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WIAPilot
04-30-2012, 17:32
What companies offer the best dehydrated food in your opinion?

Rocket Jones
04-30-2012, 18:46
I've had excellent success with Harmony House:

www.harmonyhousefoods.com

I've never tried these, but have seen people on WB who like 'em:
http://hawkvittles.com/

http://www.packitgourmet.com/

http://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/store/c/40-Meals.aspx

I recently found these folks too, but haven't tried them:

http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/

Tuckahoe
04-30-2012, 19:18
Just to repeat Rocket Jones, I really like both Hawk Vittles and Packit Gourmet.

WIAPilot
04-30-2012, 20:16
Thanks for some great suggestions!

Blissful
04-30-2012, 20:17
Me. :) I make my own with my Nesco food dryer.

Rocket Jones
04-30-2012, 20:21
I do too. Mostly. :D I did get one of those 'backpacker kits' from Harmony House for Christmas and it's been a nice addition to my pantry.

Wise Old Owl
04-30-2012, 20:52
theres another sticky in the making/

Bear-bait
04-30-2012, 21:07
I'm a fan of http://outdoorherbivore.com/

Strategic
05-01-2012, 14:52
It's Packit Gourmet for me when I use pre-made meals. I often assemble my own, but Packit does great meals and they're strictly "no hassle" cooking that you can do directly in the bag for most of their dishes. They are far better than any of the other companies I've tried (and I've tried most of them) and they're very helpful and accommodating to hikers, too. Pretty much your best bet for pre-made meals.

bwburgin1015
05-01-2012, 16:41
I love Mountain House but they are high in sodium. Not an issue for me but it is for folks with BP problems. Beef Stroganoff is my favorite!

1azarus
05-01-2012, 16:53
I've just started paying more attention to this... gonna be out four nights later this week on a freeze dried gourmet tour. first night -- old favorite mountain house lasagna. then new for me: one night each maryjane, packit and hawkvittles. I think I prefer the packaging for maryjane, packit and hawkvittles over mountain house from what i see. can't wait for the taste test.

Pedaling Fool
05-01-2012, 16:57
Me. :) I make my own with my Nesco food dryer.Same here, I dehydrate everything. And judging by some of them dehydrated-food prices my dehydrator (expensive type) has paid for itself and then some.

My garden also offsets a lot. Around here you can easily pay $4 for a single red pepper or $2 for a simple green pepper. Crazy.

JAK
05-01-2012, 17:23
Quaker Oats.

WingedMonkey
05-01-2012, 17:28
Wow....that's a change. You didn't tell us to carry a bog of dried parsley.

Rocket Jones
05-01-2012, 18:53
A while back Wise Foods was offering free sample meals. I tried one and it was pretty good.

http://wisefoodstorage.com/outdoor-food-kits.html

VT-Mike
05-01-2012, 19:16
+2 on make your own. MUCH better ingredients and SO MUCH better taste!

colonel r
05-01-2012, 20:00
I love the Mountain House stuff but the cheese in the lasagna is almost impossible to get off my spoon. I now take a disposable one in the bag itself. I do all freezer bag cooking or heating water for the freeze dried stuff!
R

colonel r
05-01-2012, 20:03
BTW, I buy the Mountain House in the large tins and portion them out for my backpacking. One portion is not generally sufficient and this allows me to save a lot of money off individual servings.
R

HeartFire
05-01-2012, 21:06
I have to second the recommendation for Outdoor Herbivore. They are a fantastic company good food/healthy food.

Even though I do all of my own food, if your looking to buy, I would go to them

gunner76
05-01-2012, 21:18
Bablefish5 at http://hungryhammockhanger.com/ has a bunch of DIY meals you can make and dehydrate for the trail. All very good

wicca witch
05-02-2012, 11:46
LDP Camping Foods.com Out of TN. I ordered all my Richmoor foods at a discounted price for this yrs. hike

thunderbolt1971
05-02-2012, 11:56
A while back Wise Foods was offering free sample meals. I tried one and it was pretty good.

http://wisefoodstorage.com/outdoor-food-kits.html

I just bought a bunch of Wise meals for my 2013 thru hike. They are really good!!! The Crunchy Granola is Killer!!!!

mikec
05-02-2012, 12:10
I like to mix it up when on the trail. I'll take one MRE for emergencies. Then, I'll take some Mountain House, Natural High, Inertia/Coleman, Wise Foods, Backpackers Pantry, RichMor. I know that some people on this site like to cook their own stuff. However, after a tough day of hiking, it's nice to just boil some water, let it soak in for about 5 minutes and eat. No dishes. No cleanup. And not a lot of weight.

