View Full Version : Meat if you don't like tuna or salmon pouches
Silverstone
06-19-2011, 20:38
I'm trying to come up with some good meat options to take on the trail with me, but there are a few caveats. I really don't like tuna very much (well, at least room-temperature foil packs, but I'm cool with sushi or even tuna sammies with mayo and such when not on the trail), and cannot stand salmon.
Love some beef and turkey jerky, but it's too damn expensive and I"m not really interested in investing in a dehydrator.
Of course, I'm perfectly happy with pepperoni and summer sausage, but I"m kind of stumped for other things.
Any suggestions? I'm not a gram-weenie, but don't think lugging a can of Spam is the answer, either. (And please save the meatless proselytizing for the drum circle).
Thanks!
SS
Snowleopard
06-19-2011, 20:43
Have you tried chicken or turkey foil packs? They're about like canned chicken, not the greatest by itself but good cooked with other ingredients. Some pretty small stores around here have some of the canned chicken and turkey but the can weighs more. Most decent groceries would have these:
http://www.amazon.com/Valley-Fresh-Premium-Chicken-7-Ounce/dp/B000V1LXU4/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1308530380&sr=1-1
Stir Fry
06-19-2011, 20:47
The this out they have several diferant freeze dryed meat. I love the chicken and hamburger. Great in a lot of dishes. Tacos are the bomb.
http://www.packitgourmet.com/
ALLEGHENY
06-19-2011, 20:51
I'm trying to come up with some good meat options to take on the trail with me, but there are a few caveats. I really don't like tuna very much (well, at least room-temperature foil packs, but I'm cool with sushi or even tuna sammies with mayo and such when not on the trail), and cannot stand salmon.
Love some beef and turkey jerky, but it's too damn expensive and I"m not really interested in investing in a dehydrator.
Of course, I'm perfectly happy with pepperoni and summer sausage, but I"m kind of stumped for other things.
Any suggestions? I'm not a gram-weenie, but don't think lugging a can of Spam is the answer, either. (And please save the meatless proselytizing for the drum circle).
Thanks!
SS
Dehydrate in your oven, or go solar. I harvest venison yearly and process it myself.
harryfred
06-19-2011, 21:06
I do not like just tuna but I do like the seasoned tuna. Chunk chicken can also be found readily in a foil pouch. Spam comes as a single serving in a pouch. I am not a spam fan but sometimes on the trail its ok. dry hard salami is good. Precooked bacon comes as slices or crumbles, really good in instant mashed potatoes. Sliced or chunk ham that is vacuum sealed works well. Just about any meat that is heavily seasoned and/or smoked and vacuumed sealed can be carried just eat all of it once it is opened. I carried single serving packs of turkey breast out last weekend in 80+ degree heat with no problem. I carry hot dogs in packs of four or five again they are ok until they are opened.
Baby shrimp and chicken are available in foil packs, and don't eliminate cans from the menu. Empty cans don't weigh much more than the foil packs, and are easier to get fully emptied, and can be rinsed with the boiling water you're cooking with, so the trash you're hauling out is cleaner. You just opened up a whole new world of hiking meat options.
Smoke a brisket and put in the dryer. Just add rice and you have a great meal....
Go further, go to www.beprepared.com - you can find many, many freeze-dried meats. Those big tins get easily used up when hiking!
Summer Sausage, Peperoni, and Hard Salami are also good choices.
Rocket Jones
06-20-2011, 06:20
If you're worried about protein, then don't forget peanut butter. Not meat, but a solid source of protein.
Lone Wolf
06-20-2011, 06:20
spam singles. can be found at wal-mart
http://www.spam.com/products/classicsingles.aspx
Have you tried chicken or turkey foil packs? They're about like canned chicken, not the greatest by itself but good cooked with other ingredients.
however they will be almost impossible for him to find at resupply places along the trail (unfortunately). Would be nice in maildrops if the op goes that route.
Rocket Jones
06-20-2011, 06:31
The other day at the supermarket I saw something called "burrito stuffers" by one of the big generic-mexican brands (Ol' El Paso or Ortega, etc.) It was a pouch of pre-seasoned meat. Some had rice. I saw one type for steak - Carne Asada - and a couple of kinds of chicken.
