Military developing pizza that lasts for three years

[mota bhai 2,675]

Military developing pizza that lasts for three years

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014, 11:58 AM

Soldiers have been asking for pizza since lightweight individual field rations — known as meals ready to eat, or MREs — replaced canned food in 1981 for soldiers in combat zones or areas where field kitchens cannot be set up.

Researchers at a U.S. military lab in Massachusetts are closing in on a recipe that doesn’t require any refrigeration or freezing.

“You can basically take the pizza, leave it on the counter, packaged, for three years and it’d still be edible,” said Michelle Richardson, a food scientist at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center.

...

Scientists’ efforts were long thwarted because moisture in tomato sauce, cheese and toppings migrated to the dough over time, resulting in soggy pizza that provided the perfect conditions for mold and disease-causing bacteria to grow.

...

Research over the past few years helped them figure out ways to prevent moisture from migrating. That includes using ingredients called humectants — sugar, salt and syrups can do the trick — that bind to water and keep it from getting to the dough.

But that alone would not help the pizza remain fresh for three years at 80 degrees, so scientists tweaked the acidity of the sauce, cheese and dough to make it harder for oxygen and bacteria to thrive. They also added iron fillings to the package to absorb any air remaining in the pouch.

...

Jill Bates, who runs the lab, said she was happy after tasting the latest prototype batch of pepperoni. She describes it as a pan pizza, with a crust that’s a little moist and not super-crispy.

[GandD 5,966]

FINALLY!!!

[belinda63 3,038]

Thank you US military. Pizza available during the zombie apocalypse.

[Pooky 3,786]

Who with?

McDonalds?

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

and now i can start planning my mre stockpile

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Military developing pizza that lasts for three years

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014, 11:58 AM

Soldiers have been asking for pizza since lightweight individual field rations known as meals ready to eat, or MREs replaced canned food in 1981 for soldiers in combat zones or areas where field kitchens cannot be set up.

Researchers at a U.S. military lab in Massachusetts are closing in on a recipe that doesnt require any refrigeration or freezing.

You can basically take the pizza, leave it on the counter, packaged, for three years and itd still be edible, said Michelle Richardson, a food scientist at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center.

...

Scientists efforts were long thwarted because moisture in tomato sauce, cheese and toppings migrated to the dough over time, resulting in soggy pizza that provided the perfect conditions for mold and disease-causing bacteria to grow.

...

Research over the past few years helped them figure out ways to prevent moisture from migrating. That includes using ingredients called humectants sugar, salt and syrups can do the trick that bind to water and keep it from getting to the dough.

But that alone would not help the pizza remain fresh for three years at 80 degrees, so scientists tweaked the acidity of the sauce, cheese and dough to make it harder for oxygen and bacteria to thrive. They also added iron fillings to the package to absorb any air remaining in the pouch.

...

Jill Bates, who runs the lab, said she was happy after tasting the latest prototype batch of pepperoni. She describes it as a pan pizza, with a crust thats a little moist and not super-crispy.

Oh yum I hope it is as good as the dehydrated pork patty

[Darnell 8,478]

Nota.Bene.: Just because we CAN do something, doesna mean that we SHOULD do it.

[GandD 5,966]

Nota.Bene.: Just because we CAN do something, doesna mean that we SHOULD do it.

That's what that dude in Jurassic park said.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Willing to bet it will taste better than the offerings of the "Perfect Pizza" restaurant in my neighbourhood

[Operator 1,927]

Advice to anyone forced to eat an MRE.

If you don't like to poop in the field eat some of the chese spread straight away. Then eat the toilet paper because it tastes better than everything else.

[Novembro 1,763]

Better have stuffed crust.

[GandD 5,966]

Better have stuffed crust.

Pepperoni stuffed crust!

[Novembro 1,763]

Stop it. I feel the twinge betwixt my thighs.

[GandD 5,966]

Sometimes I peel the pepperoni off and set them in a pile. Then when I get to the crust, I cut it down the middle and stuff the pepperoni in to make my own stuffed crust.

[Novembro 1,763]

Sometimes I peel the pepperoni off and set them in a pile. Then when I get to the crust, I cut it down the middle and stuff the pepperoni in to make my own stuffed crust.

Ingenious.

I remember when I first got to Korea and ordered a stuffed crust pizza. It was stuffed alright...with sweet potato.