Welcome to my honest review of freeze-dried/dehydrated backpacking meals. In this article, I share the benefits, types, and top recommendations for dehydrated meals that are perfect for your next outdoor adventure.
As I Mountain Leader I spend a lot of time in the outdoors and need a fuel source that is nutritious, easy to prepare, lightweight and tasty. During my multi-day backpacking trips I have tried and tested various dehydrated camping meals and as a result have put together this guide.
Whether you are an experienced backpacker or a complete beginner, this guide will help you make informed decisions about your meal options and ensure a delicious and hassle-free experience on the trail.
Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices are the same whether links are affiliate or not. This helps cover the cost of running this blog and keeps all resources free to access 🙂
Benefits of Freeze Dried/Dehydrated Backpacking Meals
When it comes to backpacking, having lightweight and nutritious meals is essential. Dehydrated backpacking meals offer several advantages that make them a popular choice among outdoor enthusiasts:
- Weight and Space Efficiency: Dehydrated meals are significantly lighter compared to their non-dehydrated counterparts. By removing the water content, these meals become compact, allowing you to carry more food without adding excessive weight to your backpack.
- Long Shelf Life: Dehydrated meals have an extended shelf life, making them ideal for long hiking trips or emergency situations. With proper storage, these meals can last for months or even years without spoiling.
- Nutritional Value: Contrary to common belief, dehydrated meals retain a substantial amount of their nutritional value. Advanced dehydration techniques preserve vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients, ensuring you receive the sustenance you need while on the trail.
- Convenience: Dehydrated backpacking meals are incredibly convenient. They are pre-packaged and require minimal preparation and even less washing-up! With just a small amount of boiling water, you can enjoy a hot and delicious meal wherever you are.
The Difference Between Freeze Dried and Dehydrated Meals
Wait? They’re not the same thing?
Technically no. Whilst I have used the two terms interchangeably here, I should point out there is a difference between the two terms. Whilst freeze drying and dehydration both produce dried food ie free of water, the methods through which they dry out the food is very different.
Dehydrated foods are dried using air whilst freeze dried foods are subjected to extremely low temperatures before a vacuum is formed around the food. Dehydrated food has between 90-95% of the moisture removed whilst freeze dried food has around 98-99% of the moisture removed.
Freeze-dried food has a shelf life of 20-25 years whereas dehydrated food has a shelf life of around 5-15 years. However, when it comes to nutrition, neither method is superior so you will benefit from nutritional food whichever option you choose.
Types of Dehydrated/Freeze Dried Backpacking Food
There is a wide variety of dehydrated backpacking meals available, catering to different dietary preferences and requirements. Here are some popular types:
1. Plant Based Meals
For those following a vegetarian or vegan diet, there is an abundance of dehydrated meal options available. These meals often feature plant-based proteins like lentils, quinoa, or tofu, combined with a variety of vegetables, herbs, and spices to create flavourful and satisfying dishes.
2. Gluten-Free Meals
Individuals with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease can still enjoy delicious dehydrated meals. As someone who doesn’t tolerate gluten well, I’m pleased to see many manufacturers offering gluten-free options, ensuring you can maintain a well-balanced diet while exploring the outdoors.
3. Paleo and Keto-Friendly Meals
If you follow a paleo or keto diet, you’ll be pleased to know that there are dehydrated meals designed specifically for these eating plans. These meals typically include high-quality proteins, healthy fats, and low-carbohydrate ingredients, providing the necessary fuel for your adventures.
4. International Cuisine
Dehydrated backpacking meals are not limited to traditional camping fare. You can embark on a culinary journey with dehydrated options inspired by various international cuisines. From Thai curry to Italian pasta dishes, there is something to satisfy every palate.
Top Recommendations for Dehydrated/Freeze Dried Camping Meals
To help you make the most informed decision about your backpacking meals, I have curated a list of top recommendations. These meals have been selected based on their taste, nutritional value and ease of preparation.
1. Firepot – Best for Taste
- Pros: Very tasty meals
- Cons: Takes 15 minutes to rehydrate
I find Firepot offers the best main meals when it comes to taste. I particularly like the Beef Chilli, of which they also have a vegetarian version. The filling instructions are easy to follow however 15 minutes feels like a long time to wait after a big day on the hills.
Two sizes are available, regular and extra large. I found the regular size to be adequately filling but I’m a 5ft2 female so larger humans may require the bigger size. The packets are tall and thin so a long spoon is required to reach to the bottom of the bags.
The calorie levels do vary from flavour to flavour so if using the regular sized meals be conscious of this to ensure you’re getting enough energy from your meal.
Perhaps the most refreshing thing about the Dorest-based Firepot brand is that they have a focus on quality ingredients – no artificaial flavourings, preservatives, additives and no palm oil.
Firepot meals are the only dehydrated meals on this list (the others are freeze-dried) and explains why they are the longest to rehydrate. Firepot meals are the best option for wholesome, dehydrated camping food.
- Minced beef in a gently-spiced tomato sauce with red kidney beans and red pepper, served with long grain rice
- Made in Dorset with British beef and 100% natural ingredients
- Quick and easy - ready in only 15 minutes with hot water
- Dehydrated and lightweight - perfect for carrying on expeditions and out hiking
- Nutritious and delicious real meals, with no artificial preservatives
- Minced beef in a rich tomato and oregano sauce with orzo, a rice-shaped pasta
- Made in Dorset with British beef and 100% natural ingredients
- Quick and easy - ready in only 15 minutes with hot water
- Dehydrated and lightweight - perfect for carrying on expeditions and out hiking
- Nutritious and delicious real meals, with no artificial preservatives
- Made in Dorset using 100% natural ingredients
- Nutritious and delicious real meals, with no artificial preservatives
- Quick and easy - ready in only 15 minutes with hot water
- Dehydrated and lightweight - perfect for carrying on expeditions and out hiking
- Oak-smoked British pork slow-cooked overnight on the bone. Served with a traditional barbecue sauce, rice, and a zingy red onion relish.
