Frequently Asked Camping Food Questions
Q: How do the leading camping food
brands compare?
Q: What's the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated food?
Q: What are the best backpacking food products?
Which should I choose?
Q: What's the shelf life of the
entrees?
Q: What's the fresh to dry weight ratios of dried fruits and vegetables?
A:
How do the leading camping food brands compare?
Each of the manufacturers we represent provide food ideal for your
weekend backpacking trip or much longer expeditions. The table below highlights some differences that may lead you to one brand over another.
Our customers often choose products from multiple manufacturers when
outfitting their trips.
BRAND |
OVERVIEW |
DRYING
METHOD |
PACKAGING |
SERVING
SIZE |
SHELF
LIFE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
AlpineAire
|
Large selection of quick-prep entrees plus bulk ingredient
pouches |
Blend
of freeze-dried/ dehydrated ingredients |
Laminated polyester, foil and polyethylene stand-up pouch
with resealable zip closure/ oxygen absorber |
10 oz., 250-350 calories |
3 - 7 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Backpacker's
Pantry
|
Selection of ethnic cuisine alongside classic entrees.
"Performance products" with added natural vitamin supplement. |
Blend
of freeze-dried/ dehydrated ingredients |
Laminated polyester, foil and polyethylene stand-up pouch
with resealable zip closure/ oxygen absorber |
12-14 oz.,
300-500 calories |
3 - 7 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Camp 'n Trail
|
Rice and bean side-dishes |
Blend
of freeze-dried/ dehydrated ingredients |
Laminated polyester and paper pouch |
6 oz., 130-220 calories |
3 - 5 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cache
Lake
|
Gourmet pan breads, salads and soups
in compact lightweight packaging |
Dehydrated |
Light-weight bag. Does not hold
boiling water. |
15-18
oz. |
1 - 2 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cache
Lake's Outfitter's Choice
|
New to the market in '07, classic American entrees all require some cooking |
Dehydrated |
Light-weight packaging. Does not hold boiling water. |
12-15
oz. |
2+ years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enertia
Trail Food
|
Good
taste, high calories in a compact package |
Dehydrated |
Clear vacuum packed stand-up with zip closure |
16 oz. (soupy), 400 calories |
1+ year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MaryJanesFarm
|
All organic, vegetarian meals with ethnic flair |
Dehydrated |
Burnable, stand-up non-aluminum pouch |
8 oz., 250-300 calories |
2 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mountain
House
|
Variety of fully cooked, freeze-dried entrees |
Freeze-dried |
Laminated polyester, foil and polyethylene stand-up pouch
with resealable zip closure/ oxygen absorber |
10 oz., 250-350 calories |
7 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mountain
House Pro-Pak
|
Vacuum packed classic freeze-dried entrees |
Freeze-dried |
Vacuum packed, laminated polyester, foil and polyethylene
stand-up pouch with resealable zip closure |
16 oz., 450-550 calories |
7 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural
High
|
All natural, gourmet brand. No artificial ingredients |
Blend
of freeze-dried/ dehydrated ingredients |
Laminated polyester, foil and polyethylene stand-up pouch
with resealable zip closure/ oxygen absorber |
10 oz., 250-400 calories |
3+ years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richmoor
|
Old-fashioned style and family-oriented products |
Blend
of freeze-dried/ dehydrated ingredients |
Laminated polyester, foil and polyethylene pouch |
10 oz., 250-400 calories |
3+ years |
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A:
What's the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated food?
Freeze-drying: Food is rapidly frozen then
placed in a strong vacuum. 98 percent of moisture in the food is removed as vapor through
sublimation. Freeze-drying uses low heat and causes little damage to the
tissue, taste or aroma. Products easily reconstitute and more
closely resemble the taste and texture of the pre-dried food. The process is time consuming and
requires large, expensive machinery.
Dehydration: Heat is applied to a food, removing
the moisture through evaporation. This is the preferred drying method for
some foods, including onions, peppers and tomatoes. Dehydration is a lower
cost method and results in a more compact product.
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A: What are the best backpacking food products?
Which should I choose?
There is no one best choice for backpacking food
brands. We find that customers have favorites from each of the leading
brands. We encourage visitors to write reviews for products they've
tested in the field. You can find a list of the "5 Star"
selections on this
page.
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A:
What's the shelf life of the entrees?
Each product is "best by" date coded --
generally 3 or more years from date of manufacture. See brand variations in the
above table. Although we hold an inventory, our sales volume and inventory
rotation procedures ensure you have the freshest possible product. Expected
shelf life is set by the manufacturer and is based on the ingredients, drying
method and packaging. Entrees including shrimp, nuts or dairy products
have a shorter shelf life. Vegetables, fruits, meat, grains and beans can
last significantly beyond the typical three years.
MaryJanesFarm comments: We use the term “Freshest if Used By” for our products because after 2 years they will lose nutritional value but at different rates depending on the foods. The foods with higher fat contents are more likely to go bad before the foods with lower fat contents. The foods that are 100% dried herbs, legumes and other spices are most likely to last for much longer.
Oxygen, moisture, light and heat are food's
enemies. Good packaging controls the first three factors. Storing
your packaged food in a cool pantry will further extend it's life. In the
freezer, packaged dried food can last decades!
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A:
What's the fresh to dry weight ratios of dried fruits and vegetables?
Apples 10:1
Bananas 5:1
Blueberries 8:1
Cherries 9:1
Cranberries 10:1
Fruit Munchies 8:1
Fruit Snacks 4:1
Mango 8:1
Peaches 10:1
Persimmons 5:1
Pineapple 7:1
Raspberries 8:1
Strawberries 10:1
Strawberries 'n Bananas 7:1
Corn 4:1
Peas 4:1
Soy Nuts 2:1
Tomatoes 20:1
Veggies 5:1
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