Is there any other companys that have freez dried food besides Mountain house and Bapackerspantry? Also how come backpackerspantry has no-cook meals? thats not the same as freeze dried right? Im pictured them to be like the MREs i had to eat in the Army.
_Anthony_Chow - Appalachian Trail
system
#1
system
#2
You might check out these guys http://www.adventurefoods.com/afsearch.asp for food items. If you can cook, you might be able to put together some pretty good meals without the expense of the typical MH or backpacker's pantry meals. Back in the day, there were more companies that provided freeze-dried meals but, it looks like these 2 have weathered the test of time. I can offer you this tid-bit on backpacker's pantry meal, beef stroganoff, it's not very tasty...mostly like some lipton noodles meal. If you want to email me, I have a MH stroganoff that I haven't eaten yet so, I will be happy to give you a comparison when I do.
_Rogue_
system
#3
Mary Jane Butters Farm at http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/ has organic dehydrated food. Check out AlpineAire Foods at http://www.discountchristian.com/alpineair_main.html Just Tomatoes at http://justtomatoes.com/ has both freeze dried and dehydrated.
MREs are boil in the bag, right? Some dehydrated foods need to be simmered and others just need to be rehydrated and I think that is what Backpackers Pantry has rather than boil in the bag. Some hikers get (very inexpensive) just the dinner part of MREs without all the extras and packaging at surplus stores but there isn’t much variety.
Fantastic Foods at your health food store has some dehydrated dishes. Minute Rice with Fantastic Foods beans is good and filling. I like to mix in some of Mary Jane Butter’s Corn Salsa to add spice.
http://www.rei.com/stores/cooking_pastrec.html has recipes from their recipe contest. One entry is by a former AT hiker that dscribes how she uses Lipton’s, garlic mashed potatoes and an envelope of tuna or chicken.
Email me if you want more specifics. There are lots of options.
Gottawalk
_Marcia_
system
#4
This is one of my favorites. I'm a boil water kinda guy so these work out well!
_mooneman_