The video review features a rare, 19-year-old US military "Meal Ready to Eat" (MRE) package, specifically the Country Captain Chicken menu, which was in service from 2000 to 2004. The reviewer goes through the contents of the package, including the main course, crackers, peanut butter, milk chocolate M&M's, and a toaster pastry. They also test the flameless ration heater, which still works after 19 years. The reviewer samples each component, finding some to be surprisingly still edible and flavorful, while others have degraded over time. They conclude that the Country Captain Chicken menu was likely unpopular with troops due to its dry and unappetizing main course, leading to its eventual phase-out.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Country Captain Chicken MRE was in service from 2000 to 2004.
2. It was replaced by the Cheese and Veggie Omelette MRE, which was in service from 2005 to 2008.
3. Country Captain is a curry dish that originated in the Indian subcontinent.
4. General George S. Patton's favorite dinner was Country Captain.
5. The Country Captain Chicken MRE contained a breaded chicken patty and curry-flavored sauce.
6. The MRE had 18 grams of protein and not too many carbs.
7. The MRE included a flameless ration heater, standard crackers, and milk chocolate M&M's.
8. The accessory packet included Tabasco sauce, chewing gum, matches, and Taster's Choice coffee.
9. The MRE also included a toaster pastry, an apple flavor.
10. M&M's were introduced in military rations during World War II.
11. The Country Captain Chicken MRE packaging was bulky until it was redesigned to be more compact around 2014.
12. The MRE contained mashed potatoes in a retort pouch, made from Russet potatoes.
13. The mashed potatoes had 120 calories and 15 grams of carbs.
14. The MRE included peanut butter, which sometimes leaked and became emulsified.
15. The Country Captain Chicken MRE was considered a "cruel joke" to soldiers due to its unpopularity.
16. The MRE was replaced by the Veggie Omelette, which was also unpopular.
17. The flameless ration heater (FRH) in the MRE was still functional after 19 years.
18. The retort pouch containing the mashed potatoes had a slight smell of rancid butter and sour milk.
19. The Country Captain Chicken patty was made of dark meat chicken, breaded, and had a dry, processed texture.
20. The patty was served with a curry-flavored sauce.
21. The MRE crackers were a little dry and crumbly, but still edible.
22. The peanut butter in the MRE was still good and had a nice roasted flavor.
23. The M&M's in the MRE were still edible, but had a slightly bloomed appearance.
24. The toaster pastry in the MRE was still good and had a perfect flavor.
25. The apple filling in the toaster pastry had a slight recrystallization of sugar, but still tasted good.
26. The chewing gum in the MRE was still functional and had a subtle peppermint flavor.
27. The Country Captain Chicken MRE was phased out after four years due to its unpopularity.