How To Make MREs! | Home Freeze Dryer | Harvest Right Freeze Dryer | Meal Ready To Eat

In this video, I will show you how I make MREs, or Meals Ready to Eat, using my Harvest Right freeze dryer. harvestright.com/ballistic.html This is an easy process, and the food will last up to 25 years! I freeze-dried roasted sirloin, lemon grass chicken, and fruit for this batch. I will be keeping these homemade MREs in my Jeep for emergency situations. Enjoy!
00:00 How to make MREs intro
01:14 How to prepare the meats for freeze drying
05:05 How to prepare the fruits for freeze drying
06:30 How to use the Harvest Right freeze dryer
07:12 Freeze dryer settings for meats and fruit
08:27 Freeze dried food revealed
09:24 How to bag freeze dried food
11:50 How to package the MREs
14:40 Rehydrating and tasting freeze dried MREs
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Gear I use:
My Book: amzn.to/2HI6tMg
My links: www.amazon.com/shop/ballisticbbq for my Gear Picks!
Stainless Burger Ring: amzn.to/39UN9dB
LEM Meat Grinder: amzn.to/3bMhtIY
Blackstone Griddle: amzn.to/2UuGfEH
Burger Paper Squares: amzn.to/2wyvDL8
Spatula Set: amzn.to/2V9HABk
Ballistic Smasher: www.cast-iron-grate.com/smash...
Burger Flipper: amzn.to/2HbksgS
Trowel Burger Flipper (Or make one) www.katom.com/135-16530.html?...
Blackstone Griddle: amzn.to/3580agj
Shun Knives: shun.kaiusa.com/dual-core.html
"Steak Weight" amzn.to/3lUBA9n
Ballistic MoJoe Griddle www.mojoegriddle.com/shop/bal...
Ballistic Griddle www.cast-iron-grate.com/bbq-a...
ThermoWorks thermometers:
Thermoworks Smoke X www.thermoworks.com/Smokex?tw=...
Thermoworks Smoke www.thermoworks.com/Smoke?tw=B...
Thermopen IR www.thermoworks.com/Thermapen-...
Thermapen Mk4 - www.thermoworks.com/Thermapen-...
Thermapop - www.thermoworks.com/ThermoPop?...
Chef Alarm - www.thermoworks.com/ChefAlarm?... freeze dried chicken ballistic bbq mci harvest right review
#BallisticBBQ #MRE #HarvestRight vacuum sealer machine

[@BallisticBBQ]

00:00 Intro 01:14 Preparing the meats for freeze drying 05:05 Preparing the fruits for freeze drying 06:30 Loading the Harvest Right freeze dryer 07:12 Freeze dryer settings 08:27 Freeze dried food revealed 09:24 Bagging the food 11:50 Building the MREs 14:40 Rehydrating and tasting MREs

[@LadyCatFelineTheSeventh]

13:30 Cat (cute)

[@neomartyrdom1484]

Hey brother what's the shelf life for all of this if properly done as you instruct???? I like this it was very informative and you have ne highly curious... lol now I want to buy a freezer dryer 🤣😂

[@vrfvfdcdvgtre2369]

Cool. And all you need is machinery in your factory.

[@kpd174]

Over filled the heater

[@f25mart]

Steve1989: “Nice”

[@daddyosink4413]

I would love to see Steve review one of these.

[@rizaradri316]

@@daddyosink4413 I think he made an "Thanksgiving MRE"

[@daddyosink4413]

@@rizaradri316 yes! I was hoping that he would do more of those vids.

[@mizark70]

Let's get this on a tray

[@daddyosink4413]

@@mizark70 nice

[@raychang8648]

Greg, this is a big change from your regular videos. I learned a lot here. I never even thought about freeze-drying things before. A friend bought me some USA MREs before. Damn, that pound cake was the best ever!!! Always love your videos, Greg!

[@stephendavies6432]

I agree, very interesting but these medium units start at around $3000 USD (nearly £7k GBP in the UK ~$9700USD..!). As much as I would love to experiment, w-a-a-y too expensive. I can buy a food truck for that price!

[@jeremy7461]

I know this video is a year old but it is the most thorough, start to finish freeze drying video I've seen. I'm currently waiting for my machine to arrive and just getting ideas. I really appreciate that you made this. Thanks!

[@BallisticBBQ]

Thank you for the comment Jeremy! You're going to love your freeze dryer!

[@nobodynothing2594]

@@BallisticBBQ great video. How is it on the electric load?

[@BEERNBBQBYLARRY]

Awesome! A topic near and dear to my heart; MREs! I’m going to try this.

[@GradeBmoviefan]

I love watching freeze dry videos. I hope you do more of them. The different ideas are very helpful. Thanks for uploading this video! 😊👍 ~Sharon

[@Todd-tz9qq]

Love my HarvestRight freeze dryer! Thanks for the video.

