Commercial 'Just Add Boiling Water' Meals - Field Test

[Son of a Beach]

I just spent 3 nights in the bush, and thought I'd try out the commercial freeze dried meals which simply require adding boiling water and waiting 10 minutes, before they're ready to eat. I know there's a few fans of these meals on the forums, but I'm afraid they won't be happy with my verdict.

In the past, I've tried 3 different brands of these in the past. The best I've tried was 'Alliance' (I don't think they've existed for year now), and they tasted great, but I think they required a few minutes of simmering, so they don't really fall into this category. For this test it was my first try of a popular brand that is in many adventure shops currently. I had one left over from a previous walk, so I only had to buy two more. Which is just as well, because at about $15 $10 each, I'd expect the food to be either delivered by a waiter, to taste exceptionally great, or to at the very least fill my stomach when starving hungry after a long day's walk.

Well, I'm sad to say that all 3 of the varieties I tried failed miserably on all three counts (yes, surprise, surprise, none of my meals on my last walk were delivered by a waiter).

I don't expect freeze-dried 'just add water' meals to be of the same quality as the food in a 5 star restaurant, but for the money, I'd expect it to taste reasonably good. Two of the meals I tried tasted like a cross between cardboard and dog food (not that I've tasted either for myself). The third meal was much better, as it merely tasted like chicken stuffing in cheap fake gravy.

As for quantity, it was absolutely pathetic - just as well I had enough other spare food with me on this trip. It is marketed specifically as food for adventure activities. Well, I would have thought it fairly obvious that people engaged in adventure activities such as bush walking would want a fairly hearty meal at the end of a long hard day. These meals were about half the size of what I'd eat at home after a long day of sitting around at the office where the most activity I do is push my chair from my desk to my bookshelf on its castor wheels and back again. Seriously, I'd need to eat two of these to feel satisfied after a long day's bushwalking. That's $30 $20 a pop. For that I'd definitely expect table service! I think it would be interesting to see one of these cooked up at home, and then poured out onto a large dinner plate, next to another large dinner plate which contains my actual (fresh home cooked) dinner. I think that the visual difference in quantity would be shocking.

So I do agree with the people here who love the convenience (no washing up, easy preparation, little fuel required, no pots required) and the light weight, and small size of these types of meals. But for me I find that the high price, poor taste and lack of size means that they are not up to scratch.

I will still continue to use them, as I have done on rare occasions in the past, just for something different when I really need to cut down on weight (eg, extended long walks), but for the most part, I will aim to dehydrating my own. This is not much less convenient (especially when you just add a little extra to meals being cooked at home anyhow), and an awful lot tastier, and you can make the servings whatever size suits you.

[tasadam]

Can you mention the brands so we can compare apples with apples? I have never had a problem getting a good feed out of these meals.
$15 for a single sounds steep. Shop around? We buy the doubles and empty it into our bowls.
Topping up with dried beans / peas is an option we sometimes use, along with using slightly more water to make it a bit closer to soup and ensuring there's enough water to rehydrate the vegies when we add them.
I don't eat deb on walks, never had the need.
Dessert for us is usually a cuppa tea and a ginger nut snap. Sometimes we might have cuppa soup as an entree.
Then there's the daily ration of chocolate...

[corvus]

Well SoaB,
That's a big statement which brand did you use ?? you are condemning some of us saying that we eat crap !!
With few exceptions all of the "BACK COUNTRY" Cuisine Freeze Dri meals at around $9.00 per single serve are more than satisfying and palatable ,what were you trying for $15.00 .
All of the BACK COUNTRTY meals I have used over the past five or so years have been sustaining ,edible and even authentic for a 10 min boiling water add and eat out of the bag meal,what did you do wrong .
Tucker is a very personal issue when BW however I cannot but think that you may have picked a "PUP" with your Freeze dried meal choice but let me state as a fussy at home accomplished cook these meals are worth the money and lighten my pack which is a big plus.

[Son of a Beach]

ah you have me. I got it wrong. It was not $15, but $10 per serve.

By the way, there's no need for a long handled spoon for these things. I always have a sharp knife with me when bushwalking, and instead of unfolding the top after it was standing, I just cut the top off. Then a normal spoon works just fine.

I think it's just a matter of taste. I had three different Back Country meals, and none of them were particularly nice to me. The Roast Chicken one was definitely better than the Moroccan Lamb and the Babotje (or whatever it was), but none of them were marvelous (certainly not good taste or size value for $10 each).

[Natt]

I actually quite liked the Babotje - mind you that could be because it rained all day - and this was my hot lunch.

