My new favorite hiking food store is Walmart. Within the last week I bought...powdered milk, butter flakes, powdered peanut butter, pan cake mix, nuts, a plastic crate of a dozen eggs for $1.88, a Luci solar light for $14.00, plus the usual tuna packets, Kron pasta packets, etc. The ent time you need to load up for a hike check out a Super Walmart and be surprised with all the dry food you might need.
I'm so happy a plastic egg saver carton actually exists! Tip: coating an egg with mineral oil mimics the egg coming out of the chicken and preserves it for up to two years.
Another idea is to take Pasta Roni meals, trash the box and move the meal to a ziplock bag. I always bring the powdered milk too for coffee and adding to a Knorr or Pasta Roni meal. Bring along a Chobani yougurt cup ( and a full one for a first day snack) and it is exactly one cup for measuring or something to mix your powdered milk with. Another tip is to make a dry cereal mix at home with nuts crasins, etc, bag it and you got a custom breakfast. Love all your tips as are good ideas. I’m a wilderness backpacker and always looking for great new ideas. Thanks and will subscribe!
I've been using Mountain House for my backpacking trips and they are expensive. I'm gonna shop at the dollar store for my pasta and start dehydrating some meals to save money. Thanks for the ideas. Good video!!
Lots of good information here, both in the video and the comments. My 65 year-old knees won't let me backpack the way I used to and force me to be a fanatic about weight. I always carry a bunch of jerky, both as a standalone snack and as flavoring for other stuff I happen to have. I also like to carry some of the real bacon bits, because what doesn't taste better with bacon? Thanks to all of you!
Single serving, 2.5oz packs of Spam are awesome. Taste great on flatbread for lunch or with any of those meals you do. I get em for a dollar at local CVS.
I carried eggs inside my British army mess tins for years (if you're in a hotter climate maybe bury them in your pack to keep sunlight/temperature down) and never had any problems, fantastic on that first morning when you need that little boost to get you going. People just used to stick cans of meat/vegetables and instant potatoes, rice or pasta in there, you were either heading towards some sort of stew/soup thing or a globby potato mess kind of thing, I think I prefer a chilli myself! In the UK all cider contains alcohol so you saying ''I like a cider in the morning'' sounds a little like ''I like a bourbon on the rocks in the morning'' It did confuse me the first time I heard it.
great video pal - can never understand the guys who feast on Mountainhouse food at he price they are. A little imagination can turn basics into really good on the trail food. regards from the uk
alan kelsall Mountain house isn't too bad if you can get the #10 cans nad split them up between a few people. Otherwise it is pretty ridiculous for the price.
if I could add one item with these you have is to melt 2 sticks of butter and skim the fat clouds to make GEE. it does not need refrideration and works well with cooking and baking on the trail. I put mine in an empty mustard bottle, just squeeze and you have butter with most of the bad fats gone.
+1 for the ghee suggestion. Its awesome to have in the backcountry. You can buy it pre-made as well if you don't want to make your own. Usually in the organic section of supermarket or Indian foods specialty grocers.
Careful with the eggs. They are commercially washed and that cleans a natural cover that keeps oxygen from the eggs. It is true that they were not refrigerated in the golden days, but they were not washed like they are now.
broadwayFan28 I would have never thought of that! You might just have saved me an my family from getting food poisoning or salmonella 30 miles in the forest on a snowy night . Thank you.
Eggs will last as long as you carry them at 2 or 3 eaten daily. I have been taking them camping since I was a kid with no ill effects. The egg carrier that my mom had looked the same as that cute little one. I always start an outing with fresh and hardboiled eggs. They never make it to the third day anyway. That's why I pack them in cardboard that I use for firestarter when the eggs are gone. Dropping some eggshell into a pot of camp coffee will make the grounds drop to the bottom of the pot.
I did something like this on my most recent short trip..... $15 for 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners....and i had actual Chicken. Can't do this on longer trips but those Knorr Sides, and Idahoan Potatoes are AWESOME for backpacking. only $1, on trips where you don't need a lot of calories you can split them in half and they're MORE than enough if you've got some sort of entree protein. (If you are really good at fishing and it's the right season, you don't have to pack any proteins) I've begun planning and preparing for AT thru-hiking and i'm going to try to incorporate this type of stuff into my food picks. Might weigh a little more than Mountain House but it will definitely be more calories and slightly better nutrition. Nice little video, I didn't think about those premade soup mixes..... Those would be good for the colder months, February or March and into Spring time hiking the AT....good way to warm up + have a full belly
If you're sick of oatmeal for breakfast... mix minute rice, milk powder, cinnamon, brown sugar (or maple flakes if you can find them) and raisins. Add hot water for instant rice pudding for breakfast. You could also add that apple drink to your oatmeal for a change. Also, for the potatoes and knorr sides... ghee (clarified butter) lasts well without refrigeration and gives that buttery taste. Nice suggestions in this video. Thanks.
