When going backpacking, lugging bulky food items can be a significant energy drainer that may end up ruining your whole camping experience. Instead of enjoying the great outdoors, you will be forced to spend your evening or resting period recuperating after a tiring hike.
For this reason, it is always ideal to find ways of packing nourishing food without being overwhelmed by the weight of the food. So next time you go backpacking opt for freeze-dried meals that are ready to eat. Not sure if you will like these meals, not to worry. We have got you covered.
Here are the best freeze-dried meals for backpacking in the market currently.
Top 6 Freeze Dried Meals for Backpackers
| Name | Shelf Life | Preparation | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain House Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich | Up to 2 years | Ready to Eat | |
| Mountain House Breakfast Skillet Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food | Up to 30 years | Add hot water to the pouch & eat in less than 10 minutes | |
| Mountain House Granola with Milk & Blueberries | Up to 30 years | add hot water to the pouch & eat in less than 10 minutes | |
| Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef Freeze-Dried Backpacking & Camping Food | Up to 30 years | add hot water to the pouch & eat in less than 10 minutes | |
| Mountain House Chicken Fried Rice | Up to 30 years | add hot water to the pouch & eat in less than 10 minutes | |
| Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with Noodles | Up to 30 years | add hot water to the pouch & eat in less than 10 minutes |
Mountain House Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich
Even a backpacker’s pantry needs a sweet treat. This tasty vanilla ice cream in a chocolate cookie sandwich is the perfect delicious dessert to eat on the trail while backpacking.
It does not require refrigeration, and it won’t drip on your shirt or stick to your fingers.
It is the best no mess ice cream for backpacking. Each pouch contains one ice cream sandwich that is ready to eat right out of the bag. And the packaging is environmentally friendly.
Features
- Vanilla flavor
- Recyclable packaging
- Two-year shelf life
Pros
- No refrigeration needed
- Ready to eat
- Perfect energy boost snack
Cons
- Fairly pricey
Mountain House Breakfast Skillet Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food
This delicious breakfast pouch contains hash browns, scrambled eggs, crumbled pork patty, peppers, and onions. The meal is freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and freshness for extended shelf life. It does not contain any artificial flavors or colors and is certified gluten-free by GFCO.
The pouch contains two servings, and it only requires ten minutes of rehydration to be ready to eat. The pouch is shaped like a bowl, which helps to serve as a plate hence eliminating the need to clean up afterward.
Features
- Gluten-free
- GFCO certified
- Twelve servings per case
- 10-minute prep time
- No cleanup
- Bowl-like shape
Pros
- No refrigeration needed
- No artificial flavors or colors
- Recyclable packaging
Cons
- High in sodium
Mountain House Granola with Milk & Blueberries
This crunchy granola is packed with real blueberries, energizing dried fruit, fiber, and unsaturated fats for a heart-healthy breakfast. It is free of preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors. The pouch contains two total servings.
To prepare it, all you have to do is add hot water to the pouch, and it will be ready to eat in less than 10 minutes. There is also no need to clean up afterward. The pouch’s shape makes it easy to use as a makeshift bowl.
Features
- Enjoy crunchy granola
- No preservatives, artificial flavors or colors
- Extra ingredient: hot water
- No cleanup
- Bowl-like shape
- The pouch is lightweight
- Recyclable packaging
- Real blueberries
- Dried fruit
- Fiber-rich
Pros
- No cleanup
- The pouch is lightweight
- Recyclable packaging
- Fiber-rich
Cons
- The berries in the granola do not rehydrate fully
Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef Freeze-Dried Backpacking & Camping Food
This is one of the best freeze-dried meals for a chilly night in the wild. It features a spicy chili sauce with beef, macaroni noodles, onion, and beans. The meal is preserved by freeze-drying to lock in nutrients and freshness.
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The pouch is lightweight despite containing two meal servings. It is also made from recycled and recyclable material.
Features
- Freeze-dried
- No refrigeration needed
- No preservatives, artificial flavors or colors
- Two total servings
- 10 minutes’ prep time
- Bowl-like shape
Pros
- No cleanup
- Easier eating experience
- Lightweight pouch
- Zero-waste packaging
Cons
- It is very spicy
Mountain House Chicken Fried Rice
This meal consists of long grain rice, delicious chicken, scrambled eggs, chopped onions, savory mushrooms, green peas, red peppers, and diced carrots. It has been freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and freshness, enabling it to stay fresh without refrigerated.
The meal is certified gluten-free by GFCO. It is made without artificial preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors. One pouch has two servings, and the case contains six pouches for a total of twelve servings.
Features
- Gluten-free
- GFCO certified
- Twelve servings per case
- 10-minute prep time
- No cleanup
- Bowl-like shape
Pros
- No refrigeration needed
- No artificial flavors or colors
- Recyclable packaging
Cons
- The rice becomes mushy when rehydrated
Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with Noodles
This beef, mushroom, and noodles dehydrated meal is smothered in a creamy sour cream sauce for an intense flavor. It is freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and freshness. No refrigeration is needed to keep the food fresh.
The meal is made without any artificial flavors or colors. Each pouch contains two servings but can also be finished by one hungry backpacker. All you have to do is add hot water and wait for ten minutes, and the meal will be ready to eat.
The pouch has a wider opening and a bowl-like shape that makes it easy to scoop the contents.
Features
- Bowl-like shape
- Lightweight pouch
- Eco-friendly packaging
Pros
- No refrigeration needed
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Quick prep
- Easy to eat out of than other pouches
Cons
- A little salty
Conclusion
The best freeze-dried meals for backpacking should be complete meals to avoid having to pack multiple items for a single meal. They should also be nourishing and provide all macros needed to keep you satiated. Lastly, they should be tasty. Being stuck in the wild with no food or bad food can be a pretty traumatizing experience.
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