What are (in your opinion) the worst MREs?

2018-09-05T10:55:09-04:00

Edit 3: Note that this is from 2018 so there's no need to comment. Her mom gave her some different ones that my brother probably got a hold of. I can't remember what but she definitely learned her lesson on criticizing home cooked meals. Also - my brother and her mom (was then his fiancee) broke up a year ago.

Edit - she's 14. So she knows better and shouldn't be so ungrateful.

Edit 2 - Tonight is the last night it seems.

Apparently, my brother's stepdaughter felt the need to criticize his cooking the other night. (My brother is actually a pretty good cook. I would hire him as a personal chef if I won the lottery). So as punishment they have decided to make her eat MREs for dinner for a week. Last night they started with the pork rib (something pork that's horrible). My SIL recorded it and it was hilarious. She took one bite and nearly puked.

So I thought I'd get suggestions on other ones that are horrible and awful so she can realize how lucky she is that she has a parent who can cook a variety of meals. Or lucky that she even has food period.

Response by Patricia Overmeyer made Sep 5 at 2018 11:48 AM

2018-09-05T11:48:27-04:00

If you can get the C-rats from WWII and Korea, which are still labeled with a shelf life as until the third coming of Christ, then try ham and mofos (ham and beans). You might be able to find them at the local Army/Navy surplus. Guaranteed to knock a buzzard off a light pole at 100 yards, with the buzzard being upwind.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2018 12:18 PM

2018-09-05T12:18:23-04:00

Everyone I knew hated the egg omelet. I would have usually agreed with that other than the one early morning ruck march where it actually made for a decent breakfast item with a bit of the hot sauce. I tended to get heart burn from most of the meals with the red sauce. Some people hated the sausage bits with country gravy. Especially if you didn't get the time / opportunity to heat them.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Sep 5 at 2018 1:17 PM

2018-09-05T13:17:16-04:00

I suggest the country chicken. Obviously an MRE with the cheese is a must, but you can't tell her about the constipation that the cheese inflicts. Other than that maybe the omelet. Nothing makes people appreciate hot sauce better than fake eggs.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2018 4:08 PM

2018-09-05T16:08:39-04:00

The veggie omelet MRE was awful. Raccoons sifting through the ashes of a dumpster fire would find something better to eat.
Other that, MREs aren’t that bad.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2018 11:14 PM

2018-09-05T23:14:47-04:00

Frankfurters Beef. Nothing.....and I mean NOTHING helped that MRE except fire

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2018 11:25 PM

2018-09-05T23:25:29-04:00

its not horrible but giver her the chicken cordon bleu without the package and call it gerbil.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2018 11:28 AM

2018-09-06T11:28:06-04:00

Give her the Thai chicken, but don’t let her add the peanut butter packet or hot sauce.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 6 at 2018 12:23 PM

2018-09-06T12:23:36-04:00

Always nice to see someone mention 4-Finger Mary. The worst ones were the earlier offerings. One packet was called "Bean Component" with large print "Warning, not for flight of preflight use". In general, the current MREs are much better than the early versions so I'll let the more recent crop of responders rule. BTW, we have no clue how to make them. The French MREs are fantastic.

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Sep 6 at 2018 12:24 PM

2018-09-06T12:24:05-04:00

Tuna and noodles, ooof, I just threw up in my mouth!

Response by SPC Patricia K. (Williams) Elliott made Sep 6 at 2018 1:41 PM

2018-09-06T13:41:25-04:00

Most 14 year olds don't know when they have it so good until it is pointed out to them. This is a perfect way in my opinion. Don't know much about the MREs but if you were talking about the c-rations I would recommend the pork. Nastiest stuff I have ever eaten, or tried to eat!! The best thing about the c-rations was the peanut butter and crackers!!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2018 11:42 PM

