Updated on – May 10, 2021
If you are a trekker or backpacker, food is a major concern when you are trekking at high altitudes with almost no civilization around. Non-perishable and ready to cook food comes handy during your expedition.
But getting the best freeze dried food is another problem that many backpackers face because of low-quality product also available in the market.
If you are also confused about selecting the best freeze dried food for your upcoming trip, just go through the article.
Because we have curated a list of 11 best freeze dried food to help you make an informed choice. Before that, you can also go through our Top 3 picks –
Best Freeze Dried Food Company
#1. My Patriot Supply
This company provides freeze dried food within a guaranteed 2-day delivery. They also provide for freeze dried coffee, and ammo cans, which offer up to 2000+ calories in a single meal. They offer food items for an emergency as well as regular use. They cover a wide range of products.
#2. NuManna
NuManna provides a variety of food in different quantities like Family Packs, Combo Packs, etc. to suit your needs. Secure packaging ensures that you get to purchase quality products.
#3. Thrive Life
They offer freeze dried pork, which is a unique selling point in the advantage of this company. They also offer up to ten cans of freeze dried vegetables, which provides you with a large variety to choose from.
#4. Augason Farms
If you use freeze dried food regularly, this is one of the best brands for you as it will prove to be extremely cost-effective. They also provide you with gallons of long grained rice, etc. to extend the life of your freeze dried products from a month to three months.
#5. Wise Company
This company provides you with Grab and Go kits, which are useful if you are planning for an outing. They also provide you with emergency pet kits to feed your dogs and cats.
Best Freeze Dried Food
#1. BackPacker’s Pantry Lasagna
Backpacker’s Pantry Lasagna contains tomatoes, vegetarian ground beef (nonveg substitute), Italian seasonings, noodles, as well as parmesan cheese.
The food is gluten-free and Non-GMO Certified, ideal for you if you are a vegan or you have allergies.
You can add 2-1/4 cups (540ml) of boiling water and wait for 13-15 mins to get it ready to eat.
One packet contains 2 servings.
- Contains 1 - 2 Serving Pouch, 6. 1 oz. per pouch
- Backpacker's Pantry freeze dried & dehydrated food is made of premium freeze dried meats and produce. Whether you're camping, hiking, backpacking or hunting, take our lightweight & nutritious freeze dried and dehydrated food with you
- 330 calories and 14 grams of protein per serving (Serving Size 2)
- Allergens: Gluten, Milk
- Dietary: Vegetarian
Pros
- This vegetarian meal is high in protein.
- Clearly illustrated directions for easy execution.
- 380 calories per serving.
- 10 year shelf life
Cons
- Takes a lot of time (around 13-15 mins) to rehydrate at a higher altitude.
- does not taste that good.
Why should you buy this product
The meal takes 13 minutes to make at lower altitudes, with easy to follow instructions for easy execution, and a long shelf life.
#2. Mountain House Chicken Fried Rice
Mountain House freeze dried meal comes with mushrooms, peas, carrots, chicken, and scrambled eggs. The food is made with no preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, and certified gluten-free by GFCO. Y
You can enjoy the food anytime, anywhere as the sealed packing locks in nutrients and freshness for longer time with a shelf life of 30 years. You need not refrigerate the food, so making it ideal for backpackers.
- DELICIOUS MEAL! Made with long grain rice, delicious chicken, scrambled eggs, chopped onions, savory mushrooms, green peas, red peppers and diced carrots. Freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and freshness. No refrigeration needed.
- NO ARTIFICIAL ANYTHING - Made with no preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, and certified gluten-free by GFCO. Case contains six pouches or twelve total servings. Great for one hungry backpacker, or share it with your camping or backpacking buddy.
- QUICK PREP - Just add hot water to the pouch & eat in less than 10 minutes, with no cleanup. The pouch has a shorter, wider, more bowl-like shape for an easier eating experience. Eat straight from the pouch and skip the dishes!
- EAT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE - Pouch is lightweight & portable providing you with a deliciously, tasty meal perfect for camping & backpacking trips! Eat well in the backcountry or in your tent. Also great for emergency food storage & survival.
- RECYCLABLE - Recycled used packaging with TerraCycle to reduce waste.
Pros
- The meal is easy to make because of illustrated instructions.
- You can recycle the bags for easy disposal.
- The meal is made in the pouch itself, thereby reducing clean up time.
- The meal contains no artificial additives.
- The shelf life is of 30 years.
Cons
- The bags do not reseal properly and this affects the rehydration process, leading to bad taste in the food.
- Expensive.
Why should you buy this product?
The easy to cook meal has natural ingredients.