[@paulb2741]

Thanks for class on MRE’s 101. Very informative. I use your videos all the time to give me new ideas or redo my favorites. Double thumbs up 👍👍.

[@LoveShackBBQ]

Great video! Great info, my favorite on your channel so far.

[@ivse9696]

I've never seen it work before and I'm very impressed. As always, you explained it in a fascinating way. Great video 👍👍👍

[@chrisdroblyn]

Greg, please keep putting out these videos. I love them.

[@lauriegarland5728]

Your birdieing is the most helpful and informative I have found, thank you!

[@jerome1lm]

Those are some nice trays. Looking very clean.

[@christinehammers9466]

Just ordered my freeze dryer. So more videos like this please, please, please.

[@martharayon7194]

Very informative video, I would love to see more freeze drying videos!

[@J_LOVES_ME]

Wow, nice to know they taste good also!

[@bobbicatton]

I've been eyeballing that freeze drier for some time. Nice to see a good demo of it👍

[@tj6193]

Liked up for the Red Stripe. 👍🏾

[@mikespringer7894]

Man that is a quality emergency/camping meal. Love it my dude

[@dandelion1239]

Great idea! Thx for your video!

[@markwhittington5020]

Great video. I was looking for info on how to freeze dry meat. Good tutorial. The MRE idea is great. Thanks

[@carolclarkson4859]

Share more of this greg. Really great content here.

[@Thisisit120]

I am always surprised with how things taste freshly made when it’s freeze dried. Thanks for the great video I hope you do more these.

[@ancoreviews]

Hi Ballistic BBQ, I've never seen it work before and I'm very impressed. As always, you explained it in a fascinating way. Thanks for your information !

[@danielmcgregor8803]

Phenomenal video. Thank you so much.

[@RichardColwell1]

This is awesome!

[@RAKRail]

Greg, I really enjoyed this video. I'm considering getting into freeze drying for the reasons you stated. Can you please do more videos revolving around freeze drying please? Thanks

[@ThePreparedPatriarch]

I was shopping online for mres and freeze dried foods to add to my food storage. I am so happy that I found this video. You are a genius. I'm going to buy a Harvest Right and make my own mres! I subscribed, great content!

[@melinaz3385]

When you go to the large grocery store that has a camping section look for mountain freeze dried camping meals usually 2.5 servings / bag for about 10 bucks. or if you have the money you can buy the box kits from mountain house.

[@amysherk]

Love it. More please.

[@snipercurgan1]

More freeze dry videos for sure Greg!

[@DadGummitMan]

Cool idea! Thanks man!

[@pamelaaverill1608]

Pretty cool idea with the MRE

[@chriscook6285]

Great video! Thank you! 🙏

[@maryjane-vx4dd]

I love the fd videos. I could use all the fd inspiration you are willing to share

[@maxcapone56]

What a great video something we all should be doing u never know

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

Thumbs up - great lesson - but it convinced me to go with canning process! No hydration - reusable containers - similar shelf-life = no waste at all. Per $$ = 3x food! Bon appetite!

[@gurgisgutters725]

Does canned stuff last 25 years😮

[@BWORKZ_SouthWales]

Great video!

[@garymartin9898]

Great Video Brochocho!

[@gunterbecker8528]

U r a champion!

[@marthe1955]

Awesome, I learned a lot

[@Brendan.Wheatley]

Very informative video Greg! Cheers for sharing mate! I see your cat made an appearance on this video, and the dog on the burger channel, nice!

[@pde442]

Awesome video

[@nbholifield]

Very cool video!! thanks!!!!!

[@gogogo4732]

Looks delicious brother 😁

[@GCRockymtns]

More freeze dry vids please, going to be buying one too just need to save some cash they are pricey! Great vid Tks

[@bettelovelace4456]

Pretty cool TFS 👏👏💜

[@turdferguson8095]

Man, I haven't had Red Stripe in a long while. Must revisit. Good vid, thanks!

[@JavaRatusso]

Great info!

[@raymondbanasiak3969]

Awesome video, please do more on freeze drying.

[@KrusinTheSierra]

Oh I can’t wait to get my HR because this will be amazing to do for my son the next time he deploys

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

Good video and good ideas

[@heathermichelle8187]

Genius!

[@daddyosink4413]

Very good vid!

[@lesahardman9914]

Loved this video... Thank you... What brand of vacuum chamber do you have?

[@Thisisit120]

Yes do a video freeze drying coffee. I have done it and it works very well but I’m interested in the technique that you use.

[@coolich]

Amazing video thanks. Do you have any videos on the Harvest machine? Maintenance and upkeep?

