Make High Protein MREs
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- Опубликовано: 31 июл 2024
- From freeze drying the meat to vacuum sealing the food to using an MRE heater to warm the food, we cover it all in this video. There is much more versatility possible when we put together our own MREs!
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You two never cease to amaze me. The box of 1/2 cup emergency water alone was astonishing! Brilliant and exciting! The MRE heaters I didn't know about them existing. Thank you! Preparedness in many ways. Making your own MREs bordering on genius. Perhaps even over the line into geniuses. I so love your hearts.
Thank you for your kind words! We appreciate that.
I love your users name. Haha
@@mairzydotes3548 Thank you. Hubby REALLY is Chief Tuckabuckaway. 😊🫠😉 he's a riot!
Fantastic! We have been experimenting w FD MREs as well. Most commercial meals are high carb and low protein. Suggestion: seal the water in extra pouch to protect the MREs from puncture or rupture. Store utensils wrapped in the napkins to cushion. Keep up the great work. I love it when you do all the hard work of figuring things out for me haha! You guys are remarkable.
Thanks for the tips! I did wrap the utensils in napkins.
I wish so badly I had a freeze dryer, I'm so unsure of which brand to get
@@fazz4444 Harvest right - medium size is ideal for a family of 4-6. I bought the small size three years ago, because that's what I could afford then but I wish I bought the medium size harvest right freeze drier.
@@fazz4444 Perhaps you could go in with a family member or good friend. I suggest I’d you do, everything is written in a contract…spelled out completely.
@@fazz4444. Do lots of research. Customer reviews can be helpful. I went with StayFresh freeze dryer. Much better quality equipment and so far my new freeze dryer is working perfectly.
This was very informative. I had no idea there are emergency water packets and instant heaters. Kind of like the instant hand and foot warmers. You are completely prepared with those items. No need for building a fire, traveling with a butane stove etc…. Thanks again for a thorough, comprehensive and thoughtful video!
Add little dumplings to the chicken and gravy. Just little balls that u can pinch off of biscuits or ur own dough. 😊
This is fabulous! When hurricane Rita roared through Texas, I was 100 miles inland and we were still without electricity and water for 28 days. We had stations where we could go to pick up MREs, water, and ice. I couldn't have survived without them. Your MREs look much tastier than the government issue ones.
Hey Jim and Pam, and department of defense use of the MREs the instructions tell us that we can lean the MRE heater pack against a rock and then lay the food packet on top of the MRE heater packet to heat up the food. We don't need to put the food packet inside the MRE heater because the heater heats up enough to heat through the plastic bags.
Another good tip. Thanks.
the la croix fizzy water makes a pure or plain fizzy water, which when the fizz goes away is great for cooking or you can use it to help make fluffy pancakes. we experimented with flavored fizzy La Croix waters and no flavor was added to the food. so it's an idea as they are in aluminum cans. I love what you have done for making home made Meals ready to Eats!
Pam, I also buy emergency water from Datrex. In addition to keeping them with our Mountain House meals, my version of MREs, I keep several in all my first aid kits. A great addition when you need to clean a scrape or scratch before treating.
Thanks for the tip!
You are proving you can teach an old (I am almost 😊70 ) dog new tricks. Thank you.
You are so welcome!
great ideas for a meal on an emergency situation and I had never heard of water like these I often keep bottle waters under the seats in my truck its been so hot in south Texas that when I don't have any waters we have had to stop at a dollar tree store to get some
I have been reading about the Texas heat...wow! Stay safe!!
Great video but if I might suggest, try putting a pouch or 2 of water into the heater instead of the fd food. When the water is hot pour it into your food pouch and set the pouch back into the mylar to keep hot while re hydrating. Doing it this way you should be able to fit enough water pouches into the heater to take care of more meals or like you said add some potato pouches to the meal as well. Take care, thanks for all the info you pass on.
Yes, I was going to mention this. Boil the water and pour it into the Mylar bag with the food. Then you don’t have to dirty the pots.
Wouldn't that water be contaminated by the chemicals that produce the heat? Would that be safe to prepare food with?
Fantastic video!
Thank you
Thank you for all that you do ❤
More great ideas! Thank you Pam and Jim! 😊
Fantastic video! I just love your ideas!♥️♥️
Love your channel you are so inspiring
Great in-depth well informed video. Enjoyed 👍
Maybe put a small book of matches and some drink mix as well?
