Hiking takes a lot of energy. After a long day on the trail, you need to pause and refuel. Trail mix is perfect for a quick pick-me-up, but you need a meal to replace the energy you’ve lost. The best freeze dried food options on the market will help you recover and continue your hike.
Freeze dried food is shelf-stable and easy to carry in a backpack. Whether you’re going to be on the trail for a few days or a week, it can be an important supplement to your food supply.
Just because you’re exhausted from hiking doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste. This guide will help you find the best freeze dried food for your hike and your palate.
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FIND THE BEST FREEZE DRIED FOOD
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FREEZE DRIED FOOD 101
4 THINGS TO CONSIDER TO FIND THE BEST FREEZE DRIED FOOD
1. TASTE
If you don’t like your food, you’re not going to eat it. The bar sometimes seems lower when you’ve just covered a lot of miles, but taste is still important!
The freeze dried food made today is much better than what was on the market 20-30 years ago. That said, some products still have weird texture and aftertaste issues.
You don’t want to be disappointed when you’re desperate to get some calories into your body. Try your freeze dried meals out before you get on the trail. Sampling it will give you the opportunity to make sure you find it tasty.
Testing your meals lets you troubleshoot the cooking process. It will also give you time to figure out how to make it fit your palate. Sometimes, the best way to make a freeze dried meal great is to add a little spice.
You can’t make the best freeze dried food without hot water. Find the right stove for your trip with our guide to the best backpacking stoves.
2. CALORIES
Your caloric intake is crucial when you’re hiking. According to Mayo Clinic, a 160-pound person can burn 438 calories per hour hiking. Backpackers burn approximately 511 calories per hour on the trail.
What do these numbers mean? If you’re hiking or backpacking for five hours or more, you will burn an enormous amount of calories.
Choose a freeze dried meal with enough calories to replace what you’ve lost exercising. You may even need to eat more than one serving of your freeze dried food. You don’t want to stuff yourself, but you want to select a meal that will leave you feeling satisfied.
3. SODIUM
Like soup and other preserved foods, many freeze dried meals are high in sodium. Sodium, aka salt, adds flavor to food. It also helps to keep it fresh.
However, too much sodium in your diet is unhealthy. It can raise your blood pressure and put you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. For this reason, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.
With freeze dried food, it can be easy to exceed this number – especially if you eat all 2.5 servings in a bag.
Be conscious of how much sodium you’re eating in each serving. Strike a balance by alternating high-sodium freeze dried foods with lower sodium ones. Also, consider supplementing your freeze dried food with lower sodium foods throughout the day.
What if you’re on a low-sodium diet? Are there still freeze dried options available? Yes! Companies like Harmony House Foods sell basic items that you can use to create your own freeze dried meals. There’s little to no sodium included, so you have the freedom to add as much or as little as you would like to your meal.
4. PROTEIN
Protein helps your muscle fibers repair themselves, which can help you recover from exercise.
Recovery time is vital when you’re on the trail. On a long backpacking journey, you need to be able to get up and hike day after day. Look for freeze dried foods that are high in protein and can give you the edge you need to continue.
In need of more energy while hiking or backpacking? Check out our article about making coffee while camping.
Photo by Ian, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
FREEZE DRIED FOOD REVIEWS
1. BEST FREEZE DRIED FOOD WITH MEAT
MOUNTAIN HOUSE BEEF STROGANOFF WITH NOODLES
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 2.5
CALORIES PER SERVING: 260
SODIUM: 800 milligrams
PROS: Tastes good, noodles have nice texture and consistency, packaging is easy to pack out
CONS: High in sodium, beef takes a while to rehydrate, single serving size is too small
MOUNTAIN HOUSE CHILI MAC WITH BEEF
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 2.5
CALORIES PER SERVING: 230
SODIUM: 780 milligrams
PROS: Tastes good, well-seasoned, packaging is easy to pack out
CONS: High in sodium, watery, noodles take a while to cook, single serving size is too small
MARYJANESFARM ORGANIC SHEPHERDS MEAT PIE
Check out the latest price on:
REI
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 1.5
CALORIES PER SERVING: 250
SODIUM PER SERVING: 780 milligrams
PROS: Tastes good, well-seasoned, very thick consistency, packaging is easy to pack out
CONS: Expensive, high in sodium, slight aftertaste
GOOD TO-GO THAI CURRY
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 2
CALORIES PER SERVING: 380
SODIUM: 500 milligrams
PROS: Tastes good, rice has a nice texture, well-seasoned, lower in sodium, lots of vegetables, gluten-free
CONS: Expensive, single serving size is too small, takes a long time to cook
PALEO MEALS TO GO CANYON CHICKEN CHILI
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 1
CALORIES PER SERVING: 310
SODIUM PER SERVING: 380 milligrams
PROS: Tastes good, has nice texture and consistency, high in protein, low in sodium, paleo, gluten-free
CONS: Expensive, short shelf life
PALEO MEALS TO GO SUMMIT SAVORY CHICKEN
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 1
CALORIES PER SERVING: 300
SODIUM PER SERVING: 140 – 730 milligrams
PROS: Tastes good, has nice texture and consistency, separate salt packet for control over the level of sodium in the meal, high in protein, paleo, gluten-free, very filling
CONS: Expensive, not flavorful enough, short shelf life
2. BEST VEGETARIAN FREEZE DRIED FOOD
BACKPACKER’S PANTRY PAD THAI VEGGIE
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 2
CALORIES PER SERVING: 460
SODIUM PER SERVING: 480 milligrams
PROS: Inexpensive, high in protein, gluten-free, vegan
CONS: Single serving size is too small, a little bland, watery, noodles don’t always cook through
HARMONY HOUSE BACKPACKING KIT
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 70
CALORIES PER SERVING: 5 – 104
SODIUM PER SERVING: 0 – 38 milligrams
PROS: Kit includes lots of servings, recipes are included, lots of options for variety, low in sodium, gluten-free, vegan, cooks quickly
CONS: Meals must be assembled, meals must be cooked in a pot or bag, ingredients require soaking before cooking, needs additional spices
GOOD TO-GO CLASSIC MARINARA WITH PENNE
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 2
CALORIES PER SERVING: 460
SODIUM PER SERVING: 360 milligrams
PROS: Tastes good, noodles have nice texture and consistency, lower in sodium, vegan, gluten-free
CONS: Expensive, single serving size is too small, takes a long time to cook, noodles do not always rehydrate properly
BACKPACKER’S PANTRY LOUISIANA RED BEANS AND RICE
BEST FOR: Hiking and Backpacking
SERVINGS: 2
CALORIES PER SERVING: 300
SODIUM PER SERVING: 1,160 milligrams
PROS: Tastes good, inexpensive, gluten-free, vegan
CONS: Very high in sodium, single serving size is too small, a little bland, takes a long time to cook, texture is slightly off, beans don’t always cook through, watery
Now We’d Love To Hear From You. What Do You Think Is The Best Freeze Dried Food?
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The post Top 10 Best Freeze Dried Food Packages For Hiking appeared first on The Adventure Junkies.
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