Meals ready-to-eat (MREs) are always synonymous to the food that is being consumed by the military during times of war or rations. But, the term MRE has now been linked to food packages that satiate hunger during times of emergency, environmental crises or resource and utility outages. It is not ‘army food’ per se anymore.
Generally, MRE packages last anywhere between 3 to 5 years depending on the contents. They are all-in-one bags with food that requires zero preparation and always ready-to-go. From a military standpoint, MREs provide an average of 1250 calories per pack. A larger part of it comes from carbohydrates, followed by fat then protein. A single MRE is equal to 1 meal, hence 3 MREs are a full days’ worth.
Some reasons why MREs are becoming a hit lately is because of convenience and mobility. MREs are usually packed in vacuum bags or packets which are easier to carry compared to No. 10 cans which need can openers. Serving sizes are usually single in MREs, making the issue of storage after opening non-existent. Being lightweight is also another advantage. MREs could be easily stored in your bug-out bags, emergency kits or storage shelves.
Though there are many MREs in the market (check out the best MREs here), some may opt to customize their own packages with their favourite food items. DIY MREs may end up being cheaper and more nutritious depending on the contents you put in it. This article would include important notes to take when making your DIY MRE to stockpile.
Related article: Military vs Civilian MREs
Tips for your DIY MRE
Note #1: The Bag
With great hype on biodegradable bags, they are however, not suitable for this application as MREs are meant to be kept for extensive periods. Thus, you could opt for reflective Mylar bags which outperform non-biodegradable plastic bags. They offer a long shelf-life of up to 12 years and come in various sizes. Some extra materials are required, such as oxygen absorbers to prevent molds from growing as well as a sealing machine to seal the bag.
Zip-lock bags would also do just fine as long as it is sealed tightly, and you include oxygen absorbers in. The advantage of zip-lock bags is that they are resealable. Items in the pack are accessible at any time and you don’t have to worry about opening a new pack for a single item.
Another great option is to use vacuum seal bags. They are clear transparent bags which also come in various sizes and you do not need oxygen absorbers (though to include them would be great!). The method of packing is the same as preparing “sous vide” chicken, using a vacuum sealer to prepare your own DIY MREs.
An important tip is to always pierce pre-packaged food such as crackers, noodles etc. as they may bloat under vacuum. The drop in external pressure makes the internal pressure in the food package larger, hence it bloats. It is fine as keeping food under vacuum eliminates air hence no contamination could happen.
I would recommend the vacuum seal bags if you plan to do single serving sizes for each pack. Otherwise, you could opt for zip-lock bags with moisture/oxygen absorbers. The MRE packs produced do look like those you can get from the store. But even better, they’re filled with your favourites.
Note #2: The Food
The thing that makes your DIY MRE unique to you is the food content. You get to fill the MREs with whatever you like, in any combination, quantity, flavor and portion sizes. DIY MREs are fully customizable and crafted by you.
Depending on the type of MRE you are crafting, the food components may vary. It is important to choose food items which have a long shelf-life of up to several years. Food choices may range from being 100% ready-to-eat or require heating/water/cooking. This generalized and tabulated food list that I have prepared could be your next shopping list to prepare your DIY MREs. Foodstuff from Type A can be packed together with Type B but not otherwise. This depends on the accessibility to heat, water, cooking utensils etc.
| Type A: 100% Ready-to-Eat | Type B: Require heating/water/cooking |
| Dried or dehydrated fruits and vegetables | Freeze-dried food (meals) |
| Crackers, cookies and biscuits | Instant noodles/ramen |
| Chocolate | Oats or oatmeal |
| Candy | Powdered drinks (coffee, milk, chocolate, juice, Gatorade) |
| Spreads (butter, peanut butter, jam) | Tea bags |
| Bars (fruit, granola, chocolate, wafer) | Bouillon cubes |
| Nuts, trial mixes and seeds | Other instant food (mash potatoes, rice) |
| Cereal | Pasta (unfilled) |
| Jerky | Rice |
| Canned food (tuna, SPAM, beans, meat etc.) | Raw beans |
It is important to ensure that these DIY MREs are filled with stuff that you like, else it would defeat the purpose of preparing them yourself. Even so, it could still be a more economical and healthier option compared to those in store.
A great idea is that instead of dividing the food, you could categorize them based on the meals of the day, such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack packs. They could be packed to suit your tastes and labelled accordingly.
Another important thing to note is the energy provision of each MRE. Your DIY MRE should be able to provide enough energy for you in the most compact way possible. Though it may not be important during idle times, it becomes crucial in emergency or survival situations. Therefore, you should try to have at least 1000 calories in each pack, summing it to 3000 calories for consumption per day.
For example, I would pack the following in 1 pack for my DIY-MRE:
- 1 packet of instant noodles
- 1 packet of instant/freeze-dried meal
- 1 packet of crackers/biscuits
- 1 energy/protein bar
- 1 packet of seeds or nuts
- 1 small can of tuna
- 1 packet of wafers
- 1 packet of 3-in-1 coffee or powdered drink
- 2 tea bags
- Some seasoning packets
Note #3: The Extras
On top of foodstuff, here are also some important items which you should add into each DIY MRE pack. The most important is cutlery to consume food. To save space, I highly recommend sporks (a combination of spoon and fork) which could be easily purchased online. Modern designs even have serrated edges to add knife-cutting functionalities.
You could also add seasonings and sauces to each MRE pack up to your preference. But it is important to note that some sauces have a shorter shelf life and may go bad after extended storage periods. Dry seasonings such as salt, sugar, herbs, and pepper are fine.
Some preppers also add vitamins (such as Vitamin C tablets) into each pack to maintain overall health due to deficiency of fresh fruits and vegetables. Adding common flu/fever pills and plasters could also be a good idea which may come in handy during emergency situations.
Having serviettes, napkins or even a small cloth in each pack ensures that your DIY-MRE is fully equipped no matter the situation.
Note #4: The Storage
Like storing dry pantry staples, your DIY MREs should be stored in cool, dry areas with no direct exposure to sunlight. Assuming you have packaged them in vacuum-sealed bags, they can be stored together in the pantry or your emergency storage kits.
Remember to label the packs with the date it was packaged so you know when to replace them if they are not used after several years. If in certain cases whereby the vacuum pack is punctured, check the contents and re-pack them in a new vacuum bag.
You would want your DIY MREs to have the longest shelf-life possible, so this would greatly depend on the contents. In my opinion, the shelf-life for the pack (as a whole) would be equivalent to the shortest shelf-life of any one item in the packet. That would be a good indicator for when to repackage or throw some expired food out.
Related article: How long do MREs last?
Closing Remarks
These are my opinions on making your very own DIY MREs. There is absolutely no harm in trying this out and it could save you some money if done correctly. These MREs are totally custom-made to suit your liking. So, feel free to explore the endless possibilities there are with long term food items.
You could always start off small like doing a couple of bags and sharing them around with your friends or neighbours. If you foresee a need for a greater number of packs, then you could increase your own production capacity. I can’t wait to see your creations with this.
DIY MREs – Cheap, convenient, and customizable.
Stay safe out there!