We like to mix fresh ingredients for cooking with some dehydrated meals when we are backpacking. But it is not worth eating all dehydrated foods. Below is our review of which foods we find tasty and which ones should be left on the store shelf.
Backpacking doesn’t always mean it has to be dehydrated food, but dehydrated meals are light, quick, and easy to prepare. And some freeze-dried foods are quite tasty.
There are several companies that make food for hikers and backpackers and we have not tried all of them. These are the ones we like and the ones we don’t:
Naturally high – Raspberry granola with milk. We really didn’t like this at all. We switched to the regular oatmeal that you buy in individual packets at the grocery store. In our opinion, much better and just as easy to prepare.
But we have tried their main dishes and we really liked them! Especially their entrees without meat. It’s worth a try. And their fudge mousse is so delicious and didn’t taste like backpacker food at all.
AlpineAire Foods – We’ve tried a variety of your meal ideas and they’re edible, but we’re not crazy about them. I also don’t remember their lids being resealable, which I find important after you pour in the hot water.
Backpackers pantry – We tried many, many types of their food and never liked any of them. Personally, I think there are much better backpacker foods.
Mountain House – My husband didn’t mind his meat dinners, but he added a little salt and pepper for flavor.
Mary jane’s farm – We only tried one or two of these and they weren’t bad but they don’t have resealable lids and after the hot water is poured they should settle and soak up. That is something I want you to add to your packaging.
Outdoor gourmet – We really like all the backpacker foods that we have tried from this company. I think they do a great job creating delicious meals. The garlic shrimp paste they make has a lot of shrimp in it and we’ve actually bought this one a few times because we like it so much.
Richmoor – We brought some of their vegetable side dishes and they weren’t very good. Also, it is difficult for vegetables to absorb hot water when the top does not seal. The instructions ask to fold the top, but it doesn’t work very well.
Including some dehydrated meals in your backpacking cooking plan is a practical way to go. Check out our review and others before investing in your next freeze-dried meal – you’ll enjoy better results if you do!
Happy hiking!