Mountain house time!!!!!

[ctwiggs1]

Usually have my own stuff that we freeze dry. If I have to slum it with MH, I stick to the less expensive and simpler options: Mac'n'Cheese, Lasagna, etc. There are better ones but add a salt packet, black pepper, chili flakes, sriracha packet etc. and it is just fine.

@Jonathan_S do you have a freeze drier or do you just dehydrate it?

[Jpmiller]

I love it and the beef stroganoff is to die for. But if you are out there hiking your rear off and working up an appetite a Mickey D burger would taste good.

Well there's the real answer. It all seems to taste pretty good on the mountain when you're hungry cold and tired. I tried eating a lasagna (my fav) at the end of a day we just spent driving from spot to spot to glass and I was warm, not at all tired and had been snacking all day. It wasn't very good.

[LDennis24]

This is a good thread for packable meals. We should get a survey going to help folks out and see what people favor the most. Somebody... Lol! I don't know how you guys do the surveys.

[Stein]

I was turning away from MH until they came out with biscuits and gravy.

[Jonathan_S]

Usually have my own stuff that we freeze dry. If I have to slum it with MH, I stick to the less expensive and simpler options: Mac'n'Cheese, Lasagna, etc. There are better ones but add a salt packet, black pepper, chili flakes, sriracha packet etc. and it is just fine.

@Jonathan_S do you have a freeze drier or do you just dehydrate it?

Freeze dryer.

[Fl0und3rz]

I was turning away from MH until they came out with biscuits and gravy.

Seen that a lot in this thread.  I will have to try them out.

[buckfvr]

MH sausage gravy and biscuits didnt move the needle much for me.

[kselkhunter]

Usually have my own stuff that we freeze dry. If I have to slum it with MH, I stick to the less expensive and simpler options: Mac'n'Cheese, Lasagna, etc. There are better ones but add a salt packet, black pepper, chili flakes, sriracha packet etc. and it is just fine.

@Jonathan_S do you have a freeze drier or do you just dehydrate it?

Freeze dryer.

Which brand do you have?  Every one I've looked at is $2K-$5K. 

25 years ago I was the engineer responsible for the Mountain House line at Oregon Freeze Dry....small world.  But got to taste all the test recipes from the food scientists on staff alot.   Recipes have changed over the years of course, but my go-to's are Stroganoff and Chili Mac.  Lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce are not what they used to be.  The biscuits and gravy is decent for a freeze dried meal.  Chicken primavera used to be good but not a fan of the current recipe. 

[KFhunter]

MH sausage gravy and biscuits didnt move the needle much for me.

May I make a suggestion?


https://www.amazon.com/ULTIMATE-Assortment-Yucateco-Louisiana-Single-Use/dp/B07VLC4HS6/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=mini+hot+sauce&qid=1601061045&sr=8-8

@Jonathan_S

toss the appropriate packet in your homemade freeze dried meals

[LDennis24]

Years ago, like 8-10, I searched the internet enough that I had found and saved links to all the sites I could find that sold bulk freeze dried vegetables diced into small pieces and what not and had the intention of buying bulk of all the different options and making my own quick soups with whatever spices I wanted and add my own freeze dried meat. I can't seem to find that list anymore.

[Jonathan_S]

Usually have my own stuff that we freeze dry. If I have to slum it with MH, I stick to the less expensive and simpler options: Mac'n'Cheese, Lasagna, etc. There are better ones but add a salt packet, black pepper, chili flakes, sriracha packet etc. and it is just fine.

@Jonathan_S do you have a freeze drier or do you just dehydrate it?

Freeze dryer.

Which brand do you have?  Every one I've looked at is $2K-$5K. 

25 years ago I was the engineer responsible for the Mountain House line at Oregon Freeze Dry....small world.  But got to taste all the test recipes from the food scientists on staff alot.   Recipes have changed over the years of course, but my go-to's are Stroganoff and Chili Mac.  Lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce are not what they used to be.  The biscuits and gravy is decent for a freeze dried meal.  Chicken primavera used to be good but not a fan of the current recipe.

It's a Harvest Right. Correct, not cheap!

That's cool that you have that history with the industry!

I just cook the greasiest and tastiest meals like breakfast hash, mac n cheese etc. a week or so before leaving and the stuff lasts long enough for a delicious season.

[LDennis24]

Anyone ever had the freeze dried Skittles?

[ganghis]

Used to go with budget options entirely (instant mashed potatoes, pasta sides from grocery store, etc.) with some sort of jerky or salami on the side.  Now I'll intersperse potatoes with mountain house or equivalent.  But the 'just add water ones' are really nice for lack of clean up, and you need far less gas than for the ones you have to simmer.  I really want to do my own dehydrated meals (up the spice, and add game!!) but the thing holding me up is you'd really need to have more gas for that.  Or I could just suck it up and carry more weight 

[Oldguy]

First off, I am probably in the vast minority, but I don't care for the Biscuits and Gravy because of taste and the Lasagna because of sticking to forks. Now for the positive side. Chili Mac with beef, New Orleans Rice, Sweet and Sour Pork, Fusilli Pasta, Italian Steak and Breakfast Hash are my favorites.

[SGTDuffman]

Taste wise it’s up to you on the freeze dried stuff. But there are oceans in between the brands on their shelf life/preservation techniques. If you’re just buying then and using them during the same season it’s a nonissue. If they’re something you keep or store for emergency food however, other brands don’t stack up. Not even close. Wise for example has almost atmospheric levels of oxygen in their meals, roughly 100x more than MH. 

https://blog.safecastle.com/2012/08/osu-lab-test-pits-mountain-house-vs.html?m=1