Ate an older MRE today

Was cleaning and organizing my (pile) POS... Too much stuff and nowhere to properly store it. Need...BO...land....

So I find 2 MREs stuffed inside some ECWS mittens, (the ones with the fur on the outside), stuffed inside an old Swiss ALpine leather backpackstuufed in a duffle of moldy smelling OD canvas. ALl of this was under the tarp uf the BO canoe that hangs under the rear deck...

Date code '92. I tried the Chicken with Salsa, (#7 or 9) i think.

Was as fresh and tasty as an MRE can be. The shotrbread cookies tasted fresh and the Cracker, well, it was an MRE cracker.

So this was 13 yrs old and not stored with any care like my other cases. Not bad at all. It seems like I've heard of guys trying some 'Nam era MREs with similar results. How old is too old?

On that same subject, What's the longevity of Canned vegetables that are stored in a cool dark place? Lipton Rice packs? I've recently stocked up on Tobasco too... Not sure if they are affected by Kat but I thought it might be a wise buy.

I've labeled all of my canned good purchases with the month and date of purchase on the lid. I bet the stuff will keep for at least 5 yrs, maybe longer. I'm not really concerned with the "best if used by" date as that is a customer service disclaimer. I'm not going to be looking for Peach slice warranty post SHTF.

Maybe I'll call some of the companies and see what they say.

thoughts?

 

Very cool. I'm looking for the "stored, under the house, dry and dark and cool, life before it starts to putrify in the can..."

And can anything be done to help it out even more. I talked with phishi today about Pasta. Most of it comes in boxes and I think moisture would quickly get inside. But, I have a vaccum sealer. This could help certain stuff last longer.

Canned meat, Tuna, Veg, Fruit... any downsides or plus' to any of these for long term?

You da man EL

 

thanks monkeyman. I also think that newer can linings are more than the coatings they used to be. Almost like a rubber film like used to be under the bottle caps of Glass Coke bottles. I'd say that a little rust on the outside might still be fine.

I'm really interested in the cans that come from the Tuna Isle, other canned meats there as well, like chili and soups...

I'm trying to make my new quest of canned Grocery food interesting

 

I just recently went through my food stocks.I have a lot of pre Y2K foods left.As to the MREs.The manufacturer stated 5-7 year shelf life.But I have opened many that were over ten and the only ones I found questionable were the pork products.I kept all the beef & chicken ones and fed the pork to the dogs.

On canned goods I have a chart for shelf life at home.But as I remember high acidic content ie;any tomato products were the least.The only problem with most canned goods is not spoiling but loss of nutritional value.It decreases over time but after about 2 years you just have filler and no real nutrition.But still safe to eat.
The rule of thumb,if the can is swollen at all discard it.I ate stored canned goods for over 3 years post Y2K.

 

Interestingn the nutritional loss, so the vitamins/minerals actually must break apart. I didn't realized this but then again, Vitamins are not necessarily "Elements" so it's logical. Then again, some are.

I have stocked heavy on Generic 'one a day' multivitamins for times when the belly full of filler is all tht is available. My wife is the natural remedy and natural food stuff person and has a whole pharmacopia of supplements and other potions, elixirs and stuff.

 

nice link BigUglyOne!

 

Yeah thanks!

 

How??? Are they local to you?