Posted on 11/25/2017 7:36:22 AM PST by Trillian
The US Army pioneered restructured meats in the 1960s, and that technology found its way into beloved fast food menu staples.
I have been aging the Rib Shaped, Barbecue Flavor Pork Patty from Menu 16 on the shelf behind my desk since February 2012, when I was given it during a tour of the US Army Natick Soldier Research, Engineering and Development Center. By law, combat rations are designed to last for three years at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so I'm not overly worried about food poisoning. Still, it's definitely long past its expiration date. But the perfect occasion to taste my now-vintage Meal, Ready to Eat (a.k.a. MRE) never came along. Until now: the MUNCHIES theme week on fast food.
I scissor across the end of the pouch and tumble the rectangular "rib" onto a plate. The pebbly textured meat is caramel brown and crossed by four raised "bones." Not unappealing, except if you peek in the package. The meat juice is a bizarrely bright yellowish-orange; I quickly tilt the pouch up to keep it from splashing out. Following the civilized example set by our Tweeter-in-Chief, I slice off an end with a knife and fork. It's porky and slightly smoky, although there's a tinny aftertaste, probably from some of the preservatives used to keep it fresh so long. Using a couple of "wheat snack breads" and the packet of dark, oily "BBQ" sauce that came with it, I assemble a sandwich and take a bite. Not bad! Scatter a couple onion slices and pickles on top, and the whole thing would be pretty damn close to a McRib.
Which makes perfect sense. Seeing how consumers go loco for the ersatz baby backs when they appear at McD's, why wouldn't the US military want to provide a similar treat for
(Excerpt) Read more at munchies.vice.com ...
This article reminded me, in about summer of 2012, I was given a box of black packaged, or maybe dark, dark brown, MREs which I was told were from the early 90s. One of these was a tuna fish sandwich, which unsurprisingly, tasted like a packaged war crime
Same category as Spam, IMO: Not fit for human consumption:
Never been able to buy a McRib. In my mind it’s SPAM. Used to love a SPAM sandwich with mustard. Just can’t make myself eat it anymore. Of course, if that’s all there was available....
A 17 year-old MRE of Tuna something will not kill you to eat but it does make your mouth dry sort of like eating alum would. The jelly and peanut butter more-or-less solidify, charms candy are still satisfying and on the whole the package of food will fill the empty spot in your belly but I do not recommend it.
Younger vintage MRE’s though are quite satisfying.
SPAM,I’m told by a guy who worked in a processing plant, has everything in it but the squeal.
You and I are about to get flamed worse than if we called Trump a communist.
I suspected as much....
I ate WWII c-rats in 1972. Wasn’t bad. But my tastes have changed.
Spam is really popular in Hawaii:
https://nypost.com/2017/10/19/hawaiis-spam-black-market-blamed-for-spate-of-thefts/
restructured meats
...
yummy
As I told a person I used to know who was a Vegan, when you get hungry enough you’ll eat anything.
Still remember the scene in Papillon where Steve McQueen catches and eats the Roach in his Jail Cell.
One of our younger relative’s concept of a great vacation is driving as far as he can with his 4 wheel drive and then hiking in and camping while big game hunting for a week.
He used take the fairly expensive freeze dried meals until a fellow hermit introduced him to the newer MRE’s.
He loves them. Of course he eats anything except Brussel Sprouts and deer/elk liver. He eats the hearts of big game.
“I’m told by a guy who worked in a processing plant, has everything in it but the squeal.”
once you remove the organs, “everything” is meat, bone, connective tissue and skin. Yummy when prepared right and full of nutrients you won’t get from pure meat. You can eat every single part of an animal as long as it’s fresh and prepared right.
The only thing I’d worry about in Spam is the huge amount of sodium and syhthetic nitrates. Definitely not something I would eat daily but many healthy people do
I attended the University of Nebraska and one of the profs in my department was credited w the invention of the McRib. His name is Roger Mandigo. Quite a character. Us grad students nicknamed him “Mad Dog”
MFO
Throw all the stones you wish, an annual eating of the McRib is a joyful moment.
The McRib tastes like pork, unlike spam that has its own flavor.
She looks a little bit better, IMO, with red-tinted hair pulled back.
I have been in situations where I was very glad to have an MRE. It’s food. It’s not necessarily the best food; I certainly wouldn’t want to eat them every day. It’s definitely food. And I’m not impressed with a graphic from “McDiabetes”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.