If you like going hunting for days at a time or have always wanted to, you know it pays off to be prepared. Freeze dried food is a great solution to plan your meals, ensure you get the nutrition you need, and travel light.
What is Freeze Dried Food?
Freeze drying works by dehydrating food at extremely low temperatures. In the process, all moisture is removed from the food so that no microorganisms can thrive or cause spoilage. It’s similar to pressing pause on a food’s natural ripening (or overripening process). Once the food is freeze dried and sealed properly, it can store for a long time.
Benefits of Freeze Dried Food
Freeze dried food has many benefits that make it a suitable option for hunters and backpackers alike:
Super Long Shelf-life
When stored properly, freeze dried meals can last up to 30 years. This means you can buy your meals far in advance and have them ready to go for a planned hunt or a more spontaneous one. You can also keep them in your vehicle or tucked in your pack for emergency food needs.
Lightweight and Compact
When foods are freeze dried, they lose as much as 90% of their original weight. When it comes to eating in the woods or on the trail, this means that you can have a hot meal without having to carry extra weight.
Great Tasting
After a day of hunting, most food will taste good. Often, freeze dried food offers that and more. When rehydrated properly, freeze dried foods will return to their original texture, taste, and shape. Whole meals can easily be freeze dried, with seasonings, sauce, and all.
Easy to Prepare
One of the biggest benefits to freeze dried foods is how easy they are to prepare. For most freeze dried meals on the market, you simply add a couple of cups of boiling water, stir and wait. After 10-15 minutes, the food is rehydrated. Often, you can eat directly out of the pouch, so you don’t need to clean pots or pans. If you want to make meals easier on the trail, freeze dried meals won’t disappoint.
Shopping for Freeze Dried Food
One downside of freeze dried foods is that they can be costly. Making your own is a big investment. Harvestright sells smaller freeze dryers for around $2000. However, freeze dried food is becoming more and more popular. Today, many companies are producing meals with diverse ingredients and at a range of prices. Most big box stores offer freeze dried food and you can often find bulk packages that can save you a lot of money.
What to Consider
If you’re thinking about packing freeze dried meals for your next hunt, make sure to consider:
Overall calories and nutritional content. How much protein, fat, and carbs are in the meal? Generally, the more calories per ounce, the better.
Taste and texture. There are a lot of options out there. Choose a flavor that looks good to you, but keep an open mind. You won’t know how it actually tastes until you cook it.
Prep time. Most freeze dried foods call for about 1 or 2 cups of boiling water to reconstitute, with a wait time between 8-15 minutes. Some are standup pouches. If you’re going for the easiest cooking experience possible, pay attention to these features.
A Favorite ScopeShield Approved Breakfast Option
One breakfast option that will keep you full and get you ready to go for the day is Peak Refuel’s Breakfast Skillet. It has sausage, eggs, potatoes, green bell peppers, and onions. Add it to a tortilla or eat it straight from the bag. It’s a bit on the pricier side, but it’s tastiness, ingredients, and nutritional content are noteworthy.
At Scopeshield, we believe it’s always best to hunt prepared. That’s why we make neoprene ScopeShields that are easy to use and keep your scope protected wherever you go. To learn more about our products, visit our online shop today.
