MRE/MtnHouse lifespan in HEAT

[NOLA556]

ok so I recently received several free MRE's (and I already have a bunch of MtnHouse) and I decided to put together "get-home-bags" with just one or two meals in each (basically just little miniature ultra-minimalist BOB's just for getting home if shit goes down while we're away). my plan is to leave them in our vehicles but we have brutally hot weather here. what kind of shelf-life can I expect from an MRE or a MtnHouse meal in extreme heat? any response will be appreciated.

[Treaded]

Freeze dried foods should be OK.  MREs in Iraq and Afghanistan were being pulled by the case after they hit thirty days outside of refrigerated storage - The DoD specs on them give them a safe life of less than 30 days at a daily exposure above 120 degrees for more than a few hours each day.  Temperature cycling (going from hot to cool) also cuts down on their shelf life. 

[NOLA556]

Freeze dried foods should be OK.  MREs in Iraq and Afghanistan were being pulled by the case after they hit thirty days outside of refrigerated storage - The DoD specs on them give them a safe life of less than 30 days at a daily exposure above 120 degrees for more than a few hours each day.  Temperature cycling (going from hot to cool) also cuts down on their shelf life.

well damn... I guess I'd better switch out those MRE's for MtnHouse!!! lol. I used MRE's just because I was excited to have gotten my hands on some for free but if they need to be kept cool then there's no sense in wasting a perfectly good meal. thanks a bunch Treaded.

[Treaded]

Don't toss those MREs if they're still relatively new.  If you have a basement that stays at around 65 degrees or so they can last for quite a few years.  Even at something like a constant 80 you can get a couple of years out of them.  Rule of thumb I was always told 7 years toss 'em regardless because even in controlled storage the bags start breaking down.

[NOLA556]

Don't toss those MREs if they're still relatively new.  If you have a basement that stays at around 65 degrees or so they can last for quite a few years.  Even at something like a constant 80 you can get a couple of years out of them.  Rule of thumb I was always told 7 years toss 'em regardless because even in controlled storage the bags start breaking down.

I'm not tossing them but they're not new. they're at least a few years old but they've been kept in the AC the whole time. during Katrina we were all told that they're good for 10-15 years. I've never really researched that so don't quote me, but that was the word coming from FEMA when they were passing them out during the Katrina chaos.

[1000meterstare]

I second that emotion.  MRE's during Desert Shield/Storm didn't last long (we ran out of storage space so they were outside our tents in the heat).  In my basement MRE's should do just fine...

[thatGuy]

http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/mre-shelf-life.html

[NOLA556]

PERFECT TG! thanks bro.