Best Tasting Dehydrated Camping Food

[Aztec]

It's probably a personal thing of course - but I'm wondering what people have found as their best tasting camping food - and by that I specifically mean bought at a camping store etc (not made at home)

I remember ages ago, a dehydrated meal called Chicken Tetrazini, it was wonderful - had it at home occasionally, I thought it was that good/tasty... haven't been able to find it in years though...

So, what are people favs?

[idc1970]

The Back Country Roast Chicken is my favourite. I don't mind some of the other dinners that make but it's all freeze dried. I've tried to buy dehydrated foods from America but they're mostly cottage industries suppliers with small staff numbers and won't ship outside of the U.S.

[walkerchris77]

Someone posted a pic of a tin of dehydrated water a few weeks ago. Yummo


I always take some powered spud with me.

[ofuros]

Trialing various meals from http://www.packitgourmet.com/Trail-Meals.html that I received about a week ago....
So far.. Dotties Chicken & Dumplings, Poblano Corn Chowder & the
Diner Deluxe Scrambled Eggs (which I turned into an omelette) get the thumbs up.
Just add hot water to the packet, mix well, seal up & leave in a insulated pocket for 10-15mins.

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They do send to Oz, but better off using their domestic shipping rates & go via a freight forwarding
company located in the US...much faster too.

Domestic shipping http://www.packitgourmet.com/trail-food ... pping.html
International shipping http://www.packitgourmet.com/trail-food ... pping.html

[simonm]

I have recently tried some of the Packit Gourmet meals from the USA, one was way too salty for me but the others were excellent.

[simonm]

Hey you beat me to it mate. The chicken and dumplings was my favorite so far. The Jamaican peanut porridge was pretty damn good as was the red beans and rice with smoked sausage.

[ofuros]

I'm don't have much of a sweet tooth so the desert options don't really float my boat...although after a 8 or 9 days
in the wilderness the Banana Pud with crunchy vanilla toasties & coconut shavings might hit the spot & lift the spirits

[ofuros]

Stop it Simon .....your making me drooool !
And I'd never thought I'd say that about Dehydrated food.....

[walkerchris77]

Im getting fat reading this thread.

[RonK]

Chefsway spaghetti bolognese and mushroom risotto. And Deb with onions.

[photohiker]

The most consistently good tasting dehydrated food I have yet tasted is Real Turmat out of Norway.



Sadly, I haven't seen them for sale here.

[north-north-west]

Chefsway spaghetti bolognese and mushroom risotto.

The Irish Stout Beef and Mash is pretty good, too.

[RonK]

Chefsway spaghetti bolognese and mushroom risotto.

The Irish Stout Beef and Mash is pretty good, too.

Sounds good - a new recipe that I haven't tried yet.

[photohiker]

Chefsway spaghetti bolognese and mushroom risotto. And Deb with onions.

I enjoyed the Chefsway mushroom risotto on a flinders trip. Found it a bit salty though.

[icefest]

The most consistently good tasting dehydrated food I have yet tasted is Real Turmat out of Norway.

Sadly, I haven't seen them for sale here.

I'm trying to organise some time in Tromso next year, if it happens I'll be happy to send some your way.

[photohiker]

The most consistently good tasting dehydrated food I have yet tasted is Real Turmat out of Norway.

Sadly, I haven't seen them for sale here.

I'm trying to organise some time in Tromso next year, if it happens I'll be happy to send some your way.

Thanks! I've got a stash from my last trip, be gone by then. I had zero problems bringing them through customs, I wonder if they would get held up if shipped in.

What trip are you doing out of Tromsø ?

[jjoz58]

+1 for Pack it Gourmet meals and also the makings in their general grocery store for those that like to make their own.
I also like the most of the Backpackers Pantry chicken meals and their Cuban Coconut Black Beans and Rice.
Also the Chicken Fajita Filling Wrap from Mountain House is very good eating it by itself or in wraps.

Backpackers Pantry and Mountain house I get from Campsaver in the states, and they are still pretty cheap but getting dearer for every drop in the exchange rate. But free postage for purchases over $400us to Australia.

[ofuros]

As with most dehydrated & freeze-dried makers you'll find 2 or 3 meals out of their list that really
suit your taste buds....a few more options below to explore.

http://www.fuizionfreezedriedfood.com/
http://www.expeditionfoods.com/
http://www.drytech.no/index.php/en/ .....photohiker & icefest's choice.

[ofuros]

Thanks! I've got a stash from my last trip, be gone by then. I had zero problems bringing them through customs, I wonder if they would get held up if shipped in.

What trip are you doing out of Tromsø ?

They do get delayed through customs...only a day or two though.

[ofuros]

These caught my eye in my local Anaconda this morning....outdoorgourmet & Backcountrycuisine.
I havn't tried them yet but at least they're made locally, Oz & Nz.
http://outdoorgourmetcompany.com.au/
http://backcountrycuisine.co.nz/ ....their website is a bit glitchy at the moment.