2018-09-06T23:42:47-04:00

I know they dont make them anymore but find a veggie and cheese omlett

Response by LtCol George Carlson made Sep 7 at 2018 2:28 AM

2018-09-07T02:28:04-04:00

C-rats, MREs (I only had the early ones) are all pretty awful if: 1) you don't have heat; 2) you don't know jack about cooking; c) you haven't collected a few ideas on ways to combine things to make them better; d) you don't carry basic "enhancements" like hot sauce, garlic (fresh or powder), onion (fresh or powder), other herbs/spices; AND e) you don't have some foggy notion of what to do with c) and d)! Will they be anything like a home-cooked meal by a good cook? Of course not. But you are in combat or in the field training and this is about fueling your body, not your cuisine soul.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 7 at 2018 12:42 PM

2018-09-07T12:42:59-04:00

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff When they first came up with the vegetarian MREs---They were absolutely horrible and even the smell was atrocious.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2018 5:56 PM

2018-09-07T17:56:45-04:00

Beef Frankfurters and Veggie Omlette are the worst I’ve ever come across. They’re out of circulating now so they’ll probably be hard to come by.

Out of the current menus I think I’d probably go with the chicken chunks, maple pork sausage patty, Pork Patty, or Grilled Jalapeño pepper jack beef burger.

Response by Sgt Jim Recchia made Sep 7 at 2018 8:01 PM

2018-09-07T20:01:48-04:00

The dehydrated pork and beef patties from the mid 80's were the worst. They were like hockey pucks.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2018 4:06 PM

2018-09-08T16:06:00-04:00

Hands down, veggie omelet

Response by SSgt Dan Moquin made Sep 8 at 2018 4:41 PM

2018-09-08T16:41:54-04:00

I don’t know about today, but back in the 80’s it was chicken ala king. Worst meal ever.

Response by SGT Mike Soter made Sep 21 at 2020 2:45 PM

2020-09-21T14:45:10-04:00

The worse MRE by far was chicken ala king from the 80’s. No amount of Tabasco could help that foul looking/smelling vomit in a bag

Response by Nicole Thomas made Sep 22 at 2020 1:04 PM

2020-09-22T13:04:23-04:00

To bad he didnt have some of the old sea rations in a can. A couple of those and that girl would be thinking an MRE is a gourmet meal. Lol

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Sep 25 at 2020 4:41 PM

2020-09-25T16:41:43-04:00

ham & chicken loaf, chicken loaf, and chicken ala king were the worst of all time

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Sep 11 at 2021 1:34 PM

2021-09-11T13:34:32-04:00

the old ham and chicken loaf or the chicken loaf were nasty

Response by SSG Matthew Koehler made Sep 11 at 2021 1:42 PM

2021-09-11T13:42:37-04:00

I was in from 1987-2010 and MRE's got better with time. My favorite was Spaghetti and Meat Sauce with the Blueberry Cobbler dessert! The worst MRE for me was the frankfurters preserved in some type of "jelly lubricant."

Response by SSG John Jensen made Sep 11 at 2021 2:20 PM

2021-09-11T14:20:15-04:00

I still have a P-38 on my keyri.ng -
When they took the food out of the cans and put them into plastic, they took away the taste of the can and that is why they were tasteless

Response by SFC Bill Kurtz made Sep 11 at 2021 2:54 PM

2021-09-11T14:54:15-04:00

Had mostly C rats in my career. I do d get a few MREs. If there’s any meal you can’t eat, you’re not hungry enough. Posted in homage to C rat Spiced Beef & Potatoes.

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Sep 11 at 2021 4:51 PM

2021-09-11T16:51:03-04:00

MRE? Cloest I hadto them were LRPs in 71. C-Rats 69-70. Some were canned in 54!

Response by SPC Scotty Smith made Sep 11 at 2021 6:51 PM

2021-09-11T18:51:40-04:00

Country Captain Chicken was the worst

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2021 10:49 PM

2021-09-11T22:49:29-04:00

Anything with the word "patty" in it.

Response by MAJ Janice Campbell. BSN, RN, CNOR made Sep 13 at 2021 12:49 AM

2021-09-13T00:49:43-04:00

Well, honestly,.....food is food, rich in calories and with a ruck sack et al while trending the mountain / desert or whatever, happy to have It, It is great!