#3. Thai Curry
This spicy variant is a dehydrated food product that contains jasmine rice, broccoli, beans and peas. The Thai chillies in this meal act as an immunity booster. You get around 380 calories per serving.
The frozen food is GLUTEN FREE, low in sodium, with no preservatives, making it ideal for people with Gluten allergy and hypertension problem.
- ADD WATER and in minutes enjoy our delicious Adventure Meals, on or off the trail. Simply boil water with a camp stove, backpacking stove (or preferred method) and add directly to the pouch.
- DEHYDRATED FOOD backpacking food, camping food, hiking food, emergency food supply, survival food. Our Dehydrated Backpacking Meals are handcrafted by real cooks, not food scientists.
- 5-YEAR SHELF LIFE, camping food for backpacking, like freeze dried camping food but tastes DELICIOUS! Dehydration retains original texture and nutrients often lost with freeze dried backpacking food.
- GLUTEN-FREE meals, PESCATARIAN camp food, low in sodium, no preservatives, made from REAL FOOD! We offer dehydrated backpacking food to suit most diets, be sure to see our full line of camp meals.
- MADE IN USA Good To-Go's Dehydrated Meals for Backpacking are handmade, cooked, dehydrated, and packaged in Kittery, Maine USA. Our dehydrated camping meals are made with no preservatives.
Pros
- Lightweight, and hence, easy to carry.
- Clearly illustrated instructions which make it easy to follow.
- Shelf life 5 years.
- You can customise the meal by adding other variants, as almost anything will go with Thai curry.
Cons
- The spice preferences vary from people to people, and hence some might be unable to eat this, due to the increased amount of spices in it.
Why should you buy this product
The light weight helps for easy portability, and the long shelf life allows you to have it whenever you want.
Best Freeze Dried Breakfast
#4. Mountain House Breakfast Skillet
At 800 calories per package, this is a filling meal for breakfast. The meal includes hash browns and sausages.
- DELICIOUS BREAKFAST! Hash browns scrambled eggs crumbled pork patty peppers and onions Freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and freshness No refrigeration needed
- NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS OR FLAVORS - Made with no artificial flavors or colors and certified gluten-free by GFCO Pouch contains two total servings Great for one hungry backpacker or share it with your camping or backpacking buddy
- QUICK PREP - Just add hot water to the pouch & eat in less than 10 minutes with no cleanup The pouch has a shorter wider more bowl-like shape for an easier eating experience Eat straight from the pouch and skip the dishes!
- EAT ANYTIME ANYWHERE - Pouch is lightweight & portable providing you with a deliciously tasty meal perfect for camping & backpacking trips! Eat well in the backcountry or in your tent Also great for emergency food storage & survival
- RECYCLABLE - Recycled used packaging with TerraCycle to reduce waste
Pros
- Easy to cook
- Minimal clean up involved.
- Shelf life of 30 years.
Cons
- The pouches used are not biodegradable or recyclable.
Why should you buy this product
You can have a high-calorie breakfast with minimal cleanup.
#5. Granola With Blueberries, Almonds and Milk
You can enjoy a hassle-free, nutritious breakfast. The meal provides 620 calories per serving. You get Granola baked with almonds and blueberries along with a hint of coconut in the mix.
If you prefer high protein meal in the breakfast, go with Granola With Blueberries, Almonds and Milk, as it will serve you 16 grams of protein per serving.
- GOOD FOOD ON THE GO. Enjoy straight-from-the-kitchen taste wherever you are with our Granola with Blueberries, Almonds, and Milk. Whether you're camping, backpacking, or spending the day on the lake, a taste of home is just minutes away.
- A CAMPING ESSENTIAL. Our selection of premium freeze-dried and dehydrated meals are lightweight, portable, and easily fit in your pack. No prep necessary means they're perfect for hiking, fishing, or to store away as a shelf-stable emergency meal.
- EAT WELL, EXPLORE MORE. Start your adventure off right with our Granola with Blueberries, Almonds, and Milk breakfast. With a great taste and 16 grams of protein to keep you going, you'll want to pack it on every trip.
- NOURISHING & DELICIOUS. Granola with oats, real butter, almonds, blueberries, coconut, and milk make our Granola with Blueberries Almonds & Milk the ultimate breakfast for camping.
- ALWAYS PREPARED. Our ready-to-eat meals are shelf-stable, making them the ideal emergency food supply to have on hand. Whether you're stocking up for natural disasters, the next pandemic, the occasional power outage, or just in case, we've got you covered.
Pros
- Easy to make, as all you have to do is add hot or cold water as per your preference to the food.
