MREs: Sopakco, Wornick, Star Foods, USGI
Reviewed by: Joe Ames
Where to buy: Catalogs, gun shows, Brigade Quartermasters, eBay
Cost: $50-75/case of 12

 

MREs Meal Ready to Eat
Click to buy online
from Brigade Quartermasters
 

Better yet, use this $10 coupon . . .

 NMAM1/$10 off $100

The Fedgov banned the sale of USGI MREs on the civilian market a few years ago. Figures, it coincides with some really good menus and recipes... 

Anyway, a number of the military suppliers sell "civilian" versions that a basically the same, but without the issue outer plastic bag.

(1) SOPACKO is one of those contractors, and of all that I've tried, they are the best. They got their start in WWII making C-rations.

First of all, they contain ALL the GI components: salt, pepper, TP, "moist towelette", coffee, "creamer", Tabasco sauce, drink mix, candy bar, matches and: flameless MRE heaters!

Additionally, their menus are the most varied of all the civilian market offerings. (links above are for Sopakco products)

(2) Wornick Foods, the primary contractor to the military, developed the shelf-stable plastic "can" technology that makes the MRE possible. Their MREs are good, but they sell two different configurations to the public: one is the full-MRE, the other (M-Spec) has only half of the accessories such as Tabasco, coffee, etc., on the theory that many soldiers don't use all of their rations... NEITHER VERSION CONTAINS THE FLAMELESS HEATER! (MATCHES ARE ALSO MISSING IN HALF OF THESE!!!) You'll need to acquire some at the Army/Navy Store or use hot water to heat them.

Star Foods, doesn't sell the USGI milspec version, rather they sell the USGI law-enforcement MREs, which use a microwavable tray instead of the traditional plastic pouch. This makes it a whole lot easier to eat, but more difficult to heat in the field, since the tray will not fit a flameless heater; hot water MUST be used, unless you've got a generator and microwave handy... (Of course, you could empty the tray onto a mess kit and heat over an open flame.)

The Star Foods menu is the tastiest, in my opinion, and the accessories are pretty good, too. You get a nice, greasy loaf of bread and a granola bar, along with drink mix, matches, and so on. (The accessory pack is more or less the same as the military version.) The draw back to the Star Foods MRE is quantity: it is not designed for soldiers in the field, or in combat! Without getting political, think of it this way: Star Foods is to MREs what a donut shop is to a cop. It's not where the action is, but it's a good way to fill your belly. Star has one advantage over the donut shop: they offer about 1/2 the calories of the MILSPEC MREs, and they are significantly less expensive, too.

All three MRE types will keep you going in the field. If you're easily bored I'd recommend buying a little of each and mixing them up for variety and cost-averaging. In terms of shelf life, food quality (nutrition, taste, freshness etc.), they are about the same.

If you are interested in using your MRE in the field, you'll need to get some flameless heaters (link below, at bottom of page) or use another method to heat them. Check our review of trioxane and USGI canteen cups for this . . .

Need flameless heaters for MREs?
Brigade Quartermasters, Ltd. icon
click above and search for 'ration heater'


Looking for the Tabasco bottles that come in the mil-spec MREs? 
You can get Tabasco "Miniatures" online, direct from McIlhenny . . .
Click the image below and search for "Tabasco Miniatures"

Banner 10000019MRE Tabasco - MREs McIlhenny

While you're at the Tabasco store, don't miss this gem . . an MRE Cookbook!
The Unofficial MRE Recipe Booklet
Search for 'MRE' in the Tabasco store.
MRE cookbook - recipes