Author Topic: Off the shelf camp chow (Read 9428 times)

WapitiTalk1 · « **on:** July 20, 2015, 02:34:37 PM »

Whaddya you cats like for your backcountry freeze dried chow meals? I take mostly Mountain House brand on pack in or quad in trips. I'd have to say the Beef Stroganoff, Breakfast Skillet, Spagetti, Teriyaki Chicken, and Beef Stew are my favorites. Anyone ever tried the Italian Pepper Steak? I think that's a new flavor. Least favorite of the MH meals is the Lasagna (it's consistency is like partially hardened cement) and the Chili Mac. They're all pretty tolerable with a good douse of Cholula hot sauce

What "meals" do you folks like in the freeze dried category, MH, Backpackers Pantry, or another brand?

vandeman17 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2015, 02:38:01 PM »

I am a mountain house guy and I have liked all the supper options. Haven't really had one I didn't like but I won't touch the eggs or oatmeal and berries if you paid me. Those eggs were like Styrofoam and makes me gag just thinking about them. I think my favorite would have to be the yaki chicken but will have to try the italian pepper steak.

WapitiTalk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2015, 02:44:40 PM »

Wondering if the Long Grain and Wild Rice Pilaf may be a good base to throw some seared blue grouse niblets in? Haven't tried the Long Grain one I guess either.. another new one?

grundy53 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2015, 03:04:09 PM »

Quote from: Phantom16 on July 20, 2015, 02:44:40 PM

Wondering if the Long Grain and Wild Rice Pilaf may be a good base to throw some seared blue grouse niblets in? Haven't tried the Long Grain one I guess either.. another new one?

Sounds delicious.

7mag. · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2015, 07:57:46 PM »

The Mountain House biscuits and gravy is by far the best freeze dried meal I've ever had.

WapitiTalk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2015, 08:04:43 PM »

Quote from: 7mag. on July 20, 2015, 07:57:46 PM

The Mountain House biscuits and gravy is by far the best freeze dried meal I've ever had.

Really.... gonna have to research that one, hadn't heard of it.

dreamunelk · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2015, 08:25:23 PM »

Quote from: Phantom16 on July 20, 2015, 02:44:40 PM

Wondering if the Long Grain and Wild Rice Pilaf may be a good base to throw some seared blue grouse niblets in? Haven't tried the Long Grain one I guess either.. another new one?

Rice-a-roni and grouse!

JimmyHoffa · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2015, 08:38:26 PM »

If I take a stove with me, I get powdered mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, chicken helper, etc. Cooks up fast and lots of calories. I take cans of chicken/tuna/veggies to add to it. Already cooked just needs warming up.
If no stove, I just take things like jerky, fruit bites, nuts, granola bars, candy, etc.

Shawn Ryan · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2015, 10:52:51 PM »

Just tried the Italian Pepper Steak. Not my favorite, but others liked it. Lasagna is still my favorite MH. Don't enjoy any of the breakfast MH. Tried the Backpackers Pantry. Not my favorite, but others really enjoyed the lasagna.

SilkOnTheDrySide · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2015, 07:24:42 AM »

Check out Hawk Vittles. My new favorite. Took a little tweaking, I transfer them to resealable thick freezer bags, and bring an empty MH bag to rehydrate them in.

Some of them I add seasoning too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WapitiTalk1 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2015, 07:43:17 AM »

Silk, thanks for mentioning that. I have never heard of HawK Vittles; looks pretty darn good! Here's the link. I'm gonna order a handfull of the single servings and give em a shot I think.

http://hawkvittles.com/

SilkOnTheDrySide · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2015, 07:49:38 AM »

Nutrition numbers are way better too...less sodium, more protein.

I didn't feel as "full" after eating them versus MH, but i didn't feel as saturated with salt like I normally do either. They ended up being a win for me.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Stein · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2015, 07:52:44 AM »

I eat anything, but these are the best I have had:

http://www.backcountryfood.org/shop/

Not cheap, but very high quality and excellent tasting.

WapitiTalk1 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 21, 2015, 07:59:32 AM »

Quote from: SilkOnTheWetSide on July 21, 2015, 07:49:38 AM

Nutrition numbers are way better too...less sodium, more protein.