- Clearly illustrated instructions which are easy to follow.
- A balanced and filling breakfast
- Light weight and easily portable.
Cons
- Not ideal for you if you do not like cereals.
Why should you buy this product?
If you need a high protein, nutritious vegetarian breakfast.
#6. Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy
The Biscuits and Gravy meal consists of buttermilk biscuits along with gravy and sausage patties. One pouch provides two one-cup servings.
The freeze dried food also contains milk, soy, and wheat. The calories per serving is 310 grams.
- DELICIOUS BREAKFAST! Hot fluffy buttermilk biscuits with creamy pork sausage gravy make for a hearty, family-favorite breakfast around the campfire or on the couch. Freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and freshness. No refrigeration needed.
- NO ARTIFICIAL ANYTHING - Made with no preservatives, artificial flavors or colors. Case contains six total pouches or twelve total servings. A pouch is great for one hungry backpacker or can be shared with your camping buddy.
- QUICK PREP - Just add hot water to the pouch & eat in less than 10 minutes, with no cleanup. The pouches have a shorter, wider, more bowl-like shape for an easier eating experience. Eat straight from the pouch and skip the dishes!
- EAT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE - Pouches are lightweight & portable providing you with a deliciously, tasty meal perfect for camping & backpacking trips! Eat well in the backcountry or in your tent. Also great for emergency food storage & survival.
- RECYCLABLE - Recycled used packaging with TerraCycle to reduce waste.
Pros-
- Process of making it is easy as you have to add hot water and wait for ten minutes.
- The biscuits are crisp despite being boiled in water for ten minutes, which results in good taste to satisfy your hunger.
- Minimal clean up time due to meal being cooked in the pouch itself.
Cons –
- The packaging is not reusable or recyclable.
- Low calorie per serving
Why should you buy this product?
This is a good non-vegetarian breakfast that contains sausage patties and helps to fill your stomach with minimal effort and good taste.
Best Dried & Dehydrated Foods for Camping & Backpacking
#9. Good to Go Indian Vegetable Korma
Good to Go Indian Vegetable Korma meal consists of unsweetened coconut milk which does not contain sulfur. Along with carrots, and parsnips.
You get a 4 year shelf life ideal for long term storage. There are 390 calories per serving. There are two sachets per container.
- ADD WATER and in minutes enjoy our delicious Adventure Meals, on or off the trail. Simply boil water with a camp stove, backpacking stove (or preferred method) and add directly to the pouch.
- DEHYDRATED FOOD backpacking food, camping food, hiking food, emergency food supply, survival food. Our Dehydrated Backpacking Meals are handcrafted by real cooks, not food scientists.
- 5-YEAR SHELF LIFE, camping food for backpacking, like freeze dried camping food but tastes DELICIOUS! Dehydration retains original texture and nutrients often lost with freeze dried backpacking food.
- GLUTEN-FREE meals, VEGETARIAN camp food, low in sodium, no preservatives, made from REAL FOOD! We offer dehydrated backpacking food to suit most diets, be sure to see our full line of camp meals.
- MADE IN USA Good To-Go meals are handmade, cooked, dehydrated and packaged in Kittery, Maine USA
Pros
- The meal has natural ingredients, as it does not contain any artificial flavors or additives.
- Takes 20-25 minutes to make.
Cons
- The food does not rehydrate easily at higher altitudes.
Why should you buy this product?
Ideal for indian trekkers or backpackers.
#8. Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with Noodles
This provides 2.5 servings in one pouch, which amounts to roughly 650 calories. Consists of beef, coupled with a rich, creamy sauce, and noodles as an accompaniment.
Ideal for non-vegetarians who need high calorie nutritious ready to eat food.
- DELICIOUS MEAL! Tender beef, noodles, and mushrooms smothered in a rich sour cream sauce. Freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and freshness. No refrigeration needed.
- NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS OR FLAVORS - Made with no artificial flavors or colors. Pouch contains two servings. Great for one hungry backpacker, or share it with your camping or backpacking buddy.
- QUICK PREP - Just add hot water to the pouch & eat in less than 10 minutes, with no cleanup. The pouch has a shorter, wider, more bowl-like shape for an easier eating experience. Eat straight from the pouch and skip the dishes!
- EAT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE - Pouch is lightweight & portable providing you with a deliciously, tasty meal perfect for camping & backpacking trips! Eat well in the backcountry or in your tent. Also great for emergency food storage & survival.
- RECYCLABLE - Recycled used packaging with TerraCycle to reduce waste.
Pros
- Clearly illustrated instructions.
- Filling meal with 650 calories.
- Easy to make, with minimal cleaning up.