2. Expedition Foods – Best for Variety
- Pros: Wide variety and quick to rehydrate
- Cons: Often lacking in taste and high price
Taking only 5 minutes to rehydrate, this was the quickest of all the meals I have tested. I personally found them to be the least tasty (the Thai curry and beef hotpot in particular) but my close hiking colleagues disagree… That being said, the vegan mushroom risotto was surprisingly tasty and I do enjoy the raspberry granola breakfasts.
Expedition Foods are the most expensive and if you order directly through them the postage is also very pricey. It’s often best value to buy directly through Amazon, especially if you get Prime free delivery. I also found the rehydration directions a little confusing, without a clear fill line.
Expedition foods have a large selection of meals in 3 different sized packets. This is a good option if you want quick, calorie dense meals but aren’t too concerned about flavour or price. They also have one of the longest shelf lives on this list.
Here are the top picks:
- EASY TO MAKE! - Just add water to the pouch and you're good to go in a few minutes. Eat straight from the pouch and skip the dishes!
- HIGH CALORIE, LOW WEIGHT - Nutrition designed with the calories in mind to achieve peak performance in any environment, our meals have the highest calorie-to-weight ratio available.
- LONG SHELF LIFE - Our meals have a shelf life of up to 5 years. We recommend that unopened pouches are stored in cool, dry conditions and are protected from anything that may puncture them.
- BEST IN CLASS FREEZE-DRIED FOOD - Freeze-drying food locks in important nutrients giving you a meal with a natural taste and texture, just like food cooked at home.
- Emergency Rations; Food for Outdoor Activities
- Long shelf life of up to 5 years
- Just add hot (or cold water, if necessary), seal the bag and wait to rehydrate
- Highest calorie-to-weight ratio
- Emergency Rations; Food for Outdoor Activities
- Long shelf life of up to 5 years
- Just add hot (or cold water, if necessary), seal the bag and wait to rehydrate
- Highest calorie-to-weight ratio
3. Summit to Eat – Best for Desserts
- Pros: Very tasty and calorie dense
- Cons: Takes 10 minutes to rehydrate
I find the Summit to Eat meals overall provide very tasty meals with a generally good texture. The instructions are easy to follow and the rehydration time of 10 minutes is acceptable. The meals are quite calorie dense and there is a wide variety of flavours to choose from.
Special mention goes to the rice pudding with raspberry which can be eaten as filling dessert but which I opt to use as a gluten-free breakfast meal.
Meals are available in two sizes dependent on your energy needs. Summit to Eat meals are a great choice for those wanting a flavoursome easy backpacking meal that won’t break the bank.
- Allergenic ingredients: milk
- Quick and simple, just add water to re-hydrate. In less than 10 minutes you can be enjoying a warming, delicious, nutritious meal
- 10min Prep. Freeze Dried. Long Shelf Life. Light Weight. Compact. Tasty
- Pasta Bolognese: Juicy and tender minced beef cooked in a delicious, rich Italian tomato and herb sauce and mixed with pasta spirals
- Requires 300ml of Water
- Dairy Free. 130g/601kcal
4. Real Turmat – Best for Unusual Meals
- Pros: Very tasty and the easiest to eat
- Cons: Cost
Real Turmat are a Norwegian company that offer a range of tasty meals which vary from your bog- standard porridge to more interesting meals such as Reindeer Stew or salmon with pasta. I love that the meals have chunky bits of meat rather than tiny bits that are indiscernible amongst the other ingredients.
What I also like about Real Turmat is that the heating directions are easy to follow and that the second, lower tear-off strip makes them easier to eat. No more fumbling around with your spoon trying to get the last of the food from the bottom of the packet!
The meals come in a standard size or for higher calorie options there are the Field Meals, which are very substantial. Real Turmat can be picked up at a good price on Base Camp Foods or at Decathlon but are also available on Amazon.
- High quality Zubereitetes Essen (gluten free), Made in Norway and freeze dried.
- High energy content (597KCAL), less fat, low in sugar. Extremely lightweight and compact to carry.
- At least 5 Years (vacuum packed) in minutes.
- Perfect for camping and expedition, emergency ration for use in low life, or simply used on the building site or office zubereiten.
- Top quality, excellent taste. Fine seasoned and delicate to eat.
Top Tip!
Even though most of these companies now provide a lower tear-off line to allow easier access to the food, I still find my extra long spoon is perfect for not getting food all over hands. Try it – you can thank me later!
- Ultra-light hard anodised 7075-T6 Aircraft Alloy.
- Smooth matt finished aluminium
- Hardened for safe, life-long use
- Includes carabiner
The Best Backpacking Meals Summary
When it comes to backpacking, having a lightweight and nutritious meal is essential. Dehydrated or freeze dried backpacking meals provide these qualities. There are several companies that produce these types of backpacking meals.
Firepot provide tasty dehydrated meals that focus on quality, natural ingredients. Real Turmat produce a selection of meals that offer an alternative to the usual spag bol or chili options. Expedition Foods have the biggest selection for dietary requirements whilst Summit to Eat offer good value meals.
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