@@KevinOutdoors Great video. I've never dehydrated anything in my life. I didn't realize that dehydrated meats needed to be kept in the freezer. I was just looking into this for a camping trip I plan to take in the spring.
I’m not sure why YT recommenced this as if my frail self is ever gonna go backcountry camping, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t watch the whole thing and enjoy every minute of it 💜
@@KevinOutdoors Love this super simplle--- but question!!---how long once vacuum sealed, do these last?? Also do you HAVE to keep them in the freezer? Just worried about longevity if I mass prepare food for thru-hiking🙏🙏🙏 Appreciate your videos my friend
Right meow, I’m dehydrating; -Angel hair w marinara. 🍝 -Rice & beans. 🍛 -Italian hatch sausage (patties). 🌭 -Maple Bacon Blueberry links. 🫐 -Baked Potato & onion. -Brussel sprouts & garlic. They’re all fully cooked, will be sliced thinly & dehydrated. I don’t have fancy liners for the Excalibur so I used cellophane plastic wrap on the mesh sheets for the messy stuff.
Thanks, this video is now getting old. I have since have found Grace powdered coconut milk and I use it and highly recommend it to others. It is even in my grocery store and I don't have to special order it. Great stuff.
When you rehydrate, are you just putting this in your pot with water? Trying to find a better way to go this. Maybe a silicone bag to pour the dehydrated meal in then add the water and it sits up? Vaccuum bags don't sit up and can spill over. Just wondered about your rehydration method.
I do. I have a video on this. I simply cover the meal with water and bring it to a boil then let it sit and rehydrate, usually in a pot cozy. I am not a big fan of eating out of bags for a number of reasons but if that is your thing look for a Mylar or 'boil-in bag'. I don't like carrying out wet garbage, bags can leak, and I really don't like the plastic taste they can give. But everyone has different preferences.
why did you say freezer at end of video? wouldnt the food last in backpack after its dried and sealed? wondering bcus we need alternative storage without use of a refrigerator, thanks for information
If you do a good job at removing fat, air and moisture the food should last a very long time after it is sealed. I throw the food in the freezer for added piece of mind.
Thanks Joy. I describe each of the ingredients of the three meals that I demonstrate. Recipes for the other meals are in the comments section. If this doesn't answer your question please let me know.
Sorry Joe. I should have described that in the video. I have done that meal many times but I freeze it right away for longer storage and when I take it out I use it early in a trip (1-3 days) with no issues. But I don't think that particular meal is ideal for long storage when the canned coconut milk is used. I have recently discouvered dehydrated coconut milk and will be experimenting with that.
There is a small step to understand the process of dehydrating and rehydrating: Before you put any prepared stuff into your dehydrator, measure the weight of your ingredients very precisely. Do the same thing after the dehydration process is done. The difference of weight in between your before and after measurement is exactly the amount of water that you need later for rehydration being outdoors. Note it on every bag you fill. The trick is not to use more or less water, but being precisely to reconstruct a perfect meal. Let it sit closed in the calculated amount of hot water for 15 minutes. You can always add a SMALL amount of water if you think it`s too thick for your taste. I recently dehydrated 10 eggs about L size giving me 100 grams of egg powder. I needed exactly 55 grams of warm water for 20 grams of egg powder for a perfect scrambled egg. Just double powder and water if you want a scrambled egg of 4. Cheers from Germany, Bernd
Thanks, interesting process and makes complete sense. I find it's easy to just cover a meal with water in the pot. If it is a soup or stew then I add about an inch extra water. Regardless of pot shape or size this seems to work.
Once you have dehydrated it and put it in the package. Do you have to keep it in the freezer? I thought that once you dehydrated it, it didn't have to go in the freezer. If its sealed tight like that wouldn't it be good in the cupboards or in the pantry?
Love your delivery. No idle chitchat and you get straight to the point. You are clear, articulate and interesting. Thank you! Wonderful little helper, too!
So nice seeing a dad teach a daughter how to cook for hiking in the back country. Sweet memories. And that's how to start a family tradition loving the great outdoors.
This was 5 years ago... I'm curious- has camping, prepping for camp inspired your Daughter or children to do the same? I have only seen this one video since I just got a dehydrator after being without for years, so you may still be making them and had updates. I think it was cool that you pulled her into the process! At that age the things Dads do with their kids can make a lifelong impact. Hope everything is well, thanks for taking the time to show us your approach to homemade "MRE's!"
LOVE IT. Enjoy seeing that you've got your child involved. ALSO easy to follow and no extra talking. No one likes that. So the video was well done. Cant wait to show my husband.
If completely dehydrated you can measure out and put in a Mason jars and vaccum seal either food saver or use brake bleeder to suck all the oxygen out...It will save freezer room! I also vaccuum seal mylar bags/or food saver bags via weight, label and store in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid! Major space saver! Keep in a cool/dry place.=)
Ok please take this comment comedically. Stop being so smart with excellent processes. And stop being such a good dad getting your daughter involved. I obviously am joking. Love your videos. You bring my meal game to a whole new level. Thanks for the video!
I'm getting a lot of requests for this so I guess I need to make a video. In the mean time check out my video titled "How Long will my Fuel Canister Last?" I show how to rehydrat a meal there. I also show this in some of my backpacking videos. Check out my Coastal Hiking Trail series I cook a meal or two in nearly every episode. Thanks for watching!
Coming to the discussion late. Question: is the meat dehydrated when raw or is it cooked before dehydration? And if when raw, when you rehydrate, is it cooked through properly?
I noticed that as well. Hoping we see a future video. New subscriber here. Thank you for the info. I'm a fairly new prepper and homesteader so anything I can learn is awesome.
As a city girl who is becoming more of the outdoors type thanks to my significant other's influence, thank you for your straight forward presentation! It helps so much. I have to subscribe to this channel and learn more way to dehydrate food and make simple recipes. Love the Spanish rice! Great for a weekend camping trip with friends and family.
Amazing video!! Love how you separated the meats and veggies, most I see doing them together and they come out chewy. How long should these meals last when dehydrated in the freezer/pantry (or on trail) when vacuum sealed and not vacuum sealed? Great video, thanks for the info!
Good question Lexi, it depends on how dry they are and how good a job you do of removing fat and keeping them out of the air. I would say benchmark easily 6 months. If you vacuum seal and keep them out of sunlight they can easily last a year or longer.
No you don't need to put them in the freezer but if you do they will last almost indefinitely. Without freezing they will normally last a year or longer.
Good question Ivory. It all depends on how well you remove the air, water and fat and if you keep it out of the sun. If you do a good job at all those things then I would say easily 6 months to a year.