mikec
05-02-2012, 12:11
And I almost forgot. I have tried Hawk Vittles. Very good and some good sized portions.

rocketsocks
05-02-2012, 12:30
All these dehydrated and freeze dried meals have become very expensive.I wonder if it's not supply and demand driving it.There seems to be many web sites that have poped up over the years that are geared to Survival,end of days,or economic break down.Is this simply charge what the market will bear,or is this just inflation driving this?Are we entering into a time when it is common to have 200 gal. of water in the home and 600 MRE's,a bug out bag and ammo at the ready.......cause I didn't get the memo,and am deffinently not ready!What gives here?:-?

V Eight
05-02-2012, 12:35
Another vote for Hawks Vittles. When I go on my AT section hikes and on some of my "primitive" hiking/camping
trips to NC state parks, I will almost always have Hawks for supper. Everything else is just common stuff found at
most stores, Ramin, Tuna, instant mashed potatoes, Oatmeal etc.

GritsNgreens
05-03-2012, 22:01
All these dehydrated and freeze dried meals have become very expensive.I wonder if it's not supply and demand driving it.There seems to be many web sites that have poped up over the years that are geared to Survival,end of days,or economic break down.Is this simply charge what the market will bear,or is this just inflation driving this?Are we entering into a time when it is common to have 200 gal. of water in the home and 600 MRE's,a bug out bag and ammo at the ready.......cause I didn't get the memo,and am deffinently not ready!What gives here?:-?
Paranoia is VERY expensive

louisb
05-03-2012, 22:15
All these dehydrated and freeze dried meals have become very expensive.I wonder if it's not supply and demand driving it.There seems to be many web sites that have poped up over the years that are geared to Survival,end of days,or economic break down.Is this simply charge what the market will bear,or is this just inflation driving this?Are we entering into a time when it is common to have 200 gal. of water in the home and 600 MRE's,a bug out bag and ammo at the ready.......cause I didn't get the memo,and am deffinently not ready!What gives here?:-?

It's the growing threat of zombie attack. Don't forget your Zombie Survival Guide or Bear Grylls's Machete.

--louis

GritsNgreens
05-03-2012, 22:29
@louisb....lmao!! Zombies rule

perrymk
05-04-2012, 04:25
A friend of mine likes beprepared.com. I haven't tried them yet but the web site has some stuff that looks good. I plan on trying the mixed vegetables (peppers, potatoes, carrots, etc.).

msujay
05-04-2012, 07:10
With the Hawk Vittles meals, what are some tips for the best way to prepare? The instructions on the bag say to simply add boiling water to a certain level over the food, however I don't trust the bag and re-package into a freezer bag. Any best practices?

Creek Dancer
05-04-2012, 08:04
I use mostly Lipton Sides with added dehydrated veggies and beef or a small can of chicken. The Mountain House Chili Mac is pretty damn good tho. Don't bother with the Coleman dinners. I tried a few of these and they were really horrible.

Tuckahoe
05-04-2012, 13:40
With the Hawk Vittles meals, what are some tips for the best way to prepare? The instructions on the bag say to simply add boiling water to a certain level over the food, however I don't trust the bag and re-package into a freezer bag. Any best practices?


When I use Hawk Vittles, I just put the contents into the pot and add water to about 1/2 inch above the food.

GritsNgreens
05-05-2012, 07:47
With the Hawk Vittles meals, what are some tips for the best way to prepare? The instructions on the bag say to simply add boiling water to a certain level over the food, however I don't trust the bag and re-package into a freezer bag. Any best practices?
I figure you just make one at home with a measuring cup and eye ball where it's at then recall the measurements for when your on the trail, I've also read (thought it was a pretty good idea) is to pre-mark your gear at home ie: pour 1 cup in and score the pot, then do 2 cups and score etc. no measuring cup required on the trail

Rocket Jones
05-05-2012, 09:36
You can do something similar with your spoon. Pour a half cup of water into your pot. Dip your spoon in handle first and mark the handle. Repeat for 1 cup, 1.5 cups, etc. Then on the trail add the food to the measured water, instead of vice versa.

Mountain Mike
05-05-2012, 11:16
You can do something similar with your spoon. Pour a half cup of water into your pot. Dip your spoon in handle first and mark the handle. Repeat for 1 cup, 1.5 cups, etc. Then on the trail add the food to the measured water, instead of vice versa.

Great idea! Just think of the stories you can come up with about the notches in your spoon.