I didn't feel as "full" after eating them versus MH, but i didn't feel as saturated with salt like I normally do either. They ended up being a win for me.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Silk, Do you get the single servings or the double? I'm 5' 11", 160 lbs soaking wet and the MH meal portions are a bit too much for me, even after a full day of brush busting and hill climbing. Wondering if the single serving in the HV brand would be a perfect size for my skinny arse. Any flavors you particularly like in the HV line? Thanks

SilkOnTheDrySide · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2015, 08:02:25 AM »

Single should be fine for most. I base it off calories. Stay away from anything with seafood. The lasagna and sw lasagna is legitimately

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

fillthefreezer · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2015, 08:19:14 AM »

Quote from: Phantom16 on July 21, 2015, 07:59:32 AM

Silk, Do you get the single servings or the double? I'm 5' 11", 160 lbs soaking wet and the MH meal portions are a bit too much for me, even after a full day of brush busting and hill climbing. Wondering if the single serving in the HV brand would be a perfect size for my skinny arse. Any flavors you particularly like in the HV line? Thanks

in the woods i eat a ton. ok, all the time... but a whole package(2 servings) of MH leaves me wanting more. like a whole pack of instant mashed potatoes. a single servings HV i dont feel stuffed, but after about an hour, i am full. its hard to make a comparison other than, day 4 of a hunt eating HV for dinner, i felt much better nourished.
90% of his meals also dominate MH on cal/oz and oz/nutrition

xXLojackXx · « **Reply #16 on:** July 21, 2015, 08:21:40 PM »

A little research and some home brewed freeze dried meals. Chicken seems to be hard to rehydrate, found that ground elk/beef/turkey with some breadcrumbs allows them to rehydrate and be soft.

BeWitty · « **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2015, 09:44:47 PM »

I've had a few Backpackers Pantry meals and they were all terrible. My favorite MH meals are noodles and chicken, beef stroganoff, and teriyaki. Lasagna wasn't good and basically ruins your spork with the cheese. I'll have to try the biscuits and gravy.

huntnnw · « **Reply #18 on:** July 21, 2015, 10:22:23 PM »

your telling me about re hydrating chicken

after about 30 min in hot water it gets to a point you can choke it down. I put some in some yakisoba noodles to change it up from mountain house

Andrew · « **Reply #19 on:** July 22, 2015, 08:22:05 AM »

I recently had a Backpackers Pantry beef pho and it was awesome...but then again I can eat pho for my three squares! Alpine Aire foods are also good...I get a little tired of Mountain House...their food seems to taste all the same to me, sort of like MREs.

ICEMAN · « **Reply #20 on:** July 22, 2015, 03:17:28 PM »

Quote from: dreamunelk on July 20, 2015, 08:25:23 PM

Quote from: Phantom16 on July 20, 2015, 02:44:40 PM
Wondering if the Long Grain and Wild Rice Pilaf may be a good base to throw some seared blue grouse niblets in? Haven't tried the Long Grain one I guess either.. another new one?

Rice-a-roni and grouse!

Ding ding ding, Winner!

sirmissalot · « **Reply #21 on:** July 23, 2015, 08:02:54 AM »

Quote from: SilkOnTheWetSide on July 21, 2015, 07:24:42 AM

Check out Hawk Vittles. My new favorite. Took a little tweaking, I transfer them to resealable thick freezer bags, and bring an empty MH bag to rehydrate them in.

Some of them I add seasoning too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Which ones have you tried and liked? I've thought several times about buying some but all their choices look a little different. I'm a big breakfast eater but mountain house eggs have scared me away from eggs... hopefully these meals are better.

REI had a backpackers pantry sale going on and you could sample several of their flavors, some were a little different but I liked the chicken alfredo a lot as well as their apple oatmeal breakfast

nastybynature · « **Reply #22 on:** July 23, 2015, 09:07:16 AM »

Jonathan_S · « **Reply #23 on:** July 23, 2015, 09:11:11 AM »

Those instant rice packs by Knorr come in a bunch of flavors like Cheddar Broccoli, Taco Rice, etc. They are very tasty and easy to add water to.

They don't have protein so that's a negative but they sure are cheap compared to a MH for a short trip. I just pack another protein source for those trips. I save MH for longer trips when I need an extra incentive to stay out longer

SilkOnTheDrySide · « **Reply #24 on:** July 23, 2015, 03:16:46 PM »

Quote from: sirmissalot on July 23, 2015, 08:02:54 AM

Quote from: SilkOnTheWetSide on July 21, 2015, 07:24:42 AM
Check out Hawk Vittles. My new favorite. Took a little tweaking, I transfer them to resealable thick freezer bags, and bring an empty MH bag to rehydrate them in.

Some of them I add seasoning too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Which ones have you tried and liked? I've thought several times about buying some but all their choices look a little different. I'm a big breakfast eater but mountain house eggs have scared me away from eggs... hopefully these meals are better.

REI had a backpackers pantry sale going on and you could sample several of their flavors, some were a little different but I liked the chicken alfredo a lot as well as their apple oatmeal breakfast

I like most of them! Stay away from the seafood ones though...

If maybe start with the linguini, lasagna, sw lasagna, frijoles (basically a big bag of bean dip).

Careful on spaghetti and linguini, it will poke holes in the ziplocks or the packaging it comes in!

Also, again, I highly recommend repackaging in thick freezer zip locks!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

News:

Advertisement

Author Topic: Off the shelf camp chow (Read 9428 times)

Advertisement

Quick Links

Recent Topics