I know this is an old video, but I just made this recipe (with dehydrated seasoned tofu instead of meat for my vegan friend) and we enjoyed our soba up on Painswick Beacon here in the UK this past weekend. Thanks for inspiring me to start cooking for my dehydrator and making my outdoors experiences even better!
Thanks for this video, i tried the pre made foil packets and they are absolutely horrible, i never thought of dehydrating myself, or realised this was a more efficient way to carry food while hiking and camping, thanks for the solid advice
Enjoyed this YT of yours alot. Question; at end of packaging complete meals you said you would store in freezer if not going out to backpack right away, did you misspeak when you said that?
No not at all. Dehydrated meals don't last forever. You will likely get a year or more shelf life out of them but if they are frozen they last a very long time.
Thank you. Hubby and I are really wanting to do more back woods camping but have found over the years that our gear just keeps getting more and more. Time to go back to basics. Hello from North Bay.
This is some really good information and appreciated. To be clear for my own understanding - so each 150g portion is for a single (one person) serving, not a single meal for the entire family, correct? Thank you.
Hey Kevin! Thanks for sharing this method! I'd never thought of dehydrating my own food. I travel by inflatable kayak and can carry more than backpacking but I want to take some extended backcountry trips. I've been hampered by all the wildfires here this summer. I do have one question about the dehydrator you use> I noticed in the Amazon description it takes 75 amps of power! That's a lot of draw. Do you need to use 220 or can it still work on a 110 circuit? Sorry about the perhaps stupid question but I am totally unfamiliar with the machinery! I look forward to your comments! Again, thanks for sharing your experience!🛶
Hi Kevin I wanted to thank you for your recipes and instructions. My family and I just got back from a ten day hike on the La Cloche Trail in Killarney and we fed ourselves with your recipes. We never ate better in the outdoors. We especially enjoyed the Shepard’s Pie and the Spanish Chicken. I also noticed in another video of yours that you hiked through Tonquin Valley in Alberta, my family and I will also will be doing the trail in July and I was wondering if customs make any issues when you are crossing the provincial border from Ontario to Alberta with food? Also whether you shipped your food separately or had it all in your bag when you took your flight?
Thanks Jack. I really like to hear comments like that. I am happy the meals worked out for you. No worries about taking food across provincial lines in Canada. We don't have any customs between provinces. I presume you are coming from the U.S. both Canadian customs and U.S. customs (depending on your direction) don't like perishable foods, milk, eggs, fruit and raw meat are sometimes rejected at the border. When I first started backpacking south of the border (in the U.S.) I called ahead and asked and if the meals are cooked and dehydrated they don't get too worried. Have a great time in the Tonquin Valley! It is a great place for backpacking!
I was actually also wondering if you had any experience rehydrating food with a Jetboil and a pot cozy? I have recently been thinking of purchasing the Jetboil minimo
I have never used a Jetboil. The people who like them really like them. They look like too much 'extra stuff' to me and not as versatile. It seems like most of the systems come with one pot and one stove. I prefer to be able to use different pots depending if I am solo or in a group. Again, I haven't used them but I have seen a trend in experienced hikers who initially start with a Jetboil eventually go to a simpler stove.
Hi Allie, Yes, if you cook the spices and then dehydrate them you will lose a lot of the taste when it dehydrates. You really smell the aroma in the dehydration proces if you do. It works just fine but putting the spices in at the end seems to work better. Probably even better would be to add some spices at the begining and some after dehydration. Indian cuisine is like that, it gives more flavour notes from the same spice.
Kevin Outdoors I was also wondering if you ever portioned out seasoning packets separate for the meals. I was just thinking it might allow you to refresh/replace the seasonings only since they may lose flavor faster than some of your meals if you are storing them for long periods of time. I’m thinking about doing some backpacking meals which I would probably eat pretty quickly but if preparing emergency meals I might separate it. What are your thoughts?
I generally don't do dairy in any of my meals. Occasionally I will dehydrate some 2% yoghurt or cottage cheese but anything with a higher fat content doesn't dehydrate well.
I wonder why my dehydrators take more like 24hrs guess I have to much humidity where I live but thanks for this vid, I am looking for meals I can dehydrate and vacuum seal in bags for those days I just don’t feel like cooking.
Kevin, very nice video. Thank you. I have always been interested in how to put the meals together. Just one critic... I really wish you had shown the whole process of adding the water and how much to add. Then maybe allow your daughter to tell us how it tasted. I not only want to learn this for long term SHTF storage, but also to be able to prep better lunches & dinners for my husband and son to take to work. They are very picky eaters.
Thanks Suzy, fair comment and good suggestion about having my daughter do a taste test. It gives me some ideas of videos to make over the winter months. In the meantime check out some of my camping videos. In particular I make a lot of food in the 'Coastal Hiking Trail of Lake Superior Provincial Park' series. I actually thought I may have showed too much trail cooking and might bore the audience :) Another good dehydrating food channel is 'Babblefish5' he doesn't' seem very active these days but his method of cooking is similar to mine. He does one meal episodes and his vids are of high quality. I could copy his style and make a lot of videos but I figure if somebody has it right why copy. Instead my goal was to demonstrate the concept rather than illustrate individual recipes. But you got me thinking - I may come up with something. Thanks!
Really helpful explanation and video. Can you tell us which model dehydrator you have? And how well and how many trays it can handle especially on very wet food like sauces and meats? Was reading some Amazon reviews that the newcomer models performed poorly with extra trays so capacity was limited and extra trays were wasted. I am also looking at Costco’s aroma brand for $140 US; their generous refund policy makes it compelling but I prefer to keep machine cost down. Thank you!
Hi Angel, I have a link to the dehydrator I have in the description. I have a Nesco and am very happy with it. I believe it can handle 12 trays total. Although the bottom trays in a 12 tray stack take longer it still performs reasonably well when full.
Thanks for the question. Dehydrated food will last a very long time on its own. Likely a year or more but nothing lasts forever. I throw it in the freezer because 1) I have the space and 2) peace of mind. My meals may be in there for a year or two before I decide to go camping on short notice.
Susann Minall I believe it's because when you add egg, fats, real meat, or milk products that it lowers the shelf life. Everything lasts longer in the freezer. ;) It can be tricky for this reason to make your own mixes. Just as long as you know your ingredients shelf life then it works great!