# Had the kiwi companies Lamb & vegies for lunch this afternoon..obviously the rectangular cubes of lamb didn't look like lamb,
but if you closed your eyes & thought lamby thoughts, it actually tasted like roast lamb with mint sauce & vegies, plus there's a separate sachet of
creamy, buttery tasting potato. I'd buy this one again.

Both companies have a second tear line half way down the packet, which is a great idea.
No need for those long annoying spoons...I used to cut off the top half of the packet anyway.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

These caught my eye in my local Anaconda this morning....outdoorgourmet & Backcountrycuisine.
I havn't tried them yet but at least they're made locally, Oz & Nz.
http://outdoorgourmetcompany.com.au/

Thoroughly recommend these... much much better than Backcountry IMO. The Coq Au Vin is the nicest commercial dehydrated meal I've had. Backcountry are OK (beef hot pot and mex chicken my favorites) and easy to come by but will get the Outdoor Gourmet if I can. Didn't know Anaconda had them, good to know.

I remember ages ago, a dehydrated meal called Chicken Tetrazini, it was wonderful - had it at home occasionally, I thought it was that good/tasty... haven't been able to find it in years though...

I remember this. Can't remember the brand but they were basically repackaged Army patrol rations ('E' pack from memory ). I recall when you opened the package (was predominantly white?) there was a dark green foil pack inside. I also remember that the Chicken Tet was far and above the rest of their range(there was a tuna mornay, a something-or-other teryaki and a few others... awful the lot of them). Haven't seen them for years though.

[corvus]

They were made in Scottsdale Tas as Army rations and still are, initially sold to the public in their green foil bags with a clear Zip Loc outer , an Outdoors Supplier (or someone like that) decided to take on the Retailing this product (Adventure Foods or something like that) with a subsequent increase in price and a short stint in the Marketplace thereafter,their Spag Bol was nice also .

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Ah yes quite right, the spal bol was good. Can't remember too much else that was though

[ofuros]

If you feel like a Dehydrated or Freeze dried change, Expiditionfoods are available a bit closer to home(Hong Kong).
http://www.racingtheplanet.com/store/sp ... s.html?p=2
Single serves on P2 & Double serves P1. Don't believe their 5-8 min rehydrate times though, like most of these
freeze dried meals, stick it in your beany for around 15mins.
Used their service a couple of times now, it's fast & reliable.
Flat rate to Oz $10 approx 5day delivery
Express to Oz $20 approx 3-4day delivery

Tried most of their menu, my favourites are the...
Savoury Minced Beef + Rice
Fish + Potato + Parsley sauce
Chicken Korma + Rice
Mild Curry Beef + Rice

If your ever in Europe or have a friend returning, try some of these,
Fuizion freeze dried favs....
Lamb Stew & Pearl Barley
Chicken Dhansak + Rice
Chicken Tikka Masala + Rice
Beef & Ale Stew
Savoury Minced Lamb + Veg + Potato

Real Turmat freeze dried favs...
Beef + Carrot
Cod + Potato
Lamb Mulligatawny
Rice + Basil Sauce( Vegetarian)

[ofuros]

Another option out there for Veggies, Vegans or No Cookers.....http://outdoorherbivore.com/
Of course just as easy to make your own or just use their menu list for ideas.

[ofuros]

Another option out there for Veggies, Vegans or No Cookers.....http://outdoorherbivore.com/
Of course just as easy to make your own or just use their menu list for ideas.

Just don't order the meals with whole corn kernels in them....they will get seized.
The rest are fine.

[idc1970]

Hi @simonm & @ofuros,

I tried to order from Packit Gourmet the other day. $85usd worth of food and $65usd freight to oz.

I went back and ordered more food thinking freight may come down but it went up too.

Is there a magic qty or how did you get it into Aus without paying massive freight?

Cheers Ian

[simonm]

Hi Ian,

I use a mail forwarding company, and combine it with other orders.

[ofuros]

When it come to buying goodies from the USA, I usually wait for sales that hit the magic figures of 40-50% off,
that plus free domestic US shipping...and a good strong exchange rate (which we don't have at the moment) makes all the difference.

Then they go via a Freight forwarder in L.A., flying out with DHL couriers because they fly directly
from the West Coast of the USA to Brisbane, while the other companies go via Hawaii then Sydney.
As Simon says...combining packages works out cheaper too.

From memory, Packitgourmet to the Freight Forwarder was free, then DHL cost me around US$55 to Oz,
Not cheap, but your paying for convenience & speed of delivery to your door.

Hope that helps....I'm always open to cheaper shipping ideas though.

[idc1970]

Thanks gents.

I've just ordered from Strive Foods in Tasmania so I'll try theirs first.