View Full Version : Home made dehydrated meals
I am sold on home dehydrated meals. This showing good old turkey dumplings. It held 90% of the original flavor. Stock wasn't as thick but man it was good. I have chili for 3 meals and will be doing this permanent!
It will work for any non dairy one pot type meal.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/bgoode/2014/A71F9852-F6DF-44A4-8EA4-D5C7E3DCFD9C_zpsyyxr4ret.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bgoode/media/2014/A71F9852-F6DF-44A4-8EA4-D5C7E3DCFD9C_zpsyyxr4ret.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/bgoode/2014/D3CA0BEA-6DAB-4956-AEE2-43BCE6BB6C62_zpspvdim01h.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bgoode/media/2014/D3CA0BEA-6DAB-4956-AEE2-43BCE6BB6C62_zpspvdim01h.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/bgoode/2014/72647178-7D25-4751-8814-1B894C9FFAB9_zpsfj6pjsol.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bgoode/media/2014/72647178-7D25-4751-8814-1B894C9FFAB9_zpsfj6pjsol.jpg.html)
Virginia Son
01-10-2015, 21:45
What kind of dehydration? My NES (a gift, not my choice) could not dry seeds. I will not trust meat in it.
It is a Nesco and works well. 600 watts, variable temperature and timer. Works great. About $90
Sooner than later, you'll find that the cheap round dehydrators are not the way to go. If you're sold on the concept, save your money for the "real deal": Excalibur brand, made in the USA. Be patient and wait for sales.
Use the best. You won't regret it!
Virginia Son
01-12-2015, 11:59
Thanks Trinn. I almost bought an "Ex" years ago. I'll keep that on my list.
Va. Son - I got the nine-tray model w/ thermostat but w/o timer. I never looked back!
I'll dry most anything in my Excalibur except meat; the process is just too iffy, and it's not something you want to get wrong. Instead, I buy #10 cans of freeze-dried meats (and shredded cheese) when I'm putting together meals for my long hikes.
I have dried "meat" meals for years in a cheap Mr Coffee round dehydrator, my favorite is spicy salmon jerky. I must confess it is time to upgrade soon...
I've dehydrated ground beef and canned chicken. They turned out great! Add bread crumbs to your ground beef before cooking, this is tasteless and aids re-hydrating tremendously - no gravel pellets in your food.
I use an Excalibur 5 tray with temp control and timer. I would buy the 9 tray if I had it to do over.
I HIGHLY recommend the book "Recipes for Adventure - Healthy, Hearty & Homemade Backpacking Recipes" by Chef Glenn Mcallister. Very much worth the somewhat high price in my opinion.
I've dehydrated ground beef and canned chicken. They turned out great! Add bread crumbs to your ground beef before cooking, this is tasteless and aids re-hydrating tremendously - no gravel pellets in your food.
I use an Excalibur 5 tray with temp control and timer. I would buy the 9 tray if I had it to do over.
I HIGHLY recommend the book "Recipes for Adventure - Healthy, Hearty & Homemade Backpacking Recipes" by Chef Glenn Mcallister. Very much worth the somewhat high price in my opinion.
Lyle thx for referencing Chef Mcallister, he is included in this informative group http://www.davidkaczynski.com/dehydrating-recipes.html Lots of info in free PDF format.
Epic Fail?
That looks like a super resource.
I have become convinced I can dehydrate food for backpacking.
I really appreciate all the helpful information.
Rocket Jones
01-13-2015, 10:37
I HIGHLY recommend the book "Recipes for Adventure - Healthy, Hearty & Homemade Backpacking Recipes" by Chef Glenn Mcallister. Very much worth the somewhat high price in my opinion.
+1 on this.
++++++ for Chef Glenn: http://www.backpackingchef.com/
As a long-distance backpacker, I put up several weeks' (to months') worth of dehydrated dinners at a time. For this reason, I trust commercial freeze-dried meat products over my own attempts, jerky being the only exception.