SeabeeCook is no longer maintaining the military food service or Seabee pages. Self-Heated Meals for Remote Site Feeding, informally known as Kitchen in a Carton, could make serving a hot meal to troops far away from a base camp that simple. As the military seeks ways of becoming lighter and faster, the self-heated meals look to meet the challenge. After the top parts are folded away, an eight-step instruction sheet shows the user how to prepare the meal. For remote units that may not be issued kitchen capabilities, heat and serve meals, like this Kitchen in a Carton, will go a long way toward reducing the logistical tail associated with military field feeding.
Soldiers rest while an activated container of self-heated meals sends steam into the air.
The cartons are ready in about 20 minutes. In one version of the product, a tab sticking out of the top cardboard fold when pulled releases water to activate the chemical heaters in each tray. The correct amount of heat is provided to the type of food in each tray stacked in the carton. Another version uses a collapsible water bottle inserted into a nozzle at the top to fill the heating trays. Plates, cups, utensils, condiments and complementary foods, such as hamburger buns, are stored in a compartment on each side.