We know that beef jerky sealed correctly will last 1-2 years on the shelf. Even canned meat doesn't last longer then that. The only way to extend this more is to use freeze dried meats, but they are very expensive. According to this website I found..."Keep dehydrated meats in an unrefrigerated area for no more than two weeks, the National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends. After that, place the jars in the freezer or refrigerator for use up to one year after dehydrating." Reference: www.livestrong.com/article/537106-how-to-grill-ground-deer-sausage/ I suggest using low fat content, a long term egg substitute like gelatin, no dairy, and freeze dried meats to have dehydrated meals last up to 40 years. This would be the longest shelf life possible if that's what you wanted or needed for your storage purposes. Otherwise, Rotating, is necessary. ;)
Hi! Thank's for Your excellent videos! ONE question that nobody in Sweden where I live can give a good answer to is just what You talked about here: If I do everything correctly, put all the "bone-dry" things together, and vacuum seal them You say that they keep for several months, sometimes up to a year. Put them in a freezer and they last for several (two?) years. So my question is: If I use this method of preparing food ("prepping"), what would YOU think about how often it is time to recycle them, to use them and Exchange them with new ones…? You know what You are doing, but people in Sweden, even Heavy Preppers, don't - and instead they use freeze dried food with "best Before" date on them. That is something we can't do in my family due to allergy and so on that get us really sick). Best regards to You, and hope for Your thoughts in this matter! Christer from Sweden
Huh. Do you ever find that the trays on the bottom aren't fully dried? I'm just thinking thats a lot if trays. I've seen others prepare fewer trays (different items, mind you) and switch their order half way through... Great video, though! Didn't think of dehydrating meals as a 'diy' thing!
Hi Chris, I do check on the food when it is in the dehydrator every few hours. It is important to stir the food around and to rotate the trays. Thanks for watching!
This was great I have been wanting to learn how to make meals and I was afraid to try it Now I will try it thanks for sharing One question do you know how long it last after you vacuum seal it ?
Hi Mayra, vacuum sealing will definitely extend the shelf life of the meal. How long all depends on how dry your meal is and how much fat you have removed. If you do a good job, easily a year or more.
I was very impressed, but why do you freeze them? My whole idea of dehydration is so I don't have to use my freezer? I have only ever sun dried fruit and vegetables and stored them in sealed plastic bags or glass jars out of the fridge or freezer with no spoilage. I came across this great video, but freezing defeats my purpose unfortunately, is it necessary?👍👍
My purpose for dehydrating food is for backcountry camping. I want to reduce the weight and create a longer shelf life. Any dehydrated meal won't last forever but if you freeze them they will last almost forever.
Is there an advantage to adding spices at the end (after everything is dehydrated)? If u sauté onions and simmer w tomatoe sauce, I would intuitively add my seasoning at this stage too, and just let it all dehydrate in the machine. I like to think this would submerge the flavors into the meal a lot better? Also; Is there a reason you dont season any of the meats after cooking? I am trying to learn, waiting for my first ever dehydrator to arrive in the mail, aiming to keep blunders to a minimum, haha. Great video btw! Would love any heads up! Take care.
Great question, if you add spices early they meld better in the dish but they lose flavor in the dehydration. If you add them after dehydration they stay strong but don't meld and cook into the meal. So, if I add the spices early I usually add 1.5X the normal amount. If I add them later I just use a normal amount. Sometimes I do a bit of both. It depends on the type of dish I am making, if it is a chili, stew or pasta sauce that would normally simmer a longtime to develop flavours I will tend to add the spices early. if it is something else that doesn't normally simmer I add the spices at the end after dehydration.
This look so good.I will try these recipe.I am going to buy a food dehydrator .I will be making some meals for my son and daughter great for college kids. also for shut in . Thanks so much . I was going to only make fruits but now I will be doing much much more like also making to give as gifts .THANKS. Also your Daughter did a good job.
this may sound like a silly question but .... I noticed the size of the gaps in the trays. If you were doing, for example, a rice meal of some form .. wouldn't the rice fall between the gaps onto the trays below once the food dries and shrinks?
Thanks David, this is an older video and back then I was less careful at explaining some of these details. For all of these meals I dehydrate the food on fruit roll trays on top of the normal dehydrator rack. The dehydrator rack work fine for garden produce and jerky but for camping meals that tend towards soups, chowders, rice dishes and stews fruit roll trays are essential.
Hello there and thank you 5 years later for sharing this excellent information. I was curious if you could tell me which dehydrating and which vacuum sealing machines you would recommend today and why?
Hi Steve. In this (old) video I use a Nesco dehydrator. I know also have an Excalibur which is arguably a slightly better dehydrator but is much more expensive. IMO the Nesco is the best value and you can get handy fruit roll trays like I use here. I have a simple and relatively cheap FoodSaver vacuum sealer. It works fine.
You mentioned putting it in your freezer. Is this necessary? If I use mylar and oxygen absorbers how long will something like this last? I'm totally new to this.
No it isn't necessary but it does prolong the life of the meals. Properly sealed the meals should last 6 months to more than a year. In the freezer they will last years and years.
Kevin i mind you saying in a video about your cook book. Have you got it published or can i buy a on line copy. I like your simple potion sizes. Im no stick insect and like my food. Your book will help many people as it has me. I have successfully done all the meals in this video and they are firm favourites. Cheers from Scotland
Why would you use dairy substitute products? Wouldn't it be possible to use regular cream or milk and just dehydrate that with the rest of the meal? Sure, raw egg would be a problem, because it may not get hot enough while rehydrating...but milk?
Hi Johannes, the fat in dairy products can go rancid. I have been having good luck dehydrating 1% cottage cheese but I certainly wouldn't try cream or even 2% milk. Substitutes are more stable and safer. The last thing you want to do is get sick in the backcountry.
Dehydrated meals don't last forever but they do last almost forever if you store them in the freezer. If you don't use a freezer then you want to do a really good job of removing water and fat. For maximum longevity use desiccant packs and vacuum seal, and store in a cool dry place.
Your demonstration is so easy to follow just one question I have. If it's been dehydrated and then vacuum sealed why does it then go in the freezer till ready to use. Sorry if I missed that bit.
Great question. They don't need to be frozen. Dehydrated food doesn't last forever but if you do a good job of removing fat and moisture it should last a long time if stored properly. If you keep it in an airtight container and in a cool dark place these meals should easily last 6 months and likely a year or longer. If they are stored in the freezer they keep worry free for much much longer. I make these meals for backcountry tripping. I make them during the winter and in the summer months I take them out of the freezer and use them on trips that are 2 weeks or more without refrigeration.
HI Erika, I have a video showing my method. I like to use a pressure cooker to cook the chicken, I find that gives the best results. Alternatively canned chicken meat also works or long and slow cooking.
Can you add the (regular) spices with your rice/pasta when you are dehydrating instead of adding freeze dried spices with the meat at the end? They cost more
You sure can. If I am adding spices to a meal before dehydration I usually use 1.5x the regular amount. Some of the taste of the spices is lost in the dehydration. I do this especially for meals like chili and stews that taste better after simmering with spices a long time.