Brilliant, informative video. Thank you so much for showing the rehydration process. Theres many MRE videos out there, so, most dont show the rehydration…. (Which for me, is the part I struggle with) I found this so helpful. Thank you so much Pam, and Jim.
Brilliant!
Yes so amazing! I will be doing some
Of these for sure and my prepper husband will be so amazed! Love it! You keep blowing my mind! I watch every one of your videos and people think I am so smart! Thanks to you! Lol
WOW, what a loaded video. Thank you so much!!
You are so welcome!
I love this video. I had no idea a little heater like that existed. What a smart idea for emergency, hiking and girls camp. Thank you for sharing.
This was awesome and so helpful!
Glad you think so!
Ive been looking forward to this video since you mentioned it a few weeks ago… It was brilliant. So many great ideas. Thank you both, as always. You are awesome x
THIS WAS WONDERFUL INFORMATION. I WATCHED IT ALL ! Thank you so much😀
So glad it was useful.
First i was sceptical. As i watched & thought about it, my mind changed. Imagined being stuck somewhere & having the comfort of a hot meal. How a simple thing might ease an anxious mind & increase a will to live. Plus you made it yourself so you
Loved your comment!
Now this was clever! Well done!!
This video was so helpful! Thank you for all your work sharing wonderful tips to get us going!
You are so welcome!
I never thought to do this. Great video.
Glad you liked it!
This is a Fantastic idea! I am so excited to try this weekend! Thank you so much Pam & Jim for sharing your knowledge! Always grateful❤ ❤❤❤ ❤
You are so welcome!
THANKS a lot Pam. I'm new to MRE's.
Wow you continue to amaze me.
Thank you.
Wow! This is fantastic. I’ve eaten many MREs. My brother was a civilian worker on a Marine Corp base back in the 80s and 90s and would bring home uneaten MREs that were going to be thrown away after overnight maneuvers. We took them on all of our camping and road trips. Everything was included even matches and TP 😆 They were actually quite good. We all had our favorites.
And thank you for doing the food-math, I appreciate it.
You are very welcome.
Hey guys, i really love the intro music. Pam your hair looks great.
Those heaters are a miracle. Thanks for the very informative demonstration. You do a fantastic job and I really appreciate the time, work and sharing you put into your videos. Bless both of you.🥰
Wow, bless her, the people she loves will never go hungry.
Thank you for some great ideas! I wish I could afford a freeze dryer!
You are so welcome!
Me too. Trying to get a group together to cost share the price of one. Kind of like a library where we check out items like dehydrator, freeze dryer, pressure canner, multicooker etc. 🌷
You can pay in installments. Harvest right accepts installments.
Wow very interesting glad I ran across your channel I think that is a great idea to have in one’s emergency kit in your boat Moho car or bike thank you very much for sharing blesses n cheers from Canada 🍁
Thanks for watching! And welcome to our channel--so glad you found us!
I appreciate you demonstrating how to use the heater! Saving this video to show my husband. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
You are the best! God bless.
Wow, thank you!
woohoo! i love this content. thank you. 😊🙏
You're so welcome!
I found you a couple of videos ago. I love your directness. "Well what can i do? "the top and bottom are sealed? Well, we'll just cut one off!!!" hahaha Love it.
You guys are great. I love the confident sashay into the unknown.
LOL! Loved your language....
Just found you and glad I did. I’ve been wanting the equipment but I just can’t afford it but I’m so happy to see so many people learning about preparation for what ifs. ❤
So glad you found us and welcome! Glad to have you join us on our adventures.
Can you dehydrate these meals in a dehydrator instead of a freeze drying?
I just love you. You are so smart, scientific, and simply adorable. I have learned so very much from you. This is one of my favorite videos.
thank you so much!
I am always amazed how smart you are. You think of every detail that will be needed. Thank you for teaching us how to prepare for future needs. You’re more in depth than any prepper site I’ve seen.
Wow! Thank you so much. So glad you like the info we present.
My husband says a couple paper towels vs napkins. We also never throw out condiments we get and use them in these situations.
Great idea, Mary. Thanks for sharing.
Lol, it always makes me laugh when you call it the Kelvin Lab. One couldn't tell you are scientists 😉😃
LOL!