Have you thought about something like vermecelli (think I spelt that right) - thats quite tolerable and instantish

[dee_legg]

I've tried the moroccan lamb and babotjie, I was pretty horrified with both. I've found they are almost always too watery no matter how careful you are with the measurements and the chicken/egg or whatever you're lucky enough to get looks like styrofoam that’s been left in water overnight.

Backpackers Pantry are much better, they have see through bottom so you know what you're getting (the chicken resembles chicken) and a zip lock at the top which is really useful. I've tried the pad thai, and although it didn't taste anything like actual pah thai, it was pretty *&%$#! good for what it was (lots of noodles, tofu, vegies and peanuts). Also heard the spicy peanut curry (or similar) is great too. I think the vegetarian options retail at about $10 and they only come in one large size from what I remember. I know there's quite good details on their website.

[corvus]

Number one rule with Back Country Meals only buy when on special 25% off cost less than $7.50 then ,number two dont buy mystery meals Babotje et all .
My choice is beef curry, spag bol,mexican chicken ,roast chicken,roast lamb,lamb fetuccine and measure you water dont guess.
They are not gourmet meals but in my opinion a good alternative to deb,surprise peas and 2 min noodles with salami,as to the long handled spoon why cut the bag twice when you dont need to

[Son of a Beach]

as to the long handled spoon why cut the bag twice when you dont need to

Think of how much weight you could save by carrying a shorter spoon!

[tas-man]

as to the long handled spoon why cut the bag twice when you dont need to

Think of how much weight you could save by carrying a shorter spoon!

. . . . and drilling holes in it "ie the handle"

[corvus]

OK!! smarties MSR titan short handled spoon 16 g Snowpeak short handleded spork 16g Sea to Summit LONG handled spoon 16 g .I own all of them so dont try to outdo the gear freak eh!!

[Nuts]

Ahh!!, so you have the 10gram, 11 inch, "Light My Fire" Spork

[tas-man]

OK!! smarties MSR titan short handled spoon 16 g Snowpeak short handleded spork 16g Sea to Summit LONG handled spoon 16 g .I own all of them so dont try to outdo the gear freak eh!!

HA HA - GSI polycarbonate 150mm spoon 7gms with matching 150mm fork 6gms = 13gms for both - you had better drill some holes in your handles and weigh in again

[Natt]

Ahh!!, so you have the 10gram, 11 inch, "Light My Fire" Spork

Can't beat a spork - they are great

and I make it 11 grams

(my scale is dirty as I have been baking today )

[corvus]

Cannot melt Titan have done with polycarbonate and the (PC) spoon I own weighs 12 g short handled, cannot be used for anything other than eating unlike titan which can be used as a multi tool

[Natt]

Oh and this is the cup I am trialing

[frank_in_oz]

Ah Sundays and people with too much time on their hands!!

[Nuts]

actually, i'm in 2 minds about the LMF spork.... unfortunately neither of them works quickly enough to remind me not to swap for the 'sticky' end.

and they aren't quite long enough to use both ends without the sticky stuff getting on your hand anyway (or flicking off somewhere) nor to get to the bottom of billies- you always use 'tippy fingers'

and also, the LMF meal kit, triangular shaped.... Why?? These are a great idea but would have been so much better if they weren't *&^%$#@! Triangular!!

[Nuts]

Hi Corvus, went to log out and see you there, Carn't belive you could return to the 'darkside' considering your experience with dehy- I tried the first batch and it was such an improvement. The mince was as good as it was pretty much 'pre-hy'- never had a freeze dry like that... That _______ mince that I gave you is just odd tasting powder really...?

[corvus]

G'day Nuts ,
Did you do all the prep for dehy on your own or did you rope in your resident chef Honestly my biggest gripe about doing dehy food was the amounts I used to do for my Scout troop ,now pending impoverished self funded retirement I can see that I will have to give it another whirl .
I do still make kick arsenal Jerky so I should still be able to produce the goods however slow rehydration and longer cooking time does concern me as that means extra fuel and you know what

[frank_in_oz]

now pending impoverished self funded retirement I can see that I will have to give it another whirl .

Hey corvus, you might have to take up dumpster diving to find vegies etc to dry the way super and shares have gone.....

[johnw]

Backpackers Pantry are much better, they have see through bottom so you know what you're getting (the chicken resembles chicken) and a zip lock at the top which is really useful. I've tried the pad thai, and although it didn't taste anything like actual pah thai, it was pretty *&%$#@! good for what it was (lots of noodles, tofu, vegies and peanuts). Also heard the spicy peanut curry (or similar) is great too. I think the vegetarian options retail at about $10 and they only come in one large size from what I remember. I know there's quite good details on their website.