Do I have to use the little packets of oxygen absorbers when I shrink wrap the dried food? Or moisture absorbers? Whatever those little packets are that some people say to use and sell?
No those aren't necessary. They will help the food last longer if you use those and vacuum seal the meals. But I would only do that if I was going on a very long trip or if I was mailing my meals away to be picked up months later.
Yes, a lot cheaper. It is a bit exciting that freeze dryers are now available for home use even if it is at that high price. But, I think if anyone buys a home freeze dryer could get into a cottage business of dehydrating meals for others. I've thought about it many times but I wouldn't want to leave my day job.
I do... ua-cam.com/video/csUDPFOmm4A/v-deo.html. And I have a number of other videos on the subject of dehydrated meals. Even a book Backcountry Eats. www.Backcountry-Eats.com
i like this because you can adjust salt. I have no idea why companies put so much salt in their meals. I'm not trying to have a heart attack on the trail where help is hours away.
Dehydration only extends the shelf life. These meals will easily last 6 months and probably more than a year but if I but them in the freezer they will last almost indefinitely. Good question.
They can. They won't last forever but if you keep them in a cool dark place and you remove fat and water they should easily last 6 months and likely more than a year.
I'm not sure what MCT powder is but yes you can make this without the canned soup. These were some of my early recipes. Chicken stock with a little flour cooked into it will probably work just as well as cornstarch.
You should not put it in the freezer because this can introduce moisture back into the package, instead place an o2 packet before sealing then place into a plastic container where light can't enter.
Thanks Robert, I if the bag is sealed there shouldn't be anyway for moisture to enter. I have been doing this for 20+ years and have never had an issue. O2 packets do work great.
Excellent food dehydration instruction!
Thanks WT!
@@KevinOutdoors Great video. I've never dehydrated anything in my life. I didn't realize that dehydrated meats needed to be kept in the freezer. I was just looking into this for a camping trip I plan to take in the spring.
@@chrisb9960 Well you don't have to freeze them but they will last almost indefinitely if you do.
@@KevinOutdoors Thank you for the explanation and the video. Enjoy your weekend.
I’m not sure why YT recommenced this as if my frail self is ever gonna go backcountry camping, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t watch the whole thing and enjoy every minute of it 💜
Thanks abb9987!
And now you can dehydrate your favorite soup to use when you're too tired/lazy/not enough time to cook!
Seems silly to freeze as the purpose of dehydrating is instant food if the power goes out or off grill.
It's a way to preserve your food that takes up less space, and is quick to fix. Something to consider should your utilities go out. Just boil water!
@@KevinOutdoors Love this super simplle--- but question!!---how long once vacuum sealed, do these last?? Also do you HAVE to keep them in the freezer? Just worried about longevity if I mass prepare food for thru-hiking🙏🙏🙏
Appreciate your videos my friend
Right meow, I’m dehydrating;
-Angel hair w marinara. 🍝
-Rice & beans. 🍛
-Italian hatch sausage (patties). 🌭
-Maple Bacon Blueberry links. 🫐
-Baked Potato & onion.
-Brussel sprouts & garlic.
They’re all fully cooked, will be sliced thinly & dehydrated. I don’t have fancy liners for the Excalibur so I used cellophane plastic wrap on the mesh sheets for the messy stuff.
Good job, sounds purrrfect.
Great video. You have inspired me to give it a try!
Love to hear that! Good luck and happy trails!
Grace makes a really good powdered coconut milk. It might speed up the dehydration.
Thanks, this video is now getting old. I have since have found Grace powdered coconut milk and I use it and highly recommend it to others. It is even in my grocery store and I don't have to special order it. Great stuff.
great video
Thanks!
When you rehydrate, are you just putting this in your pot with water? Trying to find a better way to go this. Maybe a silicone bag to pour the dehydrated meal in then add the water and it sits up? Vaccuum bags don't sit up and can spill over. Just wondered about your rehydration method.
I do. I have a video on this. I simply cover the meal with water and bring it to a boil then let it sit and rehydrate, usually in a pot cozy. I am not a big fan of eating out of bags for a number of reasons but if that is your thing look for a Mylar or 'boil-in bag'. I don't like carrying out wet garbage, bags can leak, and I really don't like the plastic taste they can give. But everyone has different preferences.
@@KevinOutdoors thanks Kevin. I ordered a stand up silicone bag with a seal bar and I’m going to try that to see how it works on trail.
So I guess all the meats dehydrate at the same rate as the rest of the meal?
How long would your trip have to be to vacuum your meals?
Thank you.
great idea never thought about that thank you i will give it a try
Have you thought about using the powder that turns fat and oils into a powder?
Good question, I haven't. I have seen it used on TV but I don't think it makes fats or oils last longer. I will have to do some research.
Could you keep these on a shelf?
You can. They should easily be good 6months to a year. Probably longer.
I didn't know you could do this. Thanks!
Thanks for watching, I'm glad you picked something up.
why did you say freezer at end of video? wouldnt the food last in backpack after its dried and sealed? wondering bcus we need alternative storage without use of a refrigerator, thanks for information
If you do a good job at removing fat, air and moisture the food should last a very long time after it is sealed. I throw the food in the freezer for added piece of mind.
Hello! What was the 1st ingredient that u put n the bowl before the dehydrated meal? I don’t think u said. Thank u
Thanks Joy. I describe each of the ingredients of the three meals that I demonstrate. Recipes for the other meals are in the comments section. If this doesn't answer your question please let me know.
Joy he measures out the meat first
Having issues with coconut milk. It's kinda greasy. Did you use low fat ? 14 grams of fat I'll be more careful next time.
Sorry Joe. I should have described that in the video. I have done that meal many times but I freeze it right away for longer storage and when I take it out I use it early in a trip (1-3 days) with no issues. But I don't think that particular meal is ideal for long storage when the canned coconut milk is used. I have recently discouvered dehydrated coconut milk and will be experimenting with that.
Just subd
Thanks, much appreciated!
There is a small step to understand the process of dehydrating and rehydrating:
Before you put any prepared stuff into your dehydrator, measure the weight of your ingredients very precisely.
Do the same thing after the dehydration process is done.
The difference of weight in between your before and after measurement is exactly the amount of water that you need later for rehydration being outdoors. Note it on every bag you fill.
The trick is not to use more or less water, but being precisely to reconstruct a perfect meal.
Let it sit closed in the calculated amount of hot water for 15 minutes. You can always add a SMALL amount of water if you think it`s too thick for your taste.
I recently dehydrated 10 eggs about L size giving me 100 grams of egg powder. I needed exactly 55 grams of warm water for 20 grams of egg powder for a perfect scrambled egg. Just double powder and water if you want a scrambled egg of 4.