Cons
- The packaging is not up to the mark.
Why should you buy this product?
Flavourful meal provided at low efforts with the minimal cleanup.
#9. Patagonia Provisions Black Bean Soup
You can have hot soup wherever and whenever you want without taking much time. The meal consists of onion powder, minced garlic, and sunflower oil in addition to the corn and dehydrated black beans.
You can go for Patagonia Provisions Black Bean Soup if you are fond of organic products as the black bean soup is made of 95% organic ingredients.
- For a hearty taste of the Southwest in just 10 quick min., Patagonia Provisions Organic Black Bean Soup combines dehydrated, organic black beans, nutritious veggies and mouth-watering spices.
- Patagonia Provisions is about finding solutions to repair the food chain; it aims to make the best product, cause no unnecessary harm and inspire environmental solutions
- Legumes are good for you and for the planet; they create their own fertilizer by releasing nitrogen into the soil and provide the same benefit to other plants too
- Patagonia Provisions is a Certified B Corporation, certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous professional, social and environmental standards
- Nutrition facts and ingredients displayed here may differ from what is printed on the packaging; information on packaging reflects actual contents
Pros
- Easy to prepare.
- 280 calories per serving
Cons
- There is a need for more flavouring by adding spices like oregano and chilli flakes, to bring out the flavour.
Why should you buy this product?
If black bean soup is your favourite, this is the product for you.
Best Freeze Dried Meat
#10. Augason Farms Freeze Dried White Meat Chicken
You get a 25-year shelf life. These are great for outdoor use, and for everyday use as well. You can add the white meat chicken to any food preparing to enhance its protein value.
- 2, 100 calories
- Certified gluten-free & all natural
- Perfect for food storage, emergencies, survival, camping, and everyday use
- Up to a 25 year shelf life
Pros –
- The process of freeze drying does not leach the vitamins or the nutrients from the meat.
- The cans are durable and airtight to prevent the food from getting spoiled.
- Very easy to use, as they only need to be rehydrated.
Cons-
- Sometimes, the chicken does not rehydrate properly.
Why should you buy this product?
The product is easy to use, has a long shelf life, and can be used as an additive ingredient in
any meal.
#11. Fully Cooked Bacon
You get ready to eat bacon which can be preserved for upto ten years. The fully cooked bacon reduces fat by 80%, leading to more volume of bacon than its peers.
- FULLY COOKED - READY TO EAT: 80 Slices - Thick, Center Cut, Precooked, Smoked, 100% REAL Pork Bacon
- UNPRECEDENTED VALUE - 2 + LBS COOKED = 11 LBS Uncooked Bacon: THIS IS the HIGHEST VALUE on Amazon
- CONVENIENT - TAKE IT ANYWHERE: No Refrigeration Required, Open & Eat. Great at Home, Trips, Camping
- 10 YEAR SHELF LIFE, BPA FREE PACKAGING: High Tech, Sealed Protein on demand wherever, whenever
- 100% GUARANTEE - Made in USA, AMERICAN QUALITY, 100% REAL PORK FARM BACON, No FILLERS & Non-Import
Pros
- Since it is fully cooked, it takes no preparation time.
- Convenient for transportation.
- There is high technology BPA free packaging applied to the bacon to preserve its quality.
Cons
- Sometimes, the amount included is less than what is advertised.
- The pictures are misleading.
Why should you buy this product?
The no preparation time, along with easy transportation, make compelling selling points for this product.
Things to Consider while Buying Best Freeze Dried Food
Mention 4-5 points that one should consider while buying best freez
Net weight of the food
You can’t determine the volume of the freeze dried food in the bag. This varies from one company to another. The only way to do so is to look for the net weight of the food, minus the packaging, before making a purchase.
Slices v. Dices
People tend to purchase freeze dried food based on the price per can. However, you can notice that diced food will have a greater quantity in a can compared to sliced food. The purchase made must depend on the quantity as well.
Sample before buying
A good idea will be to have a little preview of the food that you are planning to buy in bulk. This will help ensure that you are satisfied with the purchase of the product as well as pre-empt certain problems.
Preparing for emergencies
If the purpose of the purchase is to save up for a rainy day, you might want to use the food and learn to cook it properly to get a handle on the task. This will help make your task easier when the day comes to use the food.
Final Thoughts
If you need a quick to cook and nutritious frozen food, then go with BackPacker’s Pantry Lasagna all you need is boiling water and a waiting time 15 mins that makes it the perfect companion for outdoor use.
If you want a veg food, then go with Good-to-God Thai Curry which contains the goodness of broccoli, peas with no preservatives and also its gluten free.
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