Just got a freeze dryer and am in the process of running electric for a dedicated outlet. Can't wait to use. Saw other users that say pre-freezing the food on the trays (if you have room) in your regular freezer shaves hours off of the freeze drying process. Also started grabbing hot sauce packets from fast food restaurants to include in my MRE packets. I've also made accessory packets with plastic utensils, a tea bag or instant coffee packet, wet nap, match book, etc... I also use the emergency water packets. Good stuff. Keep the videos coming.
I adore yall! These videos give me so many great options. We are planning to move from the community we reside in and buy some land to start homesteading in the next two years. But in the mean time I've been stocking up just in case, but also as a hedge against inflation lol. These meal ideas are fantastic even without a freeze dryer I can do similar by just portioning and freezing etc. We've got solar so our freezer should stay in a power outage but our long term goal is to homestead so I would love a freeze dryer eventually so we don't have to rely so heavily on electric once we have a good supply stocked up etc
Thank you so much. So glad our content is useful for you.
I just love those silicon measuring cups. One of my favorite kitchen gadgets.
So do I! I bought them awhile back and even have given them for gifts and people love them!
Mine too!
I do not have a freeze dryer, but you gave me ideas for a mre. Thank you.
I'm so glad!
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Sorry, Pam, I would have to be really hungry to be able to spoon that chicken into my mouth. LOL! BUT I get your point! AND I love how you think out every little detail. Did you ever do any code writing? I took programming back in 1985 and the first thing we had to do was to write (basic) code to make a peanut butter sandwich! I learned a lot from that exercise.
Awesome!
Thanks!
Would be nice to have a cost analysis for the home made MREs vs a store bought brand. Great video! Love your channels ❤
You are a wealth of information! And inspiring for preparedness. I only have a set up of cheap dehydrator here, and a vaccum sealer, but it gives me ideas to make up a few mre's with that. Drying food is indispensable, for many situations. Very important now a days. Thank you for sharing!
Glad to help! For lots of years that is all I had as well. I saved up for 5 years to get our freeze dryer.
@cuparea543 at least it’s a start. Some folks don’t do anything! You are on your way and ahead of many 😊
Wow ... impressive!
Thanks!
Gotcha early! I’m looking forward to doing this
LOL! Thanks!
Holy cow…I had no idea you could order packaged water! Yay! Thank you…this is a great video Pam…❤
The cost of everything is cost prohibitive for most people though. It would be great if big groups could work together to share costs.
You are so welcome!
We just picked up that same Chicken Alfredo meal at Kroger last night, We have purchased it before at Sam's.. Very delicious!
It's so good!
Love y’all so much!!!
Am I the only one thinking, that’s not how to roll silverware.
LOL! thanks.
I have found that some shapes of pasta rehydrate better than others. Spaghetti noodles and elbows work well. Egg noodles also work well.
Good to know. Thank you.
All of the food looked delicious! I love the MRE heaters. I have seen those before, but have not tried them yet. I'm going to have to employ a different way of cooking, other than the vacuum seal bags. We don't cook or heat in any plastic at all, due to the leaching of the plastic chemicals. We don't use plastic in our microwaves, or anything. (Even if they say microwave safe or BPA free.) Just following warnings from several doctors that I follow on YT, about the scourge of illnesses caused from so many plastic chemicals in our foods. I'm good at finding alternative options on how to do things, LOL! :)
Your microwave kills your food so why go thru the trouble of no plastics and then use a microwave? Microwave popcorn is pure poison. Not trying to be snarky but a microwave really does kill your food and can actually change the composition of oils/fats especially. Blessings🌷
I feel the same. I'm going to try and put the food into small mylar bags and heat it that way. Love that the water pouches come in mylar bags too! New items for my next Amazon order!
Hey Jim and Pam, the MRE heater bag is a water vapor proof bag so people should know not to cut the bag open until you are ready to use that MRE heater because the chemical contents are water (H2O) reactive whether it be liquid water or the humidity in the air.
Thanks.
Trailgrazers, I was doing some research on water storage. Would it not be possible to make your own water storage pouches out of small mylar storage bags? If so, you could customize the bag with the amount you needed for each MRI without paying the cost of the prepackaged water pouches.
That is a great idea!
Maybe you can get one of those little army mess kit to wear the ball the silverware all that just stores together and it wouldn’t take much water to clean them up.