I agree, having tried one or two of their meals (also tried the Pad Thai and enjoyed it...nothing like the local Thai takeaway version though ). Although I would consider the large packets an appropriate serving for one (and I'm not a large person). I find "some" of the Backcountry meals OK (just) but the portions far too small and have to make up for it with other food. Backpackers Pantry also have (or had) a subsidiary brand called "Campfood". The couple of these I've tried were just as good as Backpackers Pantry and maybe $2 cheaper/pkt. Unfortunately I can't seem to find that brand anywhere now, but they had the only spaghetti bolagnaise that actually tasted something like real spag bol .

These types of meals are designed primarily for convenience rather than enjoyment, and I think are supposed to deliver a specified nutritional value to keep you going. I'm certainly no gourmet chef, so will continue to use them for now. However I'm starting to become attracted to the idea of dehydrating at home if I can find the time.

As an alternative (and much cheaper) some of the pasta, noodles, rice etc "add boiling water in a cup" dishes I've found to be quite good. We're planning an overnighter for this weekend and I found some very large sized ones in the supermarket that I'm going to try as a main course. You do need to protect them from damage though.

[Nuts]

G'day Nuts ,
Did you do all the prep for dehy on your own or did you rope in your resident chef Honestly my biggest gripe about doing dehy food was the amounts I used to do for my Scout troop ,now pending impoverished self funded retirement I can see that I will have to give it another whirl .
I do still make kick arsenal Jerky so I should still be able to produce the goods however slow rehydration and longer cooking time does concern me as that means extra fuel and you know what

*Sadly, I am back to 'casual staff' once more -It's hard to get good help these days.
*I think Frank has a point- have you checked your 'nest egg'- It may need to make many omlette's
*I never gave a second thought to pack weights etc. until I started to get injuries. Perhaps it's one of those things that I wouldn't have given much thought previously (I have a master's in learning things the hard way).

For my contribution, Alliance? brand Sliced Lamb and Peas- the fat and gristle were marvelous after several days in the wilds.

Mostly though, I carn't see the value in buying this stuff (especially the ones where they beef them up with rice,pasta etc., I'm always thinking that if there was any real value they would just add more cheap stuff (as with mixed nuts,fruit etc.))

[corvus]

frank_in_oz no major problems for me at the moment because as a "baby boomer"I have a very healthy vegie garden (organic of course) which in my leisure time will increase and the front lawn is looking really interesting as a potential vegi bed

[MJD]

Couldn't help myself after reading this thread but my spork only weighs 10g (on two different scales). It is racing red though . Perhaps I'll take it in to work next week and weigh it in the lab to four decimal places. Yes, I know.... you all can't wait to know the result.

I have started taking maggi two minute noodles and soup for evening meals along with an instant mix dessert of some sort that always seems to coagulate into lumps. I see that there's a maggi beef two minute noodles that also comes with a vegetable sachet.

[corvus]

Nuts, sliced lamb and peas -you were lucky getting gristle And fat never ever experienced that !! my roast lamb was allways easy to eat .
Also if memory serves me right the 5 serve was one of Eric's standards for his OLT tour group meals .

[corvus]

Alliance is BackCountry

[geoskid]

After all the differing opinions I can see that I have to try them for myself, just to make sure. I have been reticent because I have talked myself into the fact that they will taste like poo.... I am leaning towards buying a dehydrator, but then I ask myself how often will I use It. But then , whats another $150- $180 after spending so much on getting the kit together. Its a tough life being a Schizo, just ask me or myself or my wife.

[corvus]

geoskid, if you have the disposable income to do so purchase one even if you only make Jerky you will save over the years and despite some of my earlier posts I may be putting mine to greater use in the future
Just be aware that home dried meals take much longer to rehydrate and the "tip" of putting water in them in the morning to reconstitute during the day defeats the lightweight concept

[geoskid]

Corvus,
Is the reason that home dried meals take longer to re-hydreate than commercial meals because commercial meals are 'Freeze dried' rather than air dried? Approx. how much longer for same size? I have heard before that home dried tastes better than commercial stuff- but obviously more effort. I suppose do we eat for pleasure or fuel?

[sthughes]

I like the Backcountry meals - not for the taste but for no cleaning up at all! Just lick the spoon and the wash up is done

I haven't had a lot of these but I liked the spaghetti best. The mashed spud (that came with the roast lamb) was awesome - although not much like "real" stuff - it was better Next walk I'll be having a single serve with a desert, plus I've got a hot breakfast to try also!

OK!! smarties MSR titan short handled spoon 16 g Snowpeak short handleded spork 16g Sea to Summit LONG handled spoon 16 g .I own all of them so dont try to outdo the gear freak eh!!

My Sea To Summit Aluminium Long handled spoon is only 12g and half the price of the Titanium version