so after trying one for the first time, I thought it would be fun to come on here and share my experience with you.
Here’s how it went.
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MRE’s: The Price
The price-point for these products is precisely the reason that I had never tried MREs before. I see them on the shelves all the time, but I just can’t justify spending $10 or $11 dollars on two servings of ziplocked alfredo pasta.
That being said… Aaron scored these with his REI membership points, and I was down to see what the hype was about.
Was it worth $10? Maybe. But also you could just get canned pasta for a couple bucks a pop and cook it over the fire.
To each their own.
My final answer is no, I don’t think they are worth the price.
If you needed them for actual long trek then sure, but for a camping trip where there was access to a car and a full-size cooler it wasn’t necessary.
MRE’s: The Flavor
The flavor was certainly there. We added a little too much water and had to strain some, which inevitably took some taste away, but after some salt and pepper it was a good solid pasta.
I had the Peak Refuel Chicken Alfredo Pasta, and Aaron had the Mountain House Fettucine Alfredo with Chicken.
I can only speak for myself, but mine was tasty. It definitely filled me up, but I would have gladly downed seconds. Aaron seemed to enjoy his too.
The meals are packed with protein to help get you geared up for a hike.
MRE’s: The Preparation
The preparation was fairly easy. We used a camping pot to boil water over the fire and simply poured it in.
Nice and simple. I think that’s kind of the point.
We zipped them tight, shook ’em up, then let them sit for a couple minutes so the sauce could thicken up and cool down a bit.
My little plastic camping spoon and I made quick work of the pasta, and the lime Garage Beer I paired it with made sure I went to bed satisfied.
MRE’s: My Final Thoughts
MRE’s are great for compact and lightweight food options when backpacking, hiking or camping, but run on the steeper side pricewise.
The flavor is on par with any other prepackaged food, but could be easily replaced by other campfire meals.
To each their own! If you like them, great. If you don’t, that’s fine too. It’s your adventure, and you can do it however you see fit!
Thanks for Reading!
I would love to hear your thoughts and personal experiences with MRE’s in the comments below!
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