Food dehydration - diy backpacking meals

[mburrows]

Considering prepping my own meals for this years hunts. Anybody else do this? I have no idea which food dehydrator to go buy. Any suggestions?

[treeclimber2852]

I make my own.  I have been doing it since I was a teenager.  I have a handful of recipes but they all revolve around TVP (textured vegetable protein) and either couscous, noodles or dehydrated hash browns.  I can make a week's worth of meals that packs up incredibly light for about $20.

[mburrows]

Thats awesome, which make and model dehydrator do you use? Are they all the same for the most part?

[danderson]

There's a ton of threads already started that detail dehydrated meals and dehydraters

[treeclimber2852]

Thats awesome, which make and model dehydrator do you use? Are they all the same for the most part?

Even though we have a commercial dehydrator, I don't use it to make the meals...you can buy pretty much everything you need at Winco or online through Amazon.  Look for the freeze dried veggies, meat or fruit.  Experiment with what you like and have fun trying to recreate recipes you like at home.  On a four night hike I took the kids on a few weeks back we had bacon potato soup one night, chicken alfredo the next, southwestern couscous the following night and our last night we had chicken coconut curry.  All had 30+ grams of protein and nobody went hungry.  Breakfasts were oatmeal and hot cocoa.  Lunches and snacks were protein bars, hearty crackers, pepperoni sticks, and mixed nuts. 

[blackpowderhunter]

http://www.backpackingchef.com/
that site is a good starting point.  lots of good meal ideas as well as how to dehydrate certain foods.
also search for "hungry hammock hanger" on youtube.  he's a little quirky but has some very easy and tasty recipes.
as for a dehydrator i use a nesco gardenmaster..the model with the timer built in.
works great, and is expandable to do a little or a lot.
good luck and have fun!

[mburrows]

Thanks for the input.

[rosscrazyelk]

If I was able to get pics from my phone onto this site. I would show you something I saw today at costco.
Powdered  peanut butter.  It said just add water to make your peanut butter.  Anyone interested?  Lol

[swift]

PB2 is great stuff ! Add it to my protein shake everyday! And the chocolate pb on my pancake for breakfast

[KFhunter]

freeze dryers are becoming obtainable

https://harvestright.com/store/

[couesbitten]

I just started doing this over the winter, and have been VERY happy with my meals.  I'm using a 9 tray Excalibur which I purchased on Amazon, adjustable temperature and fan with timer, and made in USA.

[mburrows]

I ordered a Nesco Gardenmaster that is supposed to show up today.  Going over to Idaho on a 3 night scouting trip next weekend, looking forward to testing everything out.  I will report back!

[cumminsbassguy]

Do you guys know of anyone taking the main courses of an M.r.e with?   Along with the snacks and what ever else they come with?   Or would it still take up alot of room,, more so then a Mt home meal thing in a bag?

[garrett89]

tagged for later reference

[hirshey]

My mom has been supplying me with delicious dehydrated meals for the past few hunting seasons.. she does a lot of dehydrating though, so has the Cabela's commercial grade dehydrator. Works well, but is bigger than the little Nescos we had when I was growing up.

[mossy8352]

I have and use a Cabela's 10 drawer unit that does a great job. I do not know about anyone else but a lesson I learned was to use a lower heat setting and a longer time reason (dehydrate not cook). Also the re hydrate times for some things (vegetables) takes longer than advertised but still very easy to use once you learn the times and amount of water required. I am constantly trying new things at home for taste and ease of preparation. If I were younger I would invest in the freeze dryer for home use as I think it does a better job with meats.
Single serving Spam and a variety of dried vegetables with your own spices is a good place to start practicing your skills! Have fun!!! Also search Youtube for dehydrating ideas and menus some are actually good!

[BULLBLASTER]

@jonathan_s makes some dang tasty meals in his freeze dryer. He gave me some ravioli, some breakfast hash, and some chicken alfredo to try.

[ShedHead20]

Tag

[mburrows]

Did all my own dehydrated meals for last year's hunts, was super excited with how it turned out.  I was definitely overthinking it at first.  I ended up with a nesco gardenmaster dehydrator. 

There were a few tricks it took me a few batches to figure out like making sure everything is cut or shredded to relatively the same size for equal drying.

I made taco soup and chili mac and it was great.  Eating the same meals wasn't ideal but it was cheaper than buying 20 mountain houses.  I think one batch of taco soup ran me $30 and made about 9 meals. The meals were as healthy as you want to make them.

Also made some banana chips and mango strips for snacks.

This year I am going to get a little more adventurous and try some ravoili type meals.