Cheers from Germany, Bernd
Thanks, interesting process and makes complete sense. I find it's easy to just cover a meal with water in the pot. If it is a soup or stew then I add about an inch extra water. Regardless of pot shape or size this seems to work.
I just received a dehydrator as a gift and this advise will be very useful later, thanks!
What do you do to turn it into powder?
German precision, great!!
Once you have dehydrated it and put it in the package. Do you have to keep it in the freezer? I thought that once you dehydrated it, it didn't have to go in the freezer. If its sealed tight like that wouldn't it be good in the cupboards or in the pantry?
Love your delivery. No idle chitchat and you get straight to the point. You are clear, articulate and interesting. Thank you! Wonderful little helper, too!
Thanks so much!
I second this
So nice seeing a dad teach a daughter how to cook for hiking in the back country. Sweet memories. And that's how to start a family tradition loving the great outdoors.
Thanks, I appreciate the comment!
You know what stands out most to me, and is the coolest part?
You got your kid involved. That’s so damn wholesome and cool. Good on you
Thanks Phoa, she is almost 17 now but she had a lot of fun making that video with me.
@@KevinOutdoors amazing how quickly time flies. Wishing you and yours all the best, and a big thank you for the tips on dehydrating / rehydrating
@@iyetisnipe Thanks so much.
This was 5 years ago... I'm curious- has camping, prepping for camp inspired your Daughter or children to do the same? I have only seen this one video since I just got a dehydrator after being without for years, so you may still be making them and had updates. I think it was cool that you pulled her into the process! At that age the things Dads do with their kids can make a lifelong impact. Hope everything is well, thanks for taking the time to show us your approach to homemade "MRE's!"
LOVE IT. Enjoy seeing that you've got your child involved.
ALSO easy to follow and no extra talking. No one likes that. So the video was well done. Cant wait to show my husband.
Thanks Crystal, much appreciated!
I am curious, why do you store in the freezer? If it’s dehydrated can’t it go in the pantry? Thank you
These meals will last a long time of properly stored in a cool dark place. If you store them in a freezer they will last almost indefinitely.
If completely dehydrated you can measure out and put in a Mason jars and vaccum seal either food saver or use brake bleeder to suck all the oxygen out...It will save freezer room! I also vaccuum seal mylar bags/or food saver bags via weight, label and store in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid! Major space saver! Keep in a cool/dry place.=)
@@amyziesmer5189 z
Ok please take this comment comedically. Stop being so smart with excellent processes. And stop being such a good dad getting your daughter involved. I obviously am joking. Love your videos. You bring my meal game to a whole new level. Thanks for the video!
Thanks Andrew, much appreciated.
I've seen a lot of videos on Dehydrating, but no one ever tells you how to re-hydrate your food. Could you make a video on it please?
I'm getting a lot of requests for this so I guess I need to make a video. In the mean time check out my video titled "How Long will my Fuel Canister Last?" I show how to rehydrat a meal there. I also show this in some of my backpacking videos. Check out my Coastal Hiking Trail series I cook a meal or two in nearly every episode. Thanks for watching!
Will do. Thanks for the quick reply.
Coming to the discussion late. Question: is the meat dehydrated when raw or is it cooked before dehydration? And if when raw, when you rehydrate, is it cooked through properly?
You MUST cook the meat prior to dehydrating.
I noticed that as well. Hoping we see a future video. New subscriber here. Thank you for the info. I'm a fairly new prepper and homesteader so anything I can learn is awesome.
Kevin, I dehydrated ground turkey today!!! Thank you for the lesson. You are teaching us so much good stuff. :)
Great to hear Martin!
Useful info. Thanks for the video.
Thanks!
As a city girl who is becoming more of the outdoors type thanks to my significant other's influence, thank you for your straight forward presentation! It helps so much. I have to subscribe to this channel and learn more way to dehydrate food and make simple recipes. Love the Spanish rice! Great for a weekend camping trip with friends and family.
Thanks, I love to hear that people are having success with these meals.
The best dehydrating videos on you tube...👍
Thanks so much, this is now becoming an old video. I do my best. :)
Amazing video!! Love how you separated the meats and veggies, most I see doing them together and they come out chewy. How long should these meals last when dehydrated in the freezer/pantry (or on trail) when vacuum sealed and not vacuum sealed? Great video, thanks for the info!
Good question Lexi, it depends on how dry they are and how good a job you do of removing fat and keeping them out of the air. I would say benchmark easily 6 months. If you vacuum seal and keep them out of sunlight they can easily last a year or longer.
@@KevinOutdoors Wow thats great, thanks for the tips! Love your videos!
An excellent video. I agree on the concept of doing the meat separately from the veg & pasta/rice.
Thanks Barney. Much appreciated!
Do you really need to put it in the freezer? Isn't the point of dehydrating to preserve without refrigeration?
No you don't need to put them in the freezer but if you do they will last almost indefinitely. Without freezing they will normally last a year or longer.
If you don’t place them in the freezer what is the shelf life of your dehydrated food
Good question Ivory. It all depends on how well you remove the air, water and fat and if you keep it out of the sun. If you do a good job at all those things then I would say easily 6 months to a year.
Just what I was looking for. Meals with meat. I’ll probably sauté the spices with the onions instead of adding at the end to cut the heat for me. 👍👍👍
Thanks Karl!
I love this video.
Dehydrating foods is how native people and settlers saved food for winters.
Thanks Windigoking!
Be aware that dehydrated elbow macaroni can hold air whereas flat pastas do not. This is important when vacuum sealing the meals.
Excellent tip!!!
Thanks for posting. You've inspired me to break my dehydrator again as Mountainhouse meals are getting old.
Hey, glad to be a source of inspiration. Thanks!
THIS is EXACTLY what I needed to see! Thank you so much!
Can the dehydrated food be stored in Mylar food bags for long term storage?
Yes, absolutely.
Why in the freezer if it's been dehydrated? Isn't a cool, dark place enough to store it in?
A cool dark place will work pretty well. If you put your meals in the freezer they will last almost indefinately.
@@KevinOutdoors Thank you!
Wow I’m just learning how to dehydrate You have just opened up another door with doing these meals. Awesome video thank you
You are welcome! I am writing a dehydrator cookbook that will be out in 2020. Stay tuned!
just curious, why is it necessary to put the vacuum sealed dehydrated food in the freezer?
It isn't necessary but it means the meals will last almost indefinately.
Regardless of the length, your vids quickly get to the point. Thanks for all of the valuable info! I subbed after 1st video!
Awesome, thank you!