[@archangel20031]

If your sauce is too thick, use a brush to apply it evenly. If you are stuck in the desert, drink the water but don't eat the food as your body will need more water from digesting the food, so wait until you have more water before you eat. I pack a life-straw in every pack and in every car along with a couple gallons of water in quart sized hard water bottles like the Fiji water comes in, and that's not mentioning the hydration pack (with 2 liters of water in it) that holds my emergency supplies in.

[@DonPandemoniac]

Very interesting to watch! Might be a bit of an investment, but the possibilities are endless. Can't wait to see how the freeze dried beer is going to be.

[@petermashak3341]

When you mix up your Chicken, at about the 4 minute mark, first mix it together in a bowl. Then put it in the trays. Works much better

[@keithrepace118]

Absolutely great video, can you share the model of your vacuum sealer thanks

[@coreym8145]

Nice.

[@AGTsakumis]

Now I know who's house I'm going to in case of Armageddon. Lol. I liked it, as it's hard not to like everything you do here: Informative and delicious. I've repeated so many of your ideas (perhaps not as well as you have) and they're always a home run with my family ('particular the onion burger). However, more sous vide? Nah, one's enough. This is a BBQ stump. Gordon Ramsay has his own gig, too. Leave the sous vide to him. 😉👌👍

[@redstone5149]

Crap, now I have to buy a chamber vac and Freeze dryer😂. Great video!

[@sinleony243]

New Subscriber!😇😇 More videos please

[@jamessherrill3454]

Great video and I like my chamber vacuum sealer as well. Same unit as yours and I not wasting food anymore because it's so easy. Thanks again for your videos.

[@neilwallop3688]

Gotta see that freeze dry beer

[@meanoldrunk]

thank you for the informative video. i found it very interesting. is there a way to do this or something close to it on a very low to none type budget? i would have top max out my credit for those machines.

[@davidwarren1143]

Hi Greg i would like to see videos on freeze drying smoked meats / bbq David

[@rizaradri316]

Alright let's get this onto a tray. Nice!

[@FireWaterCooking]

Nice! Cuisine Solutions is run and owned by CREA, the people who developed and perfected the sous vide process. They make the Sous Vide egg bites for Starbucks, and they make most of Panera Bread's meat and soups. I have had them on my Podcast... I am going to be making my own MRE's soon using my chamber sealer and Retort bags..

[@sugetoosty1685]

Great video- thank you! Question: is this for LT storage? Reason I ask is because I'd be worried about the plastic leaching into the food...what do you think?

[@neildavid2697]

You could also chamber seal the larger mylar bag to remove the oxygen and save a little space.

[@flodi88]

good job, thx for the idea, maybe you can add some xanthan to your sauce this should bind your sauce

[@freethinker5225]

I feel like a freeze dryer should be just as essential as a fridge in every home...its kinda crazy the amount of money could save and the efficiency of the human race this thing would bring...ik I sound crazy but if all our food had this shelf life and retained it's nutrients our world wide resources wouldn't be depleting and the economy would be so much stronger

[@toconnor6811]

Did you get a 2nd freeze dryer? Great video!!

[@robertcritchley1338]

Done yogurt. Super. Watermelon, pineapple, super snacks without rehidradating. Tried jello. Never again.

[@5150norcal]

Thank you for the video. Very informative. I have questions. Why was the large Mylar bag not vacuum sealed? If you were to vacuum seal it, would you still need to add the O2 absorbers?

[@terisapetersen7075]

Thanks for the video. My mom found your videos. We are fascinated with the warming bags. Where did you get them?

[@craftylisa8615]

Hi Greg, Great video. I have both a chamber vac and a freeze dryer and would like to start doing MRE's. My chamber vac bags don't have a notch for easy opening so I always need scissors. Where dis you get the bads with the cotches and the MRE heaters? Thanks.

[@stevehei8035]

Great video. Here’s a challenge, video the same with pork ribs and pulled pork. These are a lot better than MRE’s.

[@cubanmama4564]

Awesome video! I received my Harvest Right freeze dryer yesterday after much wrangling as to whether it was worth the investment and wished I had bought it before I spent almost $2K on freeze dried food 2 months ago for earthquake emergency kits for us and our kids' families. I could have put that money towards the freeze dryer cost. Oh, well! I love your channel. I have learned so much from you, especially using the Kamado style grills. Now I can watch more options! Keep on posting videos!

[@BallisticBBQ]

You're going to LOVE that freeze dryer. We have a mango tree that produces way more than we can eat, or even give away. It pays off dividends for a small family like ours.

[@cubanmama4564]

@@BallisticBBQ I have an overage of eggplant I think will be freeze dried soon. Thanks for your suggestions.

[@BallisticBBQ]

@@cubanmama4564 I wonder how those would taste steamed, seasoned, then freeze-dried as a sort of potato chip-like snack?

