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Top 5 Best Freeze Dried Camping Foods

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Freeze Dried Reviews

Camping is a great way to escape the city and be one with nature. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have the convenience of modern, prepared meals. Here are the top 5 best freeze dried camping foods you can rely on for your next camping trip.

Backpacker’s Pantry

Backpacker’s Pantry got to our best freeze dried camping foods because of one thing. They have food packs available for people with special dietary needs. They have offerings that are:

  • Gluten-free
  • Non-dairy
  • No peanut
  • No soy
  • Low sodium

The food packs come in Mylar bags and have enough to serve two people. If you’re traveling solo, these come with Ziploc tops, so you can save the rest for either later or the next day. Their best-sellers include:

  • Pad Thai
  • Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken
  • Pad Thai with Chicken
  • Risotto with Chicken
  • Rocky Mountain Scramble
  • Lasagna
  • Shepherd Potato Stew

But one camper found that a pack is good for just one person. Probably the case if you’ve been on the train for too long and you’re hungry as a bear. Or if you just have a really healthy appetite.

Backpacker’s Pantry allies with conservation groups, so they make their meals ready to eat from the bag. Just add hot water, wait for 10 minutes, and you’re good to go. No need for stove tops or other cooking utensils to get your meals done.

 

peak refuel best freeze dried camping food

 

Peak Refuel

The company’s new’ but they are making waves in the market. They are packed with calories, averaging to 155 calories per ounce. But, with 22.5 grams of protein per serving, they are one of the freeze-dried camping foods that have the highest protein counts.

One pack is also good for two servings. With 1000 calories in a bag, this is ready to keep you energized for some serious camping. You can share it, of course. But if you’re taking on a challenging camping trail, you’ll easily burn those calories.

Peak Refuel is also easy to prepare. You just need to let it sit in hot water for 10 minutes and you have yourself a good meal. Compared to other brands, you only need 1 1/3 cups of water to reconstitute a bag.

Another good thing about Peak Refuel is that they use 100% real meat. So you’ll find no fillers in their food packs, and they’re also Non-GMO.

The downside is most meals are noodle-heavy, and most food choices are fairly traditional. It’s good if you prefer to do things the usual way. But if you’re after variety, Peak Refuel is going to fall short in this area.

Alpine Aire

If you want variety, then go for Alpine Aire. They got choices like Tex-Mex, Asian, and Italian. A great way to bring comfort food and a bit of culture to your camping trips.

An entrée pack is close to nine ounces and can be enough to feed 2 people. The good part is that each bag has color codes, so you’ll know what you’re looking for. The color code represents beef, pork, poultry, dairy, vegan, and desserts.

You can also prepare the meal in two ways. If you’re in a hurry or don’t carry cooking tools, boiling water will do. Just add it to the line indicated in the pouch, then wait for 10 minutes. If you want a softer texture, you can take out your trusty pot or skillet and cook your Alpine Aire meal.

Some reviews say the taste is a bit lacking. It’s not a meal that will give you home-cooked comfort. Some meals are a bit bland, while others are a bit on the salty side.

Mary Jane’s Farm

If you prefer to eat food that’s organic, Mary Jane’s farm is your option. Not only that, they have exclusively vegetarian and vegan options. So they are certainly catering to those committed to a dietary lifestyle.

The best freeze dried camping foods that they have are:

  • Kettle Chili
  • Creamy Potato Soup
  • Santa Fe pasta
  • Breakfast frittatas
  • “Bacon-less Bacon”Egg Scramblers

They are in the lightweight category, though, about three ounces. This means a pack is good for one person. The good news is you only need 1 1/3 cups of boiling water to prepare them. But if you’re a meat lover or prefer to have meat in your food, you’re better off with other freeze-dried food brands.

mountain house best freeze dried camping foods kit box

Mountain House

Traveling by two’s and you have the same taste in food? Then Mountain House is one of the best freeze dried camping foods you should get.

Mountain House is an Oregon-based company specializing in hearty and meaty freeze-dried food. A pouch is enough to fill two campers – or a camper with a big appetite. Compared to other products, these have lower sodium yet higher protein content. Meat lovers would certainly have a feast with their freeze-dried food choices like:

  • Beef Stroganoff
  • Lasagna with Meat Sauce
  • Chicken Breast with Mashed Potatoes
  • Beef Stew
  • Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese
  • Chicken and Dumplings
  • Chili Mac and Cheese
  • Pad Thai with Chicken (an all-time favorite)

If you want easier meals, they also have breakfast options like biscuits and gravy, granola with milk and blueberries, or a breakfast skillet. And if you don’t want to think too much about your menu, they have the Adventure Weekender Kit. It has breakfast, lunch, and dinner for one person for two days.

Preparation is also easy. Just add 2 cups of hot water into the pack, wait for 10 minutes, and you’ve got yourself a hearty meal. No need to cook, so you don’t have to worry about extra pots and pans. Really convenient for lightweight camping trips.

Since Mountain House offers freeze dried food, the camping meals have a shelf life of 30 years. A great investment when you’re an avid camper who has an impulse to rough it out on a whim. As long as you store the pouches in ideal conditions, it will not spoil.

Many love the flavors of Mountain House, making it a popular choice. But we noticed that they contain more preservatives compared to other brands. You might want to read the label if you’re allergic to food additives.

Another thing we didn’t like is that you need at least 2 cups of water to prepare the food. You have to plan or ration your water, or at least have a way to safely use water that’s available on the camping grounds.

What’s great about these best freeze dried camping foods is that they’re great for meals on demand. Whether you’re on the go, or don’t have time to prepare a meal at home, a bag can become a satisfying meal.

What are you looking for in freeze-dried camping food? Let us know in the comment section.

As avid campers ourselves, we’ll soon share with you our camping trips with our homemade freeze dried meals. Also, watch out for our camping videos on our YouTube Channel!

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