Just want to say that I really appreciated this video. I wasn’t sure it would apply to my family because we have multiple food allergies to consider and would never be able to use the prepared meals from a store like you did. But the actual method you used to package it and heat it is very useful! I saw in one of your replies to purchase bulk FD ingredients if we don’t have a FD so that has me thinking of possible ways to come up with MREs of our own. I’ve found a company that has certified gluten free chicken pieces but it comes in jumbo cans and I wasn’t sure I would be able to eat it all before it goes bad but splitting it into several meals makes more sense. And actually, we probably need these even more than most people because we wouldn’t be able to eat most of the food offered by relief groups in emergency situations. Thank you very much for this Pam & Jim! Much love and blessings from Margo in Colorado! 🙏💜
So glad some of the information was useful for you!
Margo, the multiple food allergies and health issues - that’s what started me on this journey too, it’s so important to prepare for our families’ particular needs. Would you mind sharing the name of the company that provides the gluten free chicken pieces? Thanks very much if you can, and thank you for sharing that it exists. 🙏
Those would be great for a day back pack. Since that can only hold enough food for a snack.
Pam could we dehydrate these or not if we haven't a freeze dryer?
I always wondered how to make MREs. Thanks
My pleasure 😊
Want to save some money on those little clips you are using to seal the bags? I saw this tip some where on U tube. You know those plastic clothes pin hangers for pants at the store? When you get them home break off the little pincher things from the hanger and use them instead of buying new ones for my potato chip bags, bread closures and so forth. I think the stores throw them away, so grab all you can. I really enjoy your videos. I would love more videos on rehydrating freeze dried items that you have stored for over a year. I took the summer off from my freeze drying as my garage is too hot. But plan to start back next month. What do you think about lab made beef?
This is a great video! I am under the impression that preparing dehydrated food is easier and safer than canning. Although a freeze dryer is very expensive! Botulism is probably not a concern with freeze dried food. I know that these are not gourmet meals but wouldn't it be nice to have a chicken a la king or spaghetti and meatballs?
Yes, those would be great meals for MREs!
Please show more homemade MRE ideas as you fine tune your process. I'm interested in the freeze dried "meal in a jar" type recipes since I don't have a freeze drier yet. I think keeping something like this in my car makes so much sense.
I would love a video showing how to make MRE meals, not using a freeze drier. Many of us can not afford one. Thanks
Cathy, just an idea - you might use the MRE heater packet and emergency water packet to make hot instant mashed potatoes (from potato flakes) that you could add some gravy mix to, or macaroni and cheese (from the box), that would give you something hot to eat. Pack with some jerky for more protein and some dried fruit. Also, some powdered soup mixes have good protein content (is the brand Bear Creek?). Just some ideas for a hot, comforting meal that is still lightweight and long lasting enough to be an MRE.
Creativity and other Blessings to you! 🙏❤️
Jen, my reply to Cathy was meant for you too! 🙏❤️
Thanks! I think I have those MRE heaters somewhere in the garage. Going to play around with this great idea! Instead of packing a plate (which is just more waste/trash), can you pour the heated food back in the harvest right bag? If you have a tool to cut the vacuum bag and water bag, then you should be able to cut down the harvest right bag so it’s not so tall to eat from? Also, asking you as a scientist, I have the same emergency water bags and I’ve kept them in the fridge for about five years now but I think they’ve expired. Do you think they’re safe? As you said they’re not cheap :-).
Trail Grazers,
I have a question about your freeze dryer. I have the same one as you. Right now, it's in the garage, which is too hot to use the dryer in at this time. I could put it in our pantry on its cart. How loud is the dryer? The pantry is close to our bedroom. In your opinion, would it be too loud to use in there?
Very good video. Thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks or sharing,
Nice to know how to do this because I have food allergy and salt sensitive people in my family, which makes it near impossible to find a MRE type meals to purchase.
I have to make most our everyday food from scratch.
One thing though.
I don't know what chemical reaction causes the heater to work, but setting the food bag on to the little plate might transfer some of it, in the drops of water, onto the plate.
I would treat the outside of the food bad as if it was contaminated and then pour the food on to the clean plate.
Good idea--makes a lot of sense.
Love the celebratory Woo Hoo
Thanks!
Hello.. I am learning so much from your videos. Thank you for doing them. My question is, can you do these with just dehydrated foods?