I know this is an old video, but I just made this recipe (with dehydrated seasoned tofu instead of meat for my vegan friend) and we enjoyed our soba up on Painswick Beacon here in the UK this past weekend. Thanks for inspiring me to start cooking for my dehydrator and making my outdoors experiences even better!
So glad these recipes are working for you!
I'm just getting into dehydrating and this has been a great easy to follow video. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Check out my book at www.Backcountry-Eats.com
Really helpful to a beginner, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this video, i tried the pre made foil packets and they are absolutely horrible, i never thought of dehydrating myself, or realised this was a more efficient way to carry food while hiking and camping, thanks for the solid advice
Thanks Michelle! Have fun on the trail!
Enjoyed this YT of yours alot. Question; at end of packaging complete meals you said you would store in freezer if not going out to backpack right away, did you misspeak when you said that?
No not at all. Dehydrated meals don't last forever. You will likely get a year or more shelf life out of them but if they are frozen they last a very long time.
Thank you. Hubby and I are really wanting to do more back woods camping but have found over the years that our gear just keeps getting more and more.
Time to go back to basics.
Hello from North Bay.
Thanks, glad this was helpful!
,Good topic, very informative,. Sadly your music is overpowering. Overall, 👍Thanks.
Noted
This is some really good information and appreciated. To be clear for my own understanding - so each 150g portion is for a single (one person) serving, not a single meal for the entire family, correct? Thank you.
Family size, if you are a family of crickets.......
Hey Kevin! Thanks for sharing this method! I'd never thought of dehydrating my own food. I travel by inflatable kayak and can carry more than backpacking but I want to take some extended backcountry trips. I've been hampered by all the wildfires here this summer. I do have one question about the dehydrator you use> I noticed in the Amazon description it takes 75 amps of power! That's a lot of draw. Do you need to use 220 or can it still work on a 110 circuit? Sorry about the perhaps stupid question but I am totally unfamiliar with the machinery! I look forward to your comments! Again, thanks for sharing your experience!🛶
It works fine with a regular 15A 110V circuit. The description I read indicates it pulls 500 Watts.
Hi Kevin I wanted to thank you for your recipes and instructions. My family and I just got back from a ten day hike on the La Cloche Trail in Killarney and we fed ourselves with your recipes. We never ate better in the outdoors. We especially enjoyed the Shepard’s Pie and the Spanish Chicken.
I also noticed in another video of yours that you hiked through Tonquin Valley in Alberta, my family and I will also will be doing the trail in July and I was wondering if customs make any issues when you are crossing the provincial border from Ontario to Alberta with food? Also whether you shipped your food separately or had it all in your bag when you took your flight?
Thanks Jack. I really like to hear comments like that. I am happy the meals worked out for you. No worries about taking food across provincial lines in Canada. We don't have any customs between provinces.
I presume you are coming from the U.S. both Canadian customs and U.S. customs (depending on your direction) don't like perishable foods, milk, eggs, fruit and raw meat are sometimes rejected at the border. When I first started backpacking south of the border (in the U.S.) I called ahead and asked and if the meals are cooked and dehydrated they don't get too worried.
Have a great time in the Tonquin Valley! It is a great place for backpacking!
Kevin Outdoors nice that makes it easy then :D Thanks again Kevin!
I was actually also wondering if you had any experience rehydrating food with a Jetboil and a pot cozy? I have recently been thinking of purchasing the Jetboil minimo
I have never used a Jetboil. The people who like them really like them. They look like too much 'extra stuff' to me and not as versatile. It seems like most of the systems come with one pot and one stove. I prefer to be able to use different pots depending if I am solo or in a group. Again, I haven't used them but I have seen a trend in experienced hikers who initially start with a Jetboil eventually go to a simpler stove.
Kevin Outdoors really well if they’re switching over to the standard pots that is a good indicator then. Thanks again Kevin!
That's a very straight forward demonstration. Thank you. (subscribed)
Thanks, these were some pretty early recipes, I have a lot more content related to dehydrating food and a cookbook Backcountry Eats.
I made a few of these meals and they were awesome after walking in the backcountry! Thanks again,, and more recipes please. God bless💖
Thanks much appreciated!
Hi Kevin. Just wondering how much these recipes make if you use 100 grams of the dehydrated base (I'm deducting the 50 g of dehydrated meat). Thanks!
Well 150g makes about 2 cups when rehydrated. I would scale that back 2 cups by 1/3. So I would guess 1 1/3 cups.
love to see someone work the scale like a pro!!
LOL - yep I pride myself on that ;)
Wow very informative thank you!
My pleasure!
Thanks for the video! Curious--is there a reason not to use the spices when cooking the veggies, etc?
Hi Allie, Yes, if you cook the spices and then dehydrate them you will lose a lot of the taste when it dehydrates. You really smell the aroma in the dehydration proces if you do. It works just fine but putting the spices in at the end seems to work better. Probably even better would be to add some spices at the begining and some after dehydration. Indian cuisine is like that, it gives more flavour notes from the same spice.
Kevin Outdoors I was also wondering if you ever portioned out seasoning packets separate for the meals. I was just thinking it might allow you to refresh/replace the seasonings only since they may lose flavor faster than some of your meals if you are storing them for long periods of time. I’m thinking about doing some backpacking meals which I would probably eat pretty quickly but if preparing emergency meals I might separate it. What are your thoughts?
Wonderful! Thank you. I can not do dairy. Any suggestions/substitutions? I guess I will just have to skip it?
I generally don't do dairy in any of my meals. Occasionally I will dehydrate some 2% yoghurt or cottage cheese but anything with a higher fat content doesn't dehydrate well.
Its so awesome to see a kid learning how to make whole food and learn some skills i wish I'd learned as a child
Thanks, She has fun doing stuff with her dad.
agreed
I wonder why my dehydrators take more like 24hrs guess I have to much humidity where I live but thanks for this vid, I am looking for meals I can dehydrate and vacuum seal in bags for those days I just don’t feel like cooking.
The humidity and the moisture content of the food, as well as how crowded your dehydrator are can greatly alter the drying times.
Kevin, very nice video. Thank you. I have always been interested in how to put the meals together. Just one critic... I really wish you had shown the whole process of adding the water and how much to add. Then maybe allow your daughter to tell us how it tasted. I not only want to learn this for long term SHTF storage, but also to be able to prep better lunches & dinners for my husband and son to take to work. They are very picky eaters.
Thanks Suzy, fair comment and good suggestion about having my daughter do a taste test. It gives me some ideas of videos to make over the winter months. In the meantime check out some of my camping videos. In particular I make a lot of food in the 'Coastal Hiking Trail of Lake Superior Provincial Park' series. I actually thought I may have showed too much trail cooking and might bore the audience :)
Another good dehydrating food channel is 'Babblefish5' he doesn't' seem very active these days but his method of cooking is similar to mine. He does one meal episodes and his vids are of high quality. I could copy his style and make a lot of videos but I figure if somebody has it right why copy. Instead my goal was to demonstrate the concept rather than illustrate individual recipes.
