Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Backcountry Hunting => Topic started by: sirmissalot on July 09, 2013, 09:46:06 AM

Title: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: sirmissalot on July 09, 2013, 09:46:06 AM: I did a search but found nothing, so if this has already been gone over maybe someone can provide a link.

I'm interested in trying to make some homemade dehydrated meals, I've read a little bit about it but would like to know more, specifically from people who have done it.

I'd like to vacuum seal the meals, I use a commercial grade chamber sealer, anyone know if the bags will hold up to the boiling water? I know retort bags will handle it, just not sure if the regular old clear ones will.

I found a thread where some of you suggested packit gourmet meals, I'm going to give them a try but would still like to try making my own. So far the best meals I have found are by Camp Chef, but cabelas doesn't have them and wholesale sports is no longer near me...

Thanks for any help!
Title: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: KopperBuck on July 09, 2013, 09:59:21 AM: I haven't gone so far as dehydrating an entire meal yet - just mushrooms and fruit so far.

But what I can tell you is that we have pre cooked and frozen meals in regular foodsaver bags/rolls to pack into the Pasayten (we have horses so we spoil ourselves a bit).

We drop each meal into the pot until it boils for a while. Never had one break.
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: NRA4LIFE on July 09, 2013, 10:12:03 AM: I have made several different homemade dehydrated meals. The secret is to use no fat of any kind, including on the meat. I have only tried very lean venison and lean chicken breast. The stews and chilis dried very nice. I did not vacuum seal them though. I just added boiling water and let it set until done (some reheating may be required). I would think the 5 mil bags in your sealer would hold up. If they can handle the vacuuming/sealing, the boiling water should be OK.
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: jackmaster on July 09, 2013, 10:18:56 AM: idk if this works for you but when i pack into my camp i make 5 lbs of bacon 5 lbs of link sausage about 20 or so diced up potatos fried in bacon grease and some peppers useally a red and orange, after it all cools i mix it all together and then vacuum pack it in 2 person size meals, a bottle of ketchup and a small pan to heat it over the fire and you are good to go for a few dinners, its really awesome on those cold miserable nights before bed :drool:
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: dmv9 on July 09, 2013, 11:38:28 AM: I've dehydrated spaghetti with lean ground beef (2%, yes I grind my own) and the first batch was awesome. Second batch somehow got screwed up. But I just put the dried contents in a ziploc and added the mix to boiling water in a cup.

hmmm. Need to do some more dehydrating :)
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: acnewman55 on July 09, 2013, 12:01:07 PM: Quote from: jackmaster on July 09, 2013, 10:18:56 AM
idk if this works for you but when i pack into my camp i make 5 lbs of bacon 5 lbs of link sausage about 20 or so diced up potatos fried in bacon grease and some peppers useally a red and orange, after it all cools i mix it all together and then vacuum pack it in 2 person size meals, a bottle of ketchup and a small pan to heat it over the fire and you are good to go for a few dinners, its really awesome on those cold miserable nights before bed :drool:

:drool: sounds delicious but heavy.

hence the dehydration.
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: bod on July 09, 2013, 07:48:04 PM: This is a good book
Backpack Gourmet by Linda Frederick Yaffe
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: Simcoe hunter on July 09, 2013, 10:21:19 PM: http://southwestguidebooks.com/backpack_foods/backpack_foods_intro.htm (http://southwestguidebooks.com/backpack_foods/backpack_foods_intro.htm)

Here is a link with some advice. He recommends a book that I think someone else mentioned already. I got umpteen hits when I searched for homemade backpacking meals.
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: JLS on July 09, 2013, 10:29:07 PM: It's very easy to do. Make sure there aren't big chunks of meat, veggies, etc. in whatever you're trying to dehydrate. Put it on parchment paper in your dehydrator and dry it. As said, keep the grease/fat to a minimum.

The freezer bags should hold up to the boiling water. Take an empty Mountain House pouch to put your bag into to hold the heat.

I've done spaghetti, stir fry, taco soup, mac and cheese, stew and so on.
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: Simcoe hunter on July 09, 2013, 10:33:06 PM: http://www.backpackingchef.com/ramen-noodles-recipes.html (http://www.backpackingchef.com/ramen-noodles-recipes.html)

Lots of recipes here.
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: bmccalister on July 10, 2013, 04:55:48 PM: Thanks for all the good information. I found some videos on YouTube about making your own meals.
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: atfulldraw on July 14, 2013, 12:36:09 PM: X2 for backpackingchef.com, they have some of the tastiest recipes out there like the Mexican goodness. :twocents:
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on July 14, 2013, 01:18:34 PM: I've got a link on the laptop that I'll post later. It's a place that has everything freeze dried/dehydrated That you can then make your own meals/mixes
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: SCRUBS on July 14, 2013, 01:31:48 PM: Thanks for the link. I could find much on the net either, this guy has some recipes http://www.hungryhammockhanger.com/ (http://www.hungryhammockhanger.com/)
Title: Re: Home made, dehydrated meals
Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on July 14, 2013, 01:49:00 PM: The one I was thinking of was www.packitgourmet.com (http://www.packitgourmet.com) For freeze dried stuff there's also honeyvillegrain.com