You may find it challenging to create a meal from random pantry items, but consider how much more difficult that task becomes in space. Recently, a NASA astronaut displayed his cooking skills by sharing a recipe for a makeshift “ranger burger” made with what he had on the International Space Station (ISS).
Astronaut Jonny Kim, who has been aboard the ISS for several weeks, used his resourcefulness, honed from his time as a Navy SEAL, to satisfy his burger cravings. He likened his process to the creativity many service members exhibit when faced with less-than-appetizing Meals Ready to Eat (MRE).
“If you’ve done your time with MREs, you know how to whip up some creative dishes,” Kim shared on social media. “Here’s a twist on my favored ranger burger: I used beef steak, wheat snack bread, cheese spread for topping and as an adhesive, layered potatoes au gratin in the middle, and topped it all off with a generous amount of gochujang red pepper paste from a care package on the SpaceX Cargo Dragon.”
Kim also posted a picture of himself savoring his creation, giving a shoutout to the ever-popular gochujang, a Korean chili paste that has gained international popularity. Astronauts often find pre-packaged space food bland, and due to changes in taste perception during space travel, flavorful condiments and spicy sauces have become essential and highly sought-after items. Staples like ketchup and Tabasco, alongside gochujang, are favorites among the crew.
Ensuring that astronauts have tasty food is no small feat and has been a significant focus of research over the years. In the early days of space travel, meals were often described as nearly inedible; an infamous incident involving a smuggled corned beef sandwich caused a stir between NASA and Congress during the 1960s.
Today, the priority is to provide astronauts with fresh food whenever feasible and to include delightful treats like fresh fruit, cheese, and gummy candies in resupply missions. It’s believed that enjoyable meals can support astronauts’ physical and mental health.
As for Kim, he acknowledged missing certain aspects of life on Earth but mentioned that his improvised burger still hits the spot: “I long for cooking for my family, but this satisfies my cravings in its own unique way.”
