topic Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees! in Kitchen

5 minute self-heating entrees!

house_cat — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:04:27 GMT

I wasn't sure if I was seeing this correctly this morning - I had to go back and look.

If QVC gives an award for the most environmentally unfriendly product, I think this one would win.

If anyone can see a legitimate reason that anyone would want this product, I'd really love to hear it. I can't think of one.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

Lisa now in AZ — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:07:16 GMT

I can - they are technically the same as those meals that HSN sells for emergencies. They mentioned them for use if there are hurricanes or other issues where the power will be out and you can't cook. I thought they looked pretty interesting.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

Kachina624 — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:09:11 GMT

How about for emergency rations or people camping? Homeless people or anyone without cooking facilities.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

Goldengate8361 — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:13:56 GMT

How do they self heat? What is not environmentally friendly about it? The food itself does very unappealing to me but that's not the issue being t raised here....help me better understand your point, OP.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

RoughDraft — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:16:24 GMT

I don't think there's anything environmentally unfriendly about this product.

Think of people in disaster areas (hurricaines, floods, forest fires). They need no refrigeration, have a long shelf life.

ETA: video presentation of the product explains everything.

https://www.qvc.com/Chef-5-Minute-Meal-%287%29-9-oz-Self-Heating-Entrees.product.M62654.html?sc=SRCH

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

GAQShopr53 — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:27:38 GMT

These look like the upscale version of the Meal-Ready-to Eat (MRE) meals. I would think someone without the ability to heat food (homeless, campers, or college student) would love these meals.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

GSPgirl — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:27:43 GMT

They remind me of the MRE’s (meal ready to eat) that the military take to the battle field. They heat in a bag. These would be good for camping.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

ValuSkr — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:28:01 GMT

They would also be good for survivalists or preppers.

"Self-heating" is a pretty neat concept, though I imagine the food is nothing to write home about. These are rather like Hormel's shelf-stable entrees, Compleats.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

RedTop — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:34:32 GMT

I see it as a preppy version of an MRE. My trucker daughter could carry these to eat in the truck when she’s shut down for whatever reason. She’s looking into it now.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

house_cat — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 01:51:16 GMT

@Goldengate8361 wrote:
How do they self heat? What is not environmentally friendly about it? The food itself does very unappealing to me but that's not the issue being t raised here....help me better understand your point, OP.

It's a 9 oz meal - the rest is all packaging. I don't imagine the self-heating pad is recyclable - seems very wasteful.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

phoenixbrd — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 02:07:08 GMT

combustible cardboard....

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

ValuSkr — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 02:11:21 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
combustible cardboard....

I hope it was steam comng out of the box and not smoke. LOL

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

BeccaLou — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 03:56:02 GMT

@house_cat a LITTLE SCARY TO USE , BUT WELL NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY,.mILK WOULD BE NEXT IF THEY COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP IT FROM SPOILING.POWDER MILKITHINK WOULD BE OKAY IF YOU HAD WATER.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

millieshops — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 04:10:01 GMT

@house_catHave you seen more environmentally protective ideas for those unable to cook?

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

house_cat — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 12:16:52 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@house_catHave you seen more environmentally protective ideas for those unable to cook?

@millieshops

I'm not claiming to be an environmentalist, but I try to make good choices. Other than the suggestion that a trucker could use it in an emergency, I haven't heard a scenario yet that would warrant such a thing. How many of these 9 oz meals would a family need to stockpile to really help in an emergency? But, like I asked originally... if anyone can enlighten me, I'm open to learning.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

Sweetbay magnolia — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 12:51:52 GMT

I thought they were a bit pricey. I think the shelf life is three years so they might be good for emergency rations, but if they weren't needed in that time, you might actually have to eat them -

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

wagirl — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 13:57:43 GMT

Kinda pricey for only 5 meals-----

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

ValuSkr — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 15:48:05 GMT

@wagirl wrote:
Kinda pricey for only 5 meals-----

@wagirl There are seven, actually. So they're $7.00 each. Expensive, yes, but they have the self-heating feature. Even frozen dinners are $3.00 - $4.00 these days.

I wouldn't recommend these to the average person; there are options that are more economical and environmental-friendly. But for the doomsday prepper, they may be perfect!

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

RespectLife — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 15:53:13 GMT

@house_cat wrote:
@millieshops wrote:
@house_catHave you seen more environmentally protective ideas for those unable to cook?

@millieshops

I'm not claiming to be an environmentalist, but I try to make good choices. Other than the suggestion that a trucker could use it in an emergency, I haven't heard a scenario yet that would warrant such a thing. How many of these 9 oz meals would a family need to stockpile to really help in an emergency? But, like I asked originally... if anyone can enlighten me, I'm open to learning.

There already were several very good suggestions for use besides truckers...

Campers, homeless, dorm rooms where appliances are not allowed...just read the previous posts for other ideas.

I know my son in the Army would have preferred these to the MREs he was getting! At least this was a meal and not a snack he was getting in his MREs. (Rice Krispie treat, PB on crackers??? He'd rather have an entree even if it wasn't as good as Mom's cooking!) LOL

It really isn't that much more eco un-friendly than any other premade meal in a heat and serve container, or any other 'take out' food in styrofoam.

I don't wanna eat it, but I don't have a problem with it.

Re: 5 minute self-heating entrees!

ItsME — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 15:56:29 GMT

@house_cat ... I do try to make environmentally right decisions, and hate wasteful packaging. But, having lived in a hurricane zone for 18 years, and having lost power for 4-8 days with each, this might be very much appreciated. BTW... when the power did come back on, the stores were emptying their shelves of spoiled food. We were hungry, and there wasn't much food available even to buy.