But you got me thinking - I may come up with something. Thanks!
Really helpful explanation and video. Can you tell us which model dehydrator you have? And how well and how many trays it can handle especially on very wet food like sauces and meats? Was reading some Amazon reviews that the newcomer models performed poorly with extra trays so capacity was limited and extra trays were wasted. I am also looking at Costco’s aroma brand for $140 US; their generous refund policy makes it compelling but I prefer to keep machine cost down. Thank you!
Hi Angel, I have a link to the dehydrator I have in the description. I have a Nesco and am very happy with it. I believe it can handle 12 trays total. Although the bottom trays in a 12 tray stack take longer it still performs reasonably well when full.
QUESTION: If everything is dehydrated, why are you placing sealed meals in the freezer? Aren't they shelf stable, dehydrated and vacuumed sealed?
Thanks for the question. Dehydrated food will last a very long time on its own. Likely a year or more but nothing lasts forever. I throw it in the freezer because 1) I have the space and 2) peace of mind. My meals may be in there for a year or two before I decide to go camping on short notice.
Thank you for the speedy response, it was greatly appreciated.
Susann Minall I believe it's because when you add egg, fats, real meat, or milk products that it lowers the shelf life. Everything lasts longer in the freezer. ;) It can be tricky for this reason to make your own mixes. Just as long as you know your ingredients shelf life then it works great!
We know that beef jerky sealed correctly will last 1-2 years on the shelf. Even canned meat doesn't last longer then that. The only way to extend this more is to use freeze dried meats, but they are very expensive.
According to this website I found..."Keep dehydrated meats in an unrefrigerated area for no more than two weeks, the National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends. After that, place the jars in the freezer or refrigerator for use up to one year after dehydrating." Reference: www.livestrong.com/article/537106-how-to-grill-ground-deer-sausage/
I suggest using low fat content, a long term egg substitute like gelatin, no dairy, and freeze dried meats to have dehydrated meals last up to 40 years. This would be the longest shelf life possible if that's what you wanted or needed for your storage purposes. Otherwise, Rotating, is necessary. ;)
Hi! Thank's for Your excellent videos! ONE question that nobody in Sweden where I live can give a good answer to is just what You talked about here: If I do everything correctly, put all the "bone-dry" things together, and vacuum seal them You say that they keep for several months, sometimes up to a year. Put them in a freezer and they last for several (two?) years. So my question is: If I use this method of preparing food ("prepping"), what would YOU think about how often it is time to recycle them, to use them and Exchange them with new ones…? You know what You are doing, but people in Sweden, even Heavy Preppers, don't - and instead they use freeze dried food with "best Before" date on them. That is something we can't do in my family due to allergy and so on that get us really sick). Best regards to You, and hope for Your thoughts in this matter! Christer from Sweden
Huh. Do you ever find that the trays on the bottom aren't fully dried? I'm just thinking thats a lot if trays. I've seen others prepare fewer trays (different items, mind you) and switch their order half way through...
Great video, though! Didn't think of dehydrating meals as a 'diy' thing!
Hi Chris, I do check on the food when it is in the dehydrator every few hours. It is important to stir the food around and to rotate the trays. Thanks for watching!
This was great
I have been wanting to learn how to make meals and I was afraid to try it
Now I will try it thanks for sharing
One question do you know how long it last after you vacuum seal it ?
Hi Mayra, vacuum sealing will definitely extend the shelf life of the meal. How long all depends on how dry your meal is and how much fat you have removed. If you do a good job, easily a year or more.
This is very useful information. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. I will put it to good use.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you that was very informative, especially giving the quantities of dried ingredience.
Glad it was helpful!
I was very impressed, but why do you freeze them? My whole idea of dehydration is so I don't have to use my freezer? I have only ever sun dried fruit and vegetables and stored them in sealed plastic bags or glass jars out of the fridge or freezer with no spoilage. I came across this great video, but freezing defeats my purpose unfortunately, is it necessary?👍👍
My purpose for dehydrating food is for backcountry camping. I want to reduce the weight and create a longer shelf life. Any dehydrated meal won't last forever but if you freeze them they will last almost forever.
Is there an advantage to adding spices at the end (after everything is dehydrated)? If u sauté onions and simmer w tomatoe sauce, I would intuitively add my seasoning at this stage too, and just let it all dehydrate in the machine. I like to think this would submerge the flavors into the meal a lot better? Also; Is there a reason you dont season any of the meats after cooking? I am trying to learn, waiting for my first ever dehydrator to arrive in the mail, aiming to keep blunders to a minimum, haha. Great video btw! Would love any heads up! Take care.
Great question, if you add spices early they meld better in the dish but they lose flavor in the dehydration. If you add them after dehydration they stay strong but don't meld and cook into the meal. So, if I add the spices early I usually add 1.5X the normal amount. If I add them later I just use a normal amount. Sometimes I do a bit of both. It depends on the type of dish I am making, if it is a chili, stew or pasta sauce that would normally simmer a longtime to develop flavours I will tend to add the spices early. if it is something else that doesn't normally simmer I add the spices at the end after dehydration.
This look so good.I will try these recipe.I am going to buy a food dehydrator .I will be making some meals for my son and daughter great for college kids. also for shut in . Thanks so much . I was going to only make fruits but now I will be doing much much more like also making to give as gifts .THANKS. Also your Daughter did a good job.
Thanks Beulah - I appreciate the comments.
this may sound like a silly question but .... I noticed the size of the gaps in the trays.
If you were doing, for example, a rice meal of some form .. wouldn't the rice fall between the gaps onto the trays below once the food dries and shrinks?
Thanks David, this is an older video and back then I was less careful at explaining some of these details. For all of these meals I dehydrate the food on fruit roll trays on top of the normal dehydrator rack. The dehydrator rack work fine for garden produce and jerky but for camping meals that tend towards soups, chowders, rice dishes and stews fruit roll trays are essential.
Hello there and thank you 5 years later for sharing this excellent information. I was curious if you could tell me which dehydrating and which vacuum sealing machines you would recommend today and why?
Hi Steve. In this (old) video I use a Nesco dehydrator. I know also have an Excalibur which is arguably a slightly better dehydrator but is much more expensive. IMO the Nesco is the best value and you can get handy fruit roll trays like I use here. I have a simple and relatively cheap FoodSaver vacuum sealer. It works fine.
You mentioned putting it in your freezer. Is this necessary? If I use mylar and oxygen absorbers how long will something like this last? I'm totally new to this.