Nice video, good inspiration, looks very similar to my setup. Subbed and liked. Eggs can last for a long time without a fridge, but I heard somewhere that the reason they started use fridge is, that the eggs are treated in factories, and the treatment "destroys" the natural protection the egg has, and therefore need fridge. But if you get them straight from a farm, no problem. Here in Thailand they drive around with them on open trucks in direct sunlight.
Outstanding review! I've been looking for low cost alternatives to the commercial freeze dried camping foods that are more expensive and usually in two or more servings. Thanks for the ideas!
I really like to bring no-drain pouches of lemon-pepper flavored tuna. Hard salami and summer sausages will last for several days, as will string cheese snacks. For breakfast, I have some portioned ziploc bags with GrapeNuts, dried milk and raisins -- just add water & a spoon to eat! Dried fruit leather and Turkish dried apricots are great for snacking on the trail. I don't think most produce is worth the water weight in my backpack but I will bring a few fresh sugar snap pea pods, grape tomatoes, and baby carrots just because I love the crunch and healthy taste. Single-serve cups of peanut butter are handy for spreading on whole wheat tortillas.
+NampaHiker A couple of items I like to bring that are very light weight but add good calories and protein; powdered milk and jerkey (beef and turkey).I put the powdered milk in the oatmeal. It ups the protein and calories and makes the oatmeal creamier too. Addiing dried cranberries and blueberries is also nice. Yu can also just add water to the milk to drink obviously.I add jerkey to Cup of Noodles (or Ramen). When your pour in the boiling water, the jerkey rehydrates and softens. It adds significant protein to the noodles and really tastes very, very good. Jerkey is also a nice trail snack while you're hiking.If you've got a dehydrater, making jerkey is cheap-cheap. Thin sliced London broil marinated/soaked in soy sauce is a simple and good one. Add black pepper or crushed red pepper (free from pizza orders) if you want peppered or hot spiced jerkey.
Tuna or sardines and crackers is one I have a lot. Also for the first night I'll bring something good that wouldn't keep longer. Last trip I put a couple of frozen hot dogs and buns in the pack for an easy first night dinner. I don't normally eat hot dogs very often but they sure were good over the fire!
If you get sick of oatmeal for breakfast you can make up an easy rice pudding mix with minute rice, brown sugar (or maple flakes), milk powder, raisins and cinnamon. Just add boiling water and cozy it for a bit. If you want healthier you can get brown minute rice but you may need to actually simmer it for a bit before cozying, so you'll have a pot to clean.
FlashGeiger This has been my favorite backpacking breakfast. If you get tired of raisins, you can add other dehydrated fruits like dates, blueberries, or cranberries. Sometimes I add a few chopped nuts too.
Most people don't seem to know that you can get WHOLE powdered milk at most stores in the Hispanic section. It's called Nido, and goes great in coffee, Knor (when calls for milk), oatmeal, or by itself as a hot or cold drink. Also, the cold instant puddings need milk to thicken, and it works great there too. My wife makes a mean granola that I put in a ziplock with Nido. Just add hot or cold water for breakfast.
Thanks for the video. I too am based in Nampa! My daughters and I are getting into backpacking and always looking for a way to stretch the food dollars. Maybe we'll see you on the trail!
South Africans make a dried meat called biltong. Similar to jerky, but much more flavorful as they make it out of brisket. If you can find a S. African store, highly recommend it for backpacking.
Boil the eggs before you go. Apples - suppress hunger and full of vitamins. I carry an emergency pack of chocolate covered raisins. They're like rocket fuel if you bonk.
Good video. Thanks for the good ideas. With sons in scouts we find ourselves out on the trail quite often. I have many of those items in my camp pantry already but the Carnation powered milk is a great idea. Didn't think of that. Just a little bit in a small baggie will do. Also, Tyson makes small bags of pre-cooked chicken pieces that are great to add to soup (Ramen, soup packets, etc) as well as to instant stuffing or the Idahoan potatoes. And of course those Idahoan potatoes are awesome... many flavors to choose from and simple to make.
Thank you for posting this! I’ve been trying to find food that I can keep I. My pack long-term, to have available for spontaneous bush-craft or camping trips. Some of what you mentioned are foods that others have suggested. So, it’s nice to confirm those choices. I bought a military style 3 day assault pack for bush-craft/camping trips. So, I realize I need to pack smaller packages than what most people would consider. I’m not in the military, I just like the space and durability of the packs.
