Thats roughly the weight saving when comparing to dehydrated entrees. I wasn't really comparing the differences between hydrated and dehydrated entrees, just the way they are prepared.

10 MRE entrees = 5 pounds.
Cooker and I assume fuel = ~1 pounds

To eat 10 MREs with a Cooker and Fuel (Hexamine or Gas) gives a saving of around 1 lb over the MRE system using FRHs. But this of course depends on if there is no water available in the local environment. Using dirty water or urine with a FRH is not a very good idea since the MRE food container will be covered in the mess the FRH produces. Bacterial contamination so near the source of food (potentially covering the outside of the entree meal package) could be a source of concern.

If water was plentiful in the local enviroment then dehydrated entrees are the way to go. The weight savings would then be approaching nearly 4 lbs. As the water for the dehydrated entree will be brought to a rolling boil anyway the only filtering would be that of removing debris using a very lightweight system such a Millbank bag.

The other disadvantage the FRHs have is the lack of a suitable metal pot or mess tin in which to boil water and cook properly when the fuel source to reheat MRE entrees runs out. Even if the weight advantages are marginal between the various cooking and reheating systems there is a considerable advantage in allowing an individual soldier the ability to sterilise drinking water and cook food from other sources, which have not been supplied from the military supply chain (or when that supply chain is no longer available)

MREs, IMPs and UK 24hr ORPs all have entrees which can be eaten cold. Its just that most of the entress, whether they are US, UK Canadian, etc as much more palatable when piping hot. Even when they are just moderately warm, they can be pretty disgusting.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_aldlRKzvQ