MRE

Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) is a self-contained meal in lightweight packaging produced by the United States of America for its soldiers in the battlefield where organized food facilities are not available. They replaced C-rations in the early 1980s.

Each meal provides approximately 1200 kcal (1200 "Calories"). Contents include: an entree or starch, crackers, a cheese, peanut butter or jelly spread, a dessert or snack, beverages, an accessory packet, a plastic spoon and a flameless ration heater (FRH).

Packaging requirements are strict. MREs must be capable of withstanding parachute drops from 380 m (1250 feet), and non-parachute drops of 30 m (100 feet). The packaging is required to maintain a minimum shelf life of three years at 80°F(27°C) or six months at 100°F(38°C); additionally, short-term temperature extremes of -60°F(-51°C) to 120°F(49°C) must be sustainable.

Early MREs were notoriously poor in quality, earning them the nicknames "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians" and "Meals Rejected by Everyone." Although quality has improved, the nicknames have stuck.

Contents

MRE contents

Main entree
Side dish
Dessert
Cracker
Spread
Beverage powder
Coffee
Utensils

MRE menus

MRE I (1981) ~ MRE V (1985)
- Pork pattie
- Ham & chicken loaf
- Beef pattie
- Beef slices in BBQ sauce
- Beef stew
- Frankfurters with beans
- Turkey diced with gravy
- Beef diced with gravy
- Chicken a la King
- Meatballs & BBQ sauce
- Ham slices
- Beef ground with spiced sauce
- Chicken loaf
MRE VI (1986)
- Pork pattie
- Ham & chicken loaf
- Beef pattie
- Beef slices in BBQ sauce
- Beef stew
- Frankfurters with beans
- Turkey diced with gravy
- Beef diced with gravy
- Chicken a la King
- Meatballs & BBQ sauce
- Ham slices
- Beef ground with spiced sauce
MRE VII (1987)
- Pork pattie
- Ham & chicken loaf
- Beef pattie
- Beef slices in BBQ sauce
- Beef stew
- Frankfurters with beans
- Turkey diced with gravy
- Beef diced with gravy
- Chicken a la King
- Meatballs & BBQ sauce
- Ham slices
- Beef ground with spiced sauce
MRE VIIII-IX (1988-1989)
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Corned beef hash
- Chicken stew
- Omelet with ham
- Spaghetti with meat and sauce
- Chicken a la King
- Beef stew
- Ham slice
- Meatballs, beef and rice, in tomato sauce
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken and rice
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
MRE X-XI (1990-1991)
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Corned beef hash
- Chicken stew
- Omelet with ham
- Spaghetti with meat and sauce
- Chicken a la King
- Beef stew
- Ham slice
- Meatballs, beef and rice, in tomato sauce
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken and rice
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
MRE XII (1992)
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Corned beef hash
- Chicken stew
- Omelet with ham
- Spaghetti with meat and sauce
- Chicken a la King
- Beef stew
- Ham slice
- Meatballs, beef and rice, in tomato sauce
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken and rice
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
MRE XIV (1994)
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Corned beef hash
- Chicken stew
- Omelet with ham
- Spaghetti with meat and sauce
- Smoky frankfurters
- Beef stew
- Ham slice
- Pork chow mein
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken and rice
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
MRE XV (1995)
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Chili macaroni
- Chicken stew
- Grilled chicken
- Spaghetti with meat and sauce
- Smoky beef frankfurters
- Beef stew
- Ham slice
- Pork chow mein
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken and rice
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
MRE XVI (1996)
- Beefsteak
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken stew
- Ham slice
- Spaghetti with meat & sauce
- Smoky beef frankfurters
- Beef stew
- Chicken with rice
- Pork chow mein
- Chili with macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Cheese tortellini
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Chicken parmesan
- Grilled chicken
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
MRE XVII (1997)
- Beefsteak
- Boneless pork chop with noodles
- Jamaican pork chop with noodles
- Chicken stew
- Ham slice
- Chicken with noodles
- Smoky beef frankfurters
- Pork chow mein
- Chicken with rice
- Beef stew
- Chili with macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Cheese tortellini
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Chicken parmesan
- Grilled chicken
- Tuna with noodles
- Beef ravioli
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
MRE XVIII (1998)
- Beefsteak
- Boneless pork chop with noodles
- Chicken stew
- Ham slice
- Chicken with noodles
- Grilled chicken
- Pork chow mein
- Chicken with rice
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables
- Cheese tortellini
- Thai chicken
- Chicken with cavetilli
- Beef frankfurters
- Bean & rice burrito
- Beef ravioli
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Beef teriyaki
- Chicken with salsa
- Meat loaf with gravy
- Pasta with Alfredo sauce
MRE XIX (1999)
- Beefsteak
- Boneless pork Jamaican
- Beef teriyaki
- Ham slice
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with noodles
- Chicken with salsa
- Chicken with rice
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Pasta with vegetables in Alfredo sauce
- Beef frankfurters
- Chicken with Thai sauce
- Beef ravioli
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken stew
- Pork chow mein
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meat loaf with gravy
MRE XX (2000)
- Grilled beefsteak
- Boneless pork chop
- Boneless Jamaican pork chop
- Beef teriyaki
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with noodles
- Chicken with salsa
- Chicken and rice
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Pasta with vegetables in Alfredo sauce
- Beef frankfurters
- Thai chicken
- Beef ravioli
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Pork chow mein
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meat loaf with gravy
MRE XXI (2001)
- Grilled beefsteak
- Boneless pork chop
- Jamaican pork chop with noodles
- Beef ravioli
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with Thai sauce
- Chicken with salsa
- Chicken and rice
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables
- Bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Pasta with Alfredo sauce
- Beef enchiladas
- Chicken with noodles
- Beef teriyaki
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meat loaf with gravy
MRE XXII (2002)
- Beefsteak with mushrooms
- Jamaican pork chop with noodles
- Beef ravioli
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Oriental chicken with Thai sauce
- Chicken with salsa
- Beef patty
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Pasta with vegetables in Alfredo sauce
- Beef enchiladas
- Chicken with noodles
- Beef teriyaki
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meat loaf with gravy
MRE XXIII (2003)
- Beefsteak with mushroom gravy
- Pork rib
- Beef ravioli
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with Thai sauce
- Chicken with salsa
- Beef patty
- Beef stew
- Chili with macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables
- Black bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Manicotti with vegetables
- Beef enchiladas
- Chicken with noodles
- Beef teriyaki
- Turkey breast pot with gravy
- Roast beef
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavetelli
- Meatloaf with gravy
MRE XXIII (2004)
- Beefsteak with mushroom gravy
- Pork rib
- Beef ravioli
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with Thai sauce
- Chicken with salsa
- Beef patty
- Beef stew
- Chili with macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables
- Veggie burger with BBQ sauce
- Cheese tortellini
- Manicotti with vegetables
- Beef enchiladas
- Chicken with noodles
- Beef teriyaki
- Cajun rice, beans & sausage
- Roast beef
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavetelli
- Meatloaf with gravy

External Links

How MREs Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/mre.htm)