Power Bars, etc.

S

Steve6

Joined
Sep 29, 1999
Messages
128
Power bars, Met-Rx, Myoplex, etc. are lightweight and handy snacks that come wrapped in a fairly rugged mylar wrapper that really seems to hold up in storage but for how long?

I was cleaning out / reorganizing my bag the other day and found some power bars with a best used by date of Feb 98.

The wrappers are still in tact. Anyone out there know how long these things will last in storage (moderate temperature, around 80 degrees F). I realize that extreme heat and cold would affect this (freezing them should keep them fresh until thawed and heat would probably accelerate the deterioration).

Any experience in this would be appreciated.

If no one knows, I'll eat the oldest one and let you know how it tasted. Probably won't prove much though, it's only two years past its best used by date and I'm sure it's fine. Got to watch out for the dental work, though.
 
Hi Steve....

Well first off,, I Hate Power Bars,,at least the brand Power Bar...

I've bit into billets of D2 steel that were softer...
smile.gif

In cold weather you can forget it,, those things are far to tough to chew.
You be far better to file an edge on it and use it as a wedge to splitting firewood..

The Gel is cool though,, but I prefer Cliff Bars or Boost IMO..

Don't think there would be anything in it that would hurt you after they expire. Maybe you could send it to N.A.S.A. I heard they've been having problems with their heat shields. Might be the perfect replacement! LOL

ttyle Eric...

------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!

 
For those who don't like powerbars (i actually do) tastewise, there was a recipe in Bicycling magazine some 5 or so years ago about a fig based concotion called "Bank's Balls" that nutritionally is the equivalent. They last a fair amount of time though not as long but do taste better. And despite the figs are pretty cheap to make compared to powerbars. I'll look to see if I can find the recipe or a link if anyone is interested.

Bob
 
Good post,

I agree that the Power Bar brand are the least flavorful (to put it mildly) but they are a little more durable in the heat and humidity of Florida than my favorite, the Myoplex chocolate peanut butter bars.

In the heat, I put ice into my camelback and store the bars next to the bladder, under the insulation. This worked great during the August heat at Ft. Benning, GA but that was only training.

I guess in the cold you could carry them somewhere near your body to prevent freezing. Now that I think about it, maybe you could throw one in boiling water and it would turn into hot cereal (or glue?). I think I'll go try that.
 
Well I used one of the three year old Power Bars I had. It looked OK when I opened the wrapper (no worse than usual).

It made a pretty decent hot cereal. I used an Oatmeal and Raison flavored bar and added a little cinammon to it. I think it tasted better that way (Normark will probably tell me that nothing could have made it tase worse). Seems like a good way to ingest them, especially if it's cold out. I bet a lot of you folks probably already knew that.

Anyway, thanks for the idea.
 
good tasting and nutritional bar are or is an
oxy-moron
somebody could make a fortune if they came up
with a bar that tasted decent. I think the theory is that if your hungry enough the taste won't matter. I believe I'v tasted most of them and and none are very palatable especially after they been in a tote bag for
3 or 4 days slogging around.

------------------
http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91

 
I remember waking up one cold morning, hungry and ready o eat. Pulled out a Power Bar and bit into it -- it was so hard it made my teeth bleed! Always drink equal parts water for an easier bowel experience later on...

A twenbty year old power bar would probably at least taste better (pungent) than a new one. Age doesn't matter I think, because even the newer ones'll kill ya!
wink.gif


~B.
 
I've always found Cliff bars to be very palatable. Another emergency boost can be had from glucose tablets. These are sold for diabetics, I buy mone at Costco in jars of 50 for about $4. Of course I'm a cyclist, so I'm always looking for lightweight alternatives for everything. The tabs will keep in a sealed pkg for a long time and they are pleasant to eat, kinda like a giant sweet-tart or Pez. Of course, these would not get you thru a long term situation, but are fine for small emergency sort of problems or for fast endurance travel/sports etc.
Brian

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A dedicated ELU
Buck Collectors Club Member
Knifeknut(just ask my wife)

 
Steve....

I didn't say they tasted bad,, they are just harder than Depleted Uranuim,,and when fronzen they can be used to cut escape holes out of the windshiel of your car,,,much like a Diamond!

Interesting with the hot cereal idea...

And Yes,, drink lots of water,, or you'll be squeezing out bricks,,which in turn could be used to build a dwelling!

ttyle Eric...



------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!

 
Steve,,try "Pure-Protein" bars..You can get them at most convenience/drug stores here in Florida. They have 24g of protein 5g fat and a lot of carbohydrates as well. Chocolate flavor is pretty tasty.It's no snicker bar but not hard to eat at all. They fill ya up pretty good too..Don't buy the vanilla,they taste like the stuff I caulk my barn with..Met-rx Bars aren't too bad either.I hunted last weekend and ate one from the year before and am still standing so I guess its ok.I'm sure the expiration date means somethin' but if it doesn't have anything growing on it I'll eat it. Cold power bars could be better used as a back up weapon or for downing small to medium size game..
 
I really HATE powerbars! Particle board in food's clothing. Apparently, so do some black bears. Some friends of mine were backpacking in Northern CA a year ago when a group of black bears "raided" their campsite during the night. They had tied their food bags between two trees several meters above the forest floor, but that did not stop the bears. The bears managed to get the bags down, and devoured virtually every single bit of food (including jerky, fruits, vaccum wrap sealed fruit bars, ramen, etc.). Anyways, the ONLY THINGS the bears didn't polish off were a-half a dozen power bars. One was slightly torn open, but it didn't even look touched! What does it tell you when bears, who generally eat everything out of a garbage can, won't even take a bite out of a powerbar?!
 
If you are looking for survival type bars, look for high carb bars, not high protein pars. Protein takes more water for your body to process, and shoul only be eaten if you have plenty of water. Any food should only be eaten if you have a supply of water, because any of it uses water for your body to process, but protein takes a lot more than carbos do.


Stryver, 3 minutes without air, days without water, weeks without food.
 
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