MRE, emergency rations & freeze-dried
Last reviewed on 30.06.2026
Emergency ration bars like NRG-5 deliver a lot of energy in a small space (a 500-gram pack around 2300 kilocalories) and are ready to eat without water or cooking – ideal for an emergency bag. MRE bring a heat pack with them, freeze-dried meals need hot water. For supplies at home, the rotated everyday supply remains the most cost-effective basis.
Besides the classic everyday supplies, there is specialist food for special situations: emergency ration bars for your emergency bag, MRE ready-made meals with their own heat pack, and freeze-dried packet meals for very long storage. This overview explains the types and helps with selection – but the basis of home preparedness remains the well-rotated everyday supplies.
What are emergency rations, MRE and freeze-dried food?
Emergency ration bars are compact, energy-dense bars that are ready to eat immediately without water and without cooking. Examples include NRG-5 (a 500-gram pack with 9 bars provides around 2300–2380 kcal and lasts to about 20 years), BP-5 or Seven Oceans. With a little water they can also be eaten as a mush – ideal for an emergency bag.
MRE ("Meal, Ready-to-Eat") are ready-cooked meals in retort pouches, originally for the US military. An included flameless heat pack (magnesium-iron + around 30 ml water) heats the meal to around 60 °C in 12–15 minutes without fire. An MRE provides around 1200–1300 kcal; a day's ration is three MRE. They are heavy, salty and comparatively expensive (roughly 7–15 CHF per meal).
Freeze-dried food has about 98% of its water removed by sublimation. It is very light and in Mylar bags with oxygen absorber can last 25–30 years – but requires (hot) water for preparation and is more expensive.
Which ration type suits which need?
The key distinction in an emergency is: does the food need water or a heat source? Emergency ration bars and MRE do not; freeze-dried dishes do. Always plan emergency food together with your water supplies.
| Type | Water/cooking | Energy | Shelf life | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency ration bars (NRG-5, BP-5, Seven Oceans) | no | approx. 2300–2500 kcal per day pack | approx. 5 to 20 years | emergency bag, ready to eat immediately |
| MRE (ready-made meal in pouch) | heat pack included, no fire | approx. 1200–1300 kcal per MRE (day ration 3) | approx. 3 y at 27 °C / 6 m at 38 °C | away from home, hot meal |
| Freeze-dried (packet meal) | yes, (hot) water | depending on dish | up to approx. 25–30 years | light long-term/hiking supplies |
| Everyday emergency supplies (tinned food, pasta) | partly cooking | depending on food | months to years | basis at home |
Typical values. Shelf life decreases with higher storage temperature – for MRE it roughly halves for each ~5.5 °C more. MRE costs roughly 7–15 CHF per meal.
Recommended products
Emergency ration bars (day pack)
Compact provisions
Provide a lot of energy in little space without water or cooking; ideal for the emergency backpack. Can also be eaten as a porridge with a little water.
- high energy density (around 2300+ kcal per pack)
- very long shelf life
- edible without preparation
Freeze-dried packet meals
Long-term food
Very light and storable for decades (Mylar bags with oxygen absorber); but need hot water.
- plan for water and a heat source
- Mylar packaging with O₂ absorber
- test the taste before an emergency
How do I store emergency rations correctly?
Even long-lasting emergency food spoils faster if stored wrong. The main killfactors in this order: heat, oxygen, light, moisture and temperature fluctuations.
- Store cool, dark, dry and as temperature-stable as possible
- Rotate by FIFO principle: consume first-purchased items first
- Protect from pests and moisture
- Label expiry dates and check every six months
Common mistakes
- Buy freeze-dried food but do not plan water and heat source
- Store emergency food warm (e.g. in attic) and reduce shelf life
- Hoard only specialist food instead of building a rotated everyday supply as a basis
- Never test taste and tolerability before an emergency
Frequently asked questions
How long do MRE keep?
Only rough values are reliable: around 3 years at approximately 27 °C storage temperature, but only about 6 months at 38 °C. For each ~5.5 °C warmer roughly the shelf life halves. Kept cool, MRE therefore last significantly longer.
What is the difference between MRE and freeze-dried food?
MRE are ready-cooked meals in retort pouches with a flameless heat pack – ready to eat without fire and without extra water. Freeze-dried meals are very light and extremely long-lasting but need hot water for preparation.
Which emergency food is suitable for an emergency bag?
Emergency ration bars are best for an emergency bag: they are compact, very long-lasting and ready to eat without water or cooking. Freeze-dried meals are light but need water and heat.
Official sources
- FONES Good advice – emergency supplies
- Guide: build emergency supplies The basis: week's supply at home
- Guide: make drinking water safe Water for freeze-dried meals
- Guide: Preserve food: canning & storage Preserve fresh seasonal harvest
- Scenario: power outage When cooking without power is needed
- Emergency supply calculator Ready-to-eat meals needed for your household – calculate