Pre-cooked, so you could eat it right out of the pouch, or heat it in your pan or put it into a freezer bag and drop it into boiling water for a minute or two.
On the trail, I usually bite the bullet and get at least 1 small can of chicken (making sure I don't need a can opener to get in it).
FritztheCat
06-20-2011, 08:36
I've been able to find the packaged pre-cooked chicken (not in a can) pretty regularly this year. I tire of the tuna packages quickly and have found the chicken packages to be a godsend as they offer way more menu choices for me. Also, you can find proscutto (sp?) in the grocery stores. This dried ham is fantastic on a bagel. Good for any meal.
I do like the tuna salad packages I've been seeing. Already has the mayo and relish combined with tuna.
Mountain Maiden
06-20-2011, 08:54
Hamburger Gravel! Brown lean ground beef, dehydrate on cookie sheet on oven (180-200 degrees).
Makes awesome 'cottage pie' (some folks call it shepherd's pie which is actually made with lamb.) I used instant mashed potatoes, dehydrated veggies and brown gravy mix. Also really good to make trail chili--dehydrated beans, chili seasoning and sundried tomatoes. Or add in with mac n cheese for a great cheeseburger taste! YUM!
+1 on Hamburger Gravel- good instructions on http://www.backpackingchef.com/dehydrating-food.html- It is very easy and keeps for a long time if you buy lean.
HiKen2011
06-20-2011, 09:54
Hamburger Gravel! Brown lean ground beef, dehydrate on cookie sheet on oven (180-200 degrees).
Makes awesome 'cottage pie' (some folks call it shepherd's pie which is actually made with lamb.) I used instant mashed potatoes, dehydrated veggies and brown gravy mix. Also really good to make trail chili--dehydrated beans, chili seasoning and sundried tomatoes. Or add in with mac n cheese for a great cheeseburger taste! YUM!
How long will last? Do you store it in a ziplock?
topshelf
06-20-2011, 10:00
You can carry a can or two of chicken or any meat and after dinner turn it into a mouse hanger to hang your pack on for the night. Then all you have to carry is the lid. So long as there are not enough already in the shelter.
harryfred
06-20-2011, 10:17
The other day at the supermarket I saw something called "burrito stuffers" by one of the big generic-mexican brands (Ol' El Paso or Ortega, etc.) It was a pouch of pre-seasoned meat. Some had rice. I saw one type for steak - Carne Asada - and a couple of kinds of chicken.
Pre-cooked, so you could eat it right out of the pouch, or heat it in your pan or put it into a freezer bag and drop it into boiling water for a minute or two.
I have used those put in my pot of boiling water, poured on a tortilla they are great.
harryfred
06-20-2011, 10:20
On the trail, I usually bite the bullet and get at least 1 small can of chicken (making sure I don't need a can opener to get in it).
Deviled ham or chicken salad is my weakness.
harryfred
06-20-2011, 10:25
Hamburger Gravel! Brown lean ground beef, dehydrate on cookie sheet on oven (180-200 degrees).
Makes awesome 'cottage pie' (some folks call it shepherd's pie which is actually made with lamb.) I used instant mashed potatoes, dehydrated veggies and brown gravy mix. Also really good to make trail chili--dehydrated beans, chili seasoning and sundried tomatoes. Or add in with mac n cheese for a great cheeseburger taste! YUM!
Dehydrate with seasoning i.e. taco rehydrate during the day in freezer bag heat up in boiling water put on tortilla, in rice or instant potatoes.
harryfred
06-20-2011, 10:36
First night out you can carry what ever you want buy or pack it frozen. I often in the summer freeze my bladder before a trip. there is still a small chunk of ice in it until late te next day I pack my cucumbers or melon next to that. OK not meat but should give you some ideas. I have met thrus that buy a bag of ice and split it up filling their bladders a and water bottles.
sixhusbands
06-20-2011, 11:10
You could get some MRE's and take the meat protion out. I just spent an entire day with the 10Th Mountain boys and some of the MRE's were OK... then again some would choke a dog! Spam singles are another way to go and the possibilities are endless with Spam.
Good luck
soulrebel
06-20-2011, 11:40
big piece of red meat-low surface area for bacterial growth. Flame seared delicious.
