I’ve long avoided freeze-dried meals in favor of creating simple camping meals like pasta with pesto. But bikepacking offers limited storage space. There are many tricks to packing light, and one of the most effective is using freeze-dried camping meals. But how do they taste?
Dehydrated Versus Freeze-Dried
A question that came up while researching lightweight camping meals was, what’s the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated meals? Well, both are dried meals. It turns out that the difference is more about the drying process than a significant difference in the results.
Freeze-dried meals typically have 98-99% of all moisture removed. Dehydrated meals are more like 90-95% dry. The result is that freeze dried meals have a longer shelf life, and I suppose are negligibly lighter in weight when comparing two identical meals.
Backpacker’s Pantry Freeze Dried Meals
Backpacker’s Pantry is one of the oldest makers of freeze dried camping meals in the market. It began as Sri-Lite foods in the early 1950s when a Girl Scout troop leader set her mind to creating a better food experience for overnight trips. Fast forward 20 years, and Backpacker’s Pantry was launched when Ronald Smith purchased the original Dri-Lite Foods and rebranded the company as Backpacker’s Pantry in the 1970s.
More than 50 years later, Backpacker’s Pantry continues to be a leader in freeze-dried backpacking food. From creative meal options to their 100% solar-powered facility and legacy for philanthropic support of conservation groups, the company sets a high bar.
It’s All About Saving Space and Weight
Of course, using freeze-dried meals saves space and weight on food supplies. But it also allows you to reduce your cook kit significantly. Backpacker’s Pantry meals (and most others) are designed to be rehydrated inside their packaging. You only need a lightweight stove and pot system for boiling water, like the MSR Pocket Rocket Kit or a JetBoil cooking system. There’s no need for a pot any larger than about one liter, and you can easily get by without a serving bowl, too. The MSR Pocket Rocket Kit includes a lightweight bowl that nests with the cook pot for easy packing. It’s a slick system and a little more versatile than a JetBoil or similar integrated system, though each has advantages.
Making a freeze-dried meal is about as easy as it gets. Just boil water. Add the suggested water amount to the pouch. Stir. Seal it up and let it hydrate for the recommended time (usually around 15 minutes). You can even eat it directly out of the pouch, though an extra-long spoon helps reach in the bag. The hardest part is simply being patient while it hydrates. It’s also essential to have a method to measure the water you are adding to a meal.
The pouch is designed to work as your dinner bowl, so there are no dishes to clean when you’re done, either. Just seal the pouch back up and pack it out.
Tastes Great. Easy to Make. Lots of Variety
There is no doubt that freeze-dried backpacking meals have taken a considerable step forward in quality, flavor and variety since I last choked down a mac-and-cheese MRE ration purchased from an army surplus store. Bottom line: the Backpacker’s Pantry meals taste great. We are talking healthy ingredients, natural flavor and a good variety of meal options.
On a recent weekend, I tried the Risotto with Chicken, Pad Thai with Chicken and Blueberry Peach Crisp. All three options hit the mark with the flavor and consistency of real food—because they’re made with natural whole-food ingredients.
I was as precise as possible when adding the recommended water and generous with the hydration times. In my experience, a little extra time is always a good thing when rehydrating anything. And the results exceeded my expectations.
Yes, Freeze Dried Meals Can Taste Great
Creative meal offerings and natural ingredients make for tasty meals. Backpacker’s Pantry has changed my opinion of freeze-dried camping food. All of the meals I tried exceeded my expectations. Freeze-dried backpacking meals can indeed taste great.
My only issue is with food quantity. After a full day of riding (or hiking), one serving (half a meal package) is definitely on the light side. It’s more like an appetizer relative to the quantity of food I would make from scratch.
After a full day on the bike (or trail) I recommend two servings (a full package) per person with the addition of a shared dessert. A full meal package per person is still lighter and way less bulky than preparing non-freeze-dried meals. Backpacker’s pantry entrees range from 500 to 800 calories per package (half that per serving). Pad Thai with Chicken is their highest at 820 calories for the whole package.
Doing big mileage on a loaded bike burns a lot of calories. A trade-off with traveling light and using freeze-dried meals is relying on town food stops to supplement your needs. A burger stop after a day or two of riding is just part of the experience.
Shop for Backpacker’s Pantry Freeze-Dried Food at REI – $7-$13
Planning a bikepacking trip? Check out our other bikepacking gear reviews:
Salsa Everything Cage Review
Salsa Handlebar Bag Review
Ortlieb Handlebar Bag Review
Platypus Waterfilter Review
Portable Solar Panel Review
Showers Pass Apex MTB Pants Review
Tubeless Tire Setup Tips
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