[@cubanmama4564]

@@BallisticBBQ I will blanch, then freeze dry. I like to make eggplant parmesan. So let's see where this goes.

[@hardknox1917]

Nice hiss

[@rueridge7597]

How about the beer? Cervesa is certainly considered survival food- somewhere.

[@susanchavez4278]

WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE FREEZE DYING VIDEOS.GREAT CONTENT

[@ifly269s]

more freeze dry videos please. i am very interested in on of these machines. could you cover what size unit would work best for a small family. thanks John H

[@One1Luv]

Medium. The large one needs it’s own circuit. So unless you or your husband, can do electrical work ….. you might want consider medium. Considering how “long” it take’s to make a batch, I personally wouldn’t choose small.

[@melinaz3385]

Freeze dried coffee! NJoy Creamer, Splenda sweetener or CH packets. Or powdered milk packets you make yourself. Also Walmart has jars of freeze dried Colombian blend, and Nescafe's Tasters Choice has Colombian, house blend, french roast and hazelnut blend. Tasters choice are done in jars or in sticks. And Welch's no sugar drink sticks, love the cherry pomegranate, and the grape, and there's Gatorade Zero sticks really good. or LMNT hydration sticks. these are not too expensive but if you want you can make your own cool aid packs with flavor aid or Kool aid with 1 cup of sugar per packet and then shake that all up and divide it into 8 servings. 1 packet of instant soft drink mix makes 1/2 gallon of liquid. Take along or add to your MRE, salt, pepper, paprika, sugar, creamer or milk, napkin, fork knife spoon or a spork, a straw, and an extra napkin with 2 aspirin, 2 band-aids, some alcohol wipes for antiseptic, multi vitamin. Some chewing gum or tictacs.

[@behindthespotlight7983]

Every time he rips open a bag I hear “chuh-ching “ in my head. Love the concept of being able store real food long term. But man the entry point on this is astronomical. With the bags, heaters, sealers and machines we’re at $6000 and haven’t bought a single calorie of food. Not to mention what it does to the electric bill running the Harvest Right for 18 hours. This is whole ‘nother level prepping. There are so many gaps I could close with $6 grand (the predominant one being getting out of this blue state and into a region where a fella has a decent shot when the balloon sails.) I guess preparedness is like everything else. The working man gets the Mosin and surplus MRE’s BUT the wealthy man must be able to hold all those (admittedly alluring) bells, whistles and doohickeys. Strange times comin. Great video.

[@J_LOVES_ME]

Yes, they are quite expensive. I would love one, because I know he food tastes so much better than canned, but can't justify the cost. I have heard people talk about power cost, and it's not bad. It was around $1.50 per batch most say.

[@etherdog]

Haha, Greg, freeze dried beer! I'm sure you saw Guga's fail on rehydrating steak with bone marrow, all in the service of science. :-)

[@Docstantinople]

Greg low key trying troll us about freeze drying beer at the end. 😂

[@sykesz]

Great video. Can you tell me what the cost is for each MRE you made.

[@gregjones8453]

Hey Greg, I see in your old videos you used to have a gator pit. What are your thoughts on those as I am looking to buy one.

[@KINGan72]

I wish I was your neighbor so I could get some of that delicious leftover food!!!

[@veronicatabron3897]

Ready for the apocalypse

[@fabianoperes2155]

Really nice! I wish I had these equipment, but I cannot afford it in my country. How long does the food last if you don't open the bag?

[@jillorraine18]

Great video. You used a bit too much water in the FRH though.

[@KrusinTheSierra]

Where can we buy the items like water packs and the heating packs?

[@wjf213]

Great video, and I hope you do more FDing vids. How about strawberry pop tarts? I have always wondered about those. Just a thought here, when I vacuum seal things like rice, or anything with a sharp edge, I always wrap it in a few layers of paper towels and that acts like a buffer zone between my bag and the food item, and I have since had zero failures in bags losing their vacuum due to a sharp edge poking a tiny hole the bag. Plus the paper towels are always useful. Some thing else I do is I always have a small bag of maybe a quarter cup of minute rice, in case I do add too much water to some thing, I throw in a little rice to absorb the extra water. The rice I have both savory and sweet, depending on what I'm making. So for lunch or dinner, I season the rice with salt, pepper and garlic powder, and for things like oatmeal, I will add sugar and maybe cinnamon. Keep up the great work.

[@kathyignasiak275]

I just use the mylar bags instead.

[@lauriegarland5728]

Video 😊

[@xMrBlack]

It would be awesome if a company made an affordable freeze dryer so that people who can't afford a second mortgage could afford one.

[@Bill-xs4zu]

Do u have a link for those heater bags please? I never heard of them