GritsNgreens
05-05-2012, 14:14
Come to think of it that sounds more like the article I read notching the spork I knew it was something along those lines, thanks for the clarafication

GeorgiaZen
05-10-2012, 04:08
I like the Mountain House Dinners, usually just for dinner, I make oatmeal for breakfast, lunch i keep it simple, tortilla w/ chunk chicken & mayo, or p&J wraps, constantly much on gorp in between all 3 meals

Velvet Gooch
05-10-2012, 04:22
Richmoor 4-person entrees. Big calories

rdaviskiwi
05-10-2012, 11:38
can you also divide up the 2-4 serving packets into smaller bags for packing ease.

Tipi Walter
05-10-2012, 11:46
All these dehydrated and freeze dried meals have become very expensive.I wonder if it's not supply and demand driving it.There seems to be many web sites that have poped up over the years that are geared to Survival,end of days,or economic break down.Is this simply charge what the market will bear,or is this just inflation driving this?Are we entering into a time when it is common to have 200 gal. of water in the home and 600 MRE's,a bug out bag and ammo at the ready.......cause I didn't get the memo,and am deffinently not ready!What gives here?:-?

I like everyone else has been thru the whole wad of dehydrated backpacking foods---MRE's, Mary Jane's Farm, Hawk Vittles, Pasta Cides (death by pasta?), Just Tomatoes, etc etc. Expensive, overly salty, questionable taste. Here's the solution, boys---GET A DEHYDRATOR and go to town. I'm currently in a drying frenzy and it will revolutionize my tremendous 20 day food loads. Here are some of my goodies:

** Apples, bananas, of course.
** Cauliflower. Yup, it works.
** Whole grapes into raisins. Takes a while.
** Home cooked brown rice.
** Tasty Bite pouch soups are dried and bagged. Excellent. Just add water and heat.
** All canned chilis and refried beans can be dried. Very excellent.
** Canned pears or peaches dry great.
** Canned green beans dry to almost nothing.
** Frozen squash or broccoli.
FUTURE PLANS
** Dried watermelon and cantaloupe.
** Everything that ain't bolted down and is edible.

There's no point in searching anymore folks.

Rocket Jones
05-10-2012, 12:16
I've experimented a little bit recently and found that mashed sweet potato, mixed with a bit of maple syrup and cinnamon dehydrates great!

+1 on the refried beans. I don't dehydrate rice (I just use instant), but pre-cooking elbow macaroni and then dehydrating that works well.

For the sweet tooth, try dehydrating slices of angel food cake. Last trip out, I carried a container full of cake and frozen sliced strawberries. By dinner time the strawberries had defrosted and all that juice soaked into the cake. You can also drop pieces of cake into instant pudding.

Tipi Walter
05-10-2012, 17:15
Is it possible to dry ice cream and form a sort of cream leather??

rocketsocks
05-10-2012, 17:24
I like everyone else has been thru the whole wad of dehydrated backpacking foods---MRE's, Mary Jane's Farm, Hawk Vittles, Pasta Cides (death by pasta?), Just Tomatoes, etc etc. Expensive, overly salty, questionable taste. Here's the solution, boys---GET A DEHYDRATOR and go to town. I'm currently in a drying frenzy and it will revolutionize my tremendous 20 day food loads. Here are some of my goodies:

** Apples, bananas, of course.
** Cauliflower. Yup, it works.
** Whole grapes into raisins. Takes a while.
** Home cooked brown rice.
** Tasty Bite pouch soups are dried and bagged. Excellent. Just add water and heat.
** All canned chilis and refried beans can be dried. Very excellent.
** Canned pears or peaches dry great.
** Canned green beans dry to almost nothing.
** Frozen squash or broccoli.
FUTURE PLANS
** Dried watermelon and cantaloupe.
** Everything that ain't bolted down and is edible.

There's no point in searching anymore folks.
Walter do you then vacuum seal it?and if so,how long would you think doing so,would keep it from spoilage?in general on this,if at all.

flemdawg1
05-10-2012, 17:32
Is it possible to dry ice cream and form a sort of cream leather??

Yep, but getting the dehydrator in the freezer is a PITA.

Tipi Walter
05-10-2012, 17:45
Walter do you then vacuum seal it?and if so,how long would you think doing so,would keep it from spoilage?in general on this,if at all.