Pre cooked sausages with nitrates and bacteriophages sprayed on it. also flame seared or boild in a pot with beer onions and peppers.
pre cooked kingcrab legs w/ a bag of ice or dry ice.
Cans are ok too duh! but fresh is betters.
I'll sometimes carry a 5-10lb bag of ice for my perishables, cocktails, and ice conditioning for my neck. More often than not, I still have 1 lb of ice cubes in the morning. Fridge for a day.
Creekarators are ok, but one time crows got my stuff out of a creek from under two rocks and ripped it up...
soulrebel
06-20-2011, 11:43
The look on ya'lls faces when I'm handing out rum and cokes on the mountain with Ice cubes!?! F'n Priceless!!!
Corned beef is good, cold or hot, and is good with potatoes. You can play around with the can as a oil lamp or hobo stove or whatever.
Making jerky is simpler that it might seem. You can use your oven. You can do it with or without salt or seasoning, with or without honey or molasses or whatever. If it is dry, it will keep, for at least the duration of your hike. I dry mine at 170F which it the lowest oven setting we have. 160F will work. I microwave it first to get through the nasty zone quicker, but you probably don't have to. I will sometimes dip it in something alcholic before drying also, as I figure it might add some flavour and kill any surface bacteria also.
soulrebel
06-20-2011, 11:45
oh ya don't forget the fries for the steak. Bag of Ore Idas mmmm fried up half a bag of for the campfire last time. paying tribute to the storm...
I mix it up too on the trail and splurge for a pack of chicken on occasion. The only problem is the chicken packs are so darn heavy! They get eaten the first night out of town.
Bumble Bee Foods Sweet Sue Chicken Breast:
http://www.amazon.com/Bumble-Bee-Chicken-3-Ounce-Packages/dp/B001CAT1P2/ref=dp_cp_ob_gro_title_2
http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Chicken-Breast-7-Ounce-Pouches/dp/B0025ULWVE/ref=pd_sbs_gro_2
Bumble Bee Foods Chicken Breast Pouch Southwest:
http://www.amazon.com/Bumble-Bee-Chicken-Southwest-Packages/dp/B001CAR1PE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1308684708&sr=8-3
Bumble Bee Prime Fillet Chicken Breast with Garlic & Herb
http://www.amazon.com/Bumble-Bee-Chicken-4-Ounce-Pouches/dp/B001E52TOA/ref=pd_sbs_gro_6
Bumble Bee Foods Sweet Sue Chunk Ham
http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Chicken-7-Ounce-Pouches-Pack/dp/B001E530B6/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1308684046&sr=8-14
Tyson Chunk Chicken Breast, 7-Ounce Pouches
http://www.amazon.com/Tyson-Chicken-Breast-7-Ounce-Pouches/dp/B003NRMHFI/ref=pd_sbs_gro_1
HiKen2011
06-20-2011, 18:59
Corned beef is good, cold or hot, and is good with potatoes. You can play around with the can as a oil lamp or hobo stove or whatever.
Making jerky is simpler that it might seem. You can use your oven. You can do it with or without salt or seasoning, with or without honey or molasses or whatever. If it is dry, it will keep, for at least the duration of your hike. I dry mine at 170F which it the lowest oven setting we have. 160F will work. I microwave it first to get through the nasty zone quicker, but you probably don't have to. I will sometimes dip it in something alcholic before drying also, as I figure it might add some flavour and kill any surface bacteria also.
Alcohol! That's a great idea! Thanks for that!:sun
Bumble Bee Foods Sweet Sue Chicken Breast:
http://www.amazon.com/Bumble-Bee-Chicken-3-Ounce-Packages/dp/B001CAT1P2/ref=dp_cp_ob_gro_title_2
http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Chicken-Breast-7-Ounce-Pouches/dp/B0025ULWVE/ref=pd_sbs_gro_2
Tyson Chunk Chicken Breast, 7-Ounce Pouches
http://www.amazon.com/Tyson-Chicken-Breast-7-Ounce-Pouches/dp/B003NRMHFI/ref=pd_sbs_gro_1
Thanks for sharing veteran. Those 3 oz. packs of pouch chicken are usually rather elusive. Sure beats lugging 7 oz. packs around.
Wise Old Owl
06-20-2011, 23:20
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=72224