No it isn't necessary but it does prolong the life of the meals. Properly sealed the meals should last 6 months to more than a year. In the freezer they will last years and years.
Kevin i mind you saying in a video about your cook book. Have you got it published or can i buy a on line copy. I like your simple potion sizes. Im no stick insect and like my food. Your book will help many people as it has me. I have successfully done all the meals in this video and they are firm favourites. Cheers from Scotland
Thanks Alan, unfortunately the book isn't finished yet. The draft is done and I am working on photos right now. I will keep viewers posted. Thanks!
Why would you use dairy substitute products? Wouldn't it be possible to use regular cream or milk and just dehydrate that with the rest of the meal? Sure, raw egg would be a problem, because it may not get hot enough while rehydrating...but milk?
Hi Johannes, the fat in dairy products can go rancid. I have been having good luck dehydrating 1% cottage cheese but I certainly wouldn't try cream or even 2% milk. Substitutes are more stable and safer. The last thing you want to do is get sick in the backcountry.
Excellent description sir 👍. A small request to you sir. Which packing machine is that? Please tell me the details sir.
Hi Sujatha, that is a vacuum sealer made by Food Saver.
I'm curious why you store in the freezer. I'm wanting to dehydrate so I won't be reliant on electricity for food preservation.
Dehydrated meals don't last forever but they do last almost forever if you store them in the freezer. If you don't use a freezer then you want to do a really good job of removing water and fat. For maximum longevity use desiccant packs and vacuum seal, and store in a cool dry place.
Cheers for the instructions mate. Sick of buying the pre made ones. Most appreciated o7
Thanks Aaron. I am sure you will find my other dehydrating videos and I even have a book that might interest you. www.Backcountry-Eats.com
Well done but sooo much work! You can’t just make a dish with spices & dry it?? What happens?
Um, that is sorta what I did.
@KevinOutdoors
Do you need to keep the veg ones frozen too? Or will an oxygen eater packet suffice?
I do but it isn't absolutely necessary. An 02 absorber in a vacuum sealed bag should last up to a year an likely much more.
Total noob in dehydrating.
Can you dehydrate curry or foods with a decent amount of sauce.
I asked this question and it was your 1st item.
Absolutely, you will want to use parchment paper on your racks or 'fruit roll' sheets like I use.
Your demonstration is so easy to follow just one question I have. If it's been dehydrated and then vacuum sealed why does it then go in the freezer till ready to use. Sorry if I missed that bit.
Great question. They don't need to be frozen. Dehydrated food doesn't last forever but if you do a good job of removing fat and moisture it should last a long time if stored properly. If you keep it in an airtight container and in a cool dark place these meals should easily last 6 months and likely a year or longer. If they are stored in the freezer they keep worry free for much much longer. I make these meals for backcountry tripping. I make them during the winter and in the summer months I take them out of the freezer and use them on trips that are 2 weeks or more without refrigeration.
How do you dry your chicken? Or do you buy it? I've had several people say dehydrated chicken at home isn't very good
HI Erika, I have a video showing my method. I like to use a pressure cooker to cook the chicken, I find that gives the best results. Alternatively canned chicken meat also works or long and slow cooking.
Can you add the (regular) spices with your rice/pasta when you are dehydrating instead of adding freeze dried spices with the meat at the end? They cost more
You sure can. If I am adding spices to a meal before dehydration I usually use 1.5x the regular amount. Some of the taste of the spices is lost in the dehydration. I do this especially for meals like chili and stews that taste better after simmering with spices a long time.
Do I have to use the little packets of oxygen absorbers when I shrink wrap the dried food? Or moisture absorbers? Whatever those little packets are that some people say to use and sell?
No those aren't necessary. They will help the food last longer if you use those and vacuum seal the meals. But I would only do that if I was going on a very long trip or if I was mailing my meals away to be picked up months later.
Wow what a very interesting video thank you so much will be making some of those thank you again from the UK
Thanks Edna, You are so welcome!
Seems a lot cheaper than getting one of those $4,000-$5,000 freeze dryers...
Yes, a lot cheaper. It is a bit exciting that freeze dryers are now available for home use even if it is at that high price. But, I think if anyone buys a home freeze dryer could get into a cottage business of dehydrating meals for others. I've thought about it many times but I wouldn't want to leave my day job.
This looks so beautiful, tasty and yummy... are you doing this in winter and get ready for summer ?
Hi Ravi, This is a fairly old video but yes I often make dehydrated meals at this time of year so that I am ready for tripping season.
Thanks, do you have a video where you show the rehydrating process and what they look like after?
I do... ua-cam.com/video/csUDPFOmm4A/v-deo.html. And I have a number of other videos on the subject of dehydrated meals. Even a book Backcountry Eats. www.Backcountry-Eats.com
i like this because you can adjust salt. I have no idea why companies put so much salt in their meals. I'm not trying to have a heart attack on the trail where help is hours away.
Absolutely, when you make your own you are in complete control.
Great video but I have one issue. Dehydrating is a way to preserve food so why are you freezing dehydrated food???
Dehydration only extends the shelf life. These meals will easily last 6 months and probably more than a year but if I but them in the freezer they will last almost indefinitely. Good question.
Hi there - when you are out on trail, how much water do you need to add to these meals to bring them to life? Thanks!!
Great question, this video has all the answers. ua-cam.com/video/csUDPFOmm4A/v-deo.html
Kevin can these meals be kept in a sealed glass jar with a metal lid long-term instead of being kept in the fridge/freezer?
They can. They won't last forever but if you keep them in a cool dark place and you remove fat and water they should easily last 6 months and likely more than a year.
In place of coconut milk you can use MCT or coconut cream powder. Works great.
Yes, these are old recipes and I have since moved on to coconut powder.
Can replace cream of chicken concentrate with MCT powder, corn starch and powdered chicken base
I'm not sure what MCT powder is but yes you can make this without the canned soup. These were some of my early recipes. Chicken stock with a little flour cooked into it will probably work just as well as cornstarch.
You should not put it in the freezer because this can introduce moisture back into the package, instead place an o2 packet before sealing then place into a plastic container where light can't enter.
Thanks Robert, I if the bag is sealed there shouldn't be anyway for moisture to enter. I have been doing this for 20+ years and have never had an issue. O2 packets do work great.
How do you dehydrate without a large utility bill ? My air fryer uses a ton of electricity.
I don't have a terrible electricity bill, it is just a heater and a fan. I should do a video on electricity consumption of dehydrators.
As a vegetarian, I don't need to worry about keeping meat separate... ;-)
Then you are all set! Good luck!
So the juice from the tomato's wont drip.. I am so nee to this just got mine today
Good luck!