I've eyeballed the Food Saver thingies but they seem to be expensive and anyway, my dried stuff is done in batches before a trip and lasts only the length of a trip. At home I start up another batch. So, shelf life isn't all that important. It's all about a reduction in carried food weight.

pyroman53
05-10-2012, 19:20
Dang Tipi! Pretty soon you'll only have to go home every few MONTHS!! I can't wait for those journals.

rocketsocks
05-10-2012, 20:23
I've eyeballed the Food Saver things but they seem to be expensive and anyway, my dried stuff is done in batches before a trip and lasts only the length of a trip. At home I start up another batch. So, shelf life isn't all that important. It's all about a reduction in carried food weight.
We have one,but I have not really experimented with it yet,and I have a dehydrator too,but there again something I've not done in earnest just yet,made some jerky,bananas chips,never tried beans though.I will certainly try those thanks.

Tipi Walter
05-10-2012, 20:32
Dang Tipi! Pretty soon you'll only have to go home every few MONTHS!! I can't wait for those journals.

Why I waited this long to start drying in earnest is anybody's guess. Probably when a little lightbulb went off in my head to dry canned beans and chilis and soups. On my last Mt Rogers trip I added up the Tasty Bite pouch soups and McDougall's black bean boxed soups and came up with 10 lbs of just these soups. Too much. Time to dry.

WIAPilot
05-10-2012, 20:49
Why I waited this long to start drying in earnest is anybody's guess. Probably when a little lightbulb went off in my head to dry canned beans and chilis and soups. On my last Mt Rogers trip I added up the Tasty Bite pouch soups and McDougall's black bean boxed soups and came up with 10 lbs of just these soups. Too much. Time to dry.


LOL Tipi, you rock and we can't wait for your cookbook!! Maybe "Tipi: All Dried Up! " :sun

Tipi Walter
05-10-2012, 21:18
LOL Tipi, you rock and we can't wait for your cookbook!! Maybe "Tipi: All Dried Up! " :sun

My memoirs: A Desiccated Life.

Wise Old Owl
05-10-2012, 22:44
All these dehydrated and freeze dried meals have become very expensive.I wonder if it's not supply and demand driving it.There seems to be many web sites that have poped up over the years that are geared to Survival,end of days,or economic break down.Is this simply charge what the market will bear,or is this just inflation driving this?Are we entering into a time when it is common to have 200 gal. of water in the home and 600 MRE's,a bug out bag and ammo at the ready.......cause I didn't get the memo,and am deffinently not ready!What gives here?:-?

Good Question.... Afghanistan, Iraq, and military demand drove it up because MH ran very short at one point a few years back, if I remember they had to build additional facilities. Survivalists and Preppers are hording huge quantities... and to top it off food is not considered an inflation related issue... but the devaluation of the American Dollar brought this together. S

Sports Authority and other OTC camping sport places have regular sales to move the stuff, if it sits on the shelf too long... not at hunting season though.

I keep a week of FD Dinners and I used to keep a month of canned and dried food down in the basement. You would laugh at the 10 5 gallon distilled water backup - that's been dumped and rotated.

Wise Old Owl
05-10-2012, 22:54
I've experimented a little bit recently and found that mashed sweet potato, mixed with a bit of maple syrup and cinnamon dehydrates great! Very Cool

+1 on the refried beans. I don't dehydrate rice (I just use instant), but pre-cooking elbow macaroni and then dehydrating that works well. There is 3 minute Mac now available in bulk San Grieo Quick Cook

15914

For the sweet tooth, try dehydrating slices of angel food cake. Last trip out, I carried a container full of cake and frozen sliced strawberries. By dinner time the strawberries had defrosted and all that juice soaked into the cake. You can also drop pieces of cake into instant pudding.

Wow..............................!

rocketsocks
05-10-2012, 23:11
Good Question.... Afghanistan, Iraq, and military demand drove it up because MH ran very short at one point a few years back, if I remember they had to build additional facilities. Survivalists and Preppers are hording huge quantities... and to top it off food is not considered an inflation related issue... but the devaluation of the American Dollar brought this together. S

Sports Authority and other OTC camping sport places have regular sales to move the stuff, if it sits on the shelf too long... not at hunting season though.

I keep a week of FD Dinners and I used to keep a month of canned and dried food down in the basement. You would laugh at the 10 5 gallon distilled water backup - that's been dumped and rotated.
Thanks Woo,crazy how food prices in general have soared.The last time I bought a MT.House meal it was chili mac I believe and probably cost about $3.99,yes this was some time ago.Having some water on hand is certainly a good idea.Last year when the hurricane Irene came through we still had water but only until the municipal generators ran to pump it out of the ground,some folks have towers,so they would have water until the tank was empty,and those with well water,well theres that power thing again.Ammunition;The price slowly increased starting in the south and finally spiking here in the north,and almost over night the prices got higher each day,and eventually leveled off at about 1 1/2 times the norm.I guess War does in fact cost in so many ways.:-?