Yes, absolutely, but you will have to allow more time for rehydrating the food since it dries harder than freeze dried foods.
Thank you so much 😊
I went into you link to see about the water packets and mre heater…it says the page isn’t found. I was another one of your videos earlier and I was able to look at your Amazon store. Interesting.
I will check on that. Thanks for letting me know.
What are the machines that you use?
Really great! Do you think you could get two uses out of the heat pack? Also wondering if you can just heat only the water to boiling and then pour into mylar MRE pouches to rehydrate?
The instructions on the bag say not to re-use, but it stayed warm for a long time after I removed the food, so I bet you could get additional use from it. Water used in the heater cannot be consumed afterward according to the instructions so I would not chance that. Great questions!
@@trailgrazers3690 Put two unopened water pouches in one MRE heater and heat them up with the required amount of additional water. Then remove the now hot water pouches, cut them open and use the hot water in them to re-hydrate and warm up two portions of the food . That way you would only need one MRE heater for two meals.
Maybe you could experiment and see how many unopened water bags could be heated in one heating unit. If you could heat a few, imagine the money you would save. Just heat several peoples water in one, pass it out and they could rehydrate their own meal. My husband used to heat the water for the food so he could also heat water for his hot cocoa.
would a wooden clothes pin work?
Since I don't have a freeze dryer can I do that in my dehydrator?
Fruits and veggies work well in a dehydrator, but never meat.
I wonder if that Kevin freeze dyer will fit in my RV. 😂
It won't fit in ours! Plus it is too heavy to move and too loud for close quarters! LOL
Please double check. I looked up the Datrex water pouches and the pouches are plastic. I don’t see that you left a link to the ones you purchased so maybe they are different. Look at the description which is further down.
Fantastic video. You don't need oxygen obsorbers in any of those? And how long do you think those would last on the shelf?
Not if they are vacuum sealed. I think they will last several years, but we will eat them before then!
I don't have a freezedryer so can I accomplish the same thing with dehydrated food and do you have receipes for dehydrated food bars for someone who is diabetic?
Sorry, we don't. But I can start looking for those kind of recipes.
I don't own a freeze dryer only a dehydrator, can I still make these MRE's with it?
This is a silly question and pardon me for asking but what exactly is [an] MRE? It doesn’t say in the description and I’m not a camper/trailgrazer. I usually watch your homesteading channel but this video came up in my notification. 😮 Thank you from 🇨🇦🎇🎆
MRE is " military speak" for Meals Ready to Eat. These are meals that are issued to soldiers in the field. Similar meals are now available to civilians but are pricey.
@@cindysue1139 Thank you so much 😊 I tried all sorts of combinations in my head but couldn’t get what the “E” stood for … now it makes sense! Thanks for taking the time to explain. 😊
One of my four sons can be quite sarcastic when he wants to be. Someone had asked me what MRE stood for and I was about to tell them but my son piped up and said "Meals Refused by the Enemy". I didn't whether to laugh or be annoyed, he apparently is not a big fan of them.
Can you use the heater on a side like potato or veg in the same MRE?
You could use it to heat anything that would fit in the envelope.
MRE stands for Mills ready to eat not freeze dried food
Pam, Will dehydrating work for MRE's Ok too?
Yes, but not for meat.
i see a lot of chamber canners is see chamber canners for around 350 will they work for the retort bags....none of them talk about retort bags for canning ..can you help me find one in that price range that i can can with ...i love the idea of cooking it in bags...with pressure cooker
Retort pouch canning is a whole other ball game that I have not done. I checked it out including the chamber vacuum sealers, which I think are great, but it is more expense than we want right now.
Could I ask a totally unrelated question to today's particular program? We receive many parcels with gel ice packs here at home. Can I use those packs that retain water to mix it with soil and help the plants to get the water from the gel inside the packages? Just curious about it?
I would say to experiment in a small area with a plant or two first to be sure it won't kill the plant. I have no experience doing that so I can't say for sure.
Contact the manufacturer and see what they are made of. What is the chemical composition?
Have a question: since you freeze dry your food why don’t you freeze dry water too? Is that possible or does it have to stay liquid? Kind of interested in a freeze dryer….just a thought! Thanks!
Freeze dried water is an empty container...
Are there other options other than freeze drying?
Yes, some things can be dehydrated. Others can be purchased in bulk then broken down into smaller packages.