Wise Old Owl
05-10-2012, 23:18
www.harmonyhousefoods.com (http://www.harmonyhousefoods.com/)

http://hawkvittles.com/order.html

http://www.backpackerspantry.com/inventory.asp?brand=Backpackers%20Pantry

http://www.packitgourmet.com/

http://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/store/c/40-Meals.aspx

http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/
http://outdoorherbivore.com/ (http://outdoorherbivore.com/)


http://www.richmoor.com/


http://wisefoodstorage.com/outdoor-food-kits.html (http://wisefoodstorage.com/outdoor-food-kits.html)


http://hungryhammockhanger.com/


http://www.knorr.com/Products/Pasta-Sides.aspx (http://www.knorr.com/Products/Pasta-Sides.aspx)


http://www.wildernessdining.com/dinner.html (http://www.wildernessdining.com/dinner.html)

rocketsocks
05-10-2012, 23:33
www.harmonyhousefoods.com (http://www.harmonyhousefoods.com/)

http://hawkvittles.com/order.html

http://www.backpackerspantry.com/inventory.asp?brand=Backpackers%20Pantry

http://www.packitgourmet.com/

http://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/store/c/40-Meals.aspx

http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/
http://outdoorherbivore.com/ (http://outdoorherbivore.com/)


http://www.richmoor.com/


http://wisefoodstorage.com/outdoor-food-kits.html (http://wisefoodstorage.com/outdoor-food-kits.html)


http://hungryhammockhanger.com/


http://www.knorr.com/Products/Pasta-Sides.aspx (http://www.knorr.com/Products/Pasta-Sides.aspx)


http://www.wildernessdining.com/dinner.html (http://www.wildernessdining.com/dinner.html)
Thanks for posting all that Woo,It is likely this is just the way it will be,we have had it good for along time,just go to the store and buy whatever you want.Those prices are not that cheap IMO,and have heard some say,"You don't buy what you like or even what you need,you buy what you can afford"good thing I like oats,beans,rice.Maybe I start a garden.

Tipi Walter
05-11-2012, 08:56
Thanks for posting all that Woo,It is likely this is just the way it will be,we have had it good for along time,just go to the store and buy whatever you want.Those prices are not that cheap IMO,and have heard some say,"You don't buy what you like or even what you need,you buy what you can afford"good thing I like oats,beans,rice.Maybe I start a garden.

The ample large grocery store is still the best place for a backpacker to get food for a trip and gives us the opportunity to wander the aisles before our trek and let the variety and selection determine our choices. We have an Ingles store close by which has a wide variety of organic and vegetarian options (along with everything else---even has goat cheese), and so before a trip I go thru the store as an "operator" on a "mission". Keep moving. Get in and get out. Study everything intently for possible inclusion into my pack larder. Repackage later or dehydrate. Don't let emotion over-ride your reconnaissance---find what works and let the rest go. Keep moving and get the hell out. Avoid junk---pure sugar crap and hydrogenated Wax Foods.

hikingshoes
05-28-2012, 16:00
Got my free sample in this week and just ate today. I give it A+ ,not to salty like some ive had.

hikerhobs
05-28-2012, 18:27
packit-gourmet has really good foods the dottie's chicken and dumplings is my favorite !

WIAPilot
06-21-2012, 11:12
Here's a good thread on the best freeze-dried companies.

Maddog
06-21-2012, 11:31
Me. :) I make my own with my Nesco food dryer.

Me too! I've really enjoyed experimenting! Maddog :)

AllTheWayToMordor
06-21-2012, 11:38
I really like Back Packers Pantry. Their meals actually taste really good!

QiWiz
06-21-2012, 15:35
BTW, I buy the Mountain House in the large tins and portion them out for my backpacking. One portion is not generally sufficient and this allows me to save a lot of money off individual servings.
R

+ 1
I buy the cans of freeze dried chicken, beef, corn, and peas, and make up packs of beef n peas, beef n corn, chick n peas, and chick n corn. These then get added along with olive oil to a carb (Knorr pasta or rice sides, Idahoan mashed potatoes, couscous, Mac n cheese, quinoa, etc) to make great dinners with lots of variety.

10-K
06-22-2012, 11:38
Wow....that's a change. You didn't tell us to carry a bog of dried parsley.

In a wool bag.