The Knor pasta sides instructions say to add 1/2 cup of milk and 1 1/2 cups of water. I've found most dehydrated milks are 1/3 a cup of mix to one cup of water. So, this is 1/6 a cup of mix. This is about 4 teaspoons or 2 tablespoons of mix. I've also found if you add 2 cups of water and the mix, it's a little too much water. I like about 1 3/4 to 2 cups of water in my pot and then I add the 4 teaspoons of milk mix and the pasta sides all together before it boils. I also like to carry a little bottle of olive oil or rendered pigs fat (bacon grease that I've rendered into a pure lard, doesn't go bad that way). I'll add a teaspoon of one of these fats. It adds big calories from fat instead of more carbs. I would add dehydrated fruit to the choices for on-the-move energy foods. A small jar of Nutella that you could spread on to the fajitas for quick morning food would work. I know a lot of the more health conscious hikers are dehydrating veggies and making their own soup/stew mixes to get more vegetables in their diets. Summer sausages don't need refrigeration and they are a good supplement to add to cooked rice for protein and fats. Just some ideas.
Sean M I take my Knorr pasta sides and repackage them into ziplock bags, adding the powdered milk right into the bag. That way, it is all ready to go when it comes time to cook and I don't need to carry an extra packet of powdered milk.
Thia Anderson Funny you say this. I was just watching a different vid and the guy mentioned repackaging in zip locks to get the size down. It's a good idea.
Take with a few packs of "Cup a Soup" (I am not familiar with the American term; perhaps you know the brand Maggi?); they are instant soup mixes, weighing next to nothing, and simply require boiling water. Nutritionally perhaps insignificant; but added to anything else (be it a simple starch of any sorts; say rice or beans or mashed potatoes for instance or a stew), it adds tremendous flavour. And it comes in a multitude of varieties: chicken, beef, vegetable, mushroom, french onion, garlic, teriyaki chicken, and the list goes on....... The cost is minuscule too.
If you are going to catch fish you should look for Betty Crocker hash browns(I think they are called something else now)Back in the good old days a packet was $.88 cents.Make a great meal with some fish..
i get a product called (ova-easy) dehydrated eggs..5$ for a package equal to 12 eggs ..weighs 6 ounces..makes great breakfast burritos paired with salsa packet an some cheese..
you can just rub the eggs with mineral oil all over the shells, that will allow them to stay relatively fresh safe for eating throughout your camping trip without refrigerating
eggs last for weeks unrefridgerated but as soon as you do refrigerate them they need to stay there but can last for months, salted butter will last for a few weeks as well. I dry my own veg and chicken roll to add to pasta meals along with NIDO dried whole milk. put in packet before hike with some butter, smooth oats, NIDO and some sugar makes a porridge alternative delicious cold.
Fantastic Foods refried beans are better than the canned stuff. I even use them at home now. For one person, 1/2 pack of beans, 3/4 cup boiling water, 2 Tbsp oil, 2 ounces of cheddar, and finish with 2 ounces of corn chips with taco sauce to taste makes an awesome hot meal - though a little high in calories if not packing. You can wrap it in a tortilla for even more calories. Nido is an excellent base for breakfast. I premix it with 2 ounces vanilla protein powder and mix with 8 ounces of water on the trail in one of my water bottles for a 340 calorie, 30+ grams of protein breakfast. Add in a granola bar or a Snickers bar and you have a really good start to your day that takes next to no time to prepare. I also sometimes make a cup of coffee and add a little of my vanilla protein shake to make it oh so much better. Chocolate protein powder would work well too of course.
i love these videos and i am taking a train ride cross counrty this year. These meals will save me money too. But i will still buy the regular meals. Thanks for the tips here.
Great tips! Thank you! Here are a few of mine of you don't mind the comments. I bring summer sausage as a food luxury. I can add it to raman, and ill try it with some of those Knorr products you mention, sounds great! I like a hot breakfast and I'm tired of oatmeal. Last trip out I brought instant grits. I added butter, and chease that comes in the little wax packets. Plus a packet of parmigian that comes with pizza delivery. It was awsome. A little difficult cleaning the cheese out of the pot. I love eggs with grits so I may have to try your idea on bringing eggs. Again thanks for the tips.
They call me Two Packs - I’ve been reusing a Packit Gourmet bag to hydrate food for past two years. Precook some bulk sausage and freeze it. Pour 2 packs of grits, your Parmesan cheese, precooked sausage or bacon bits into the bag. Add hot water, let rehydrate in reflectix bag. Mighty Fine.
I like your list. Similar to my own. I also carry Energen-C drink mix packets and dried seaweed, which is cheap.. I just munch on rhat. Lots of iron and makes up for fewer veggies on-trail. Instant miso soup also is high protien and you can crumble the dried seaweed in (same stuff used in sushi rolls). I spend for only one thing in expensive trail food: freeze dried ice cream for a treat, LOL. I like the nuts and berries trail mixes offered at Trader Joe's as well. If you are traveling with a group and main resupply boxes ahead, you can go to a restaurant supply store for packets of peanut butter and jelly for your tortillas. Less heavy than PB&J jars
hi. Just subscribed, one Idaho hiker to another. Just getting back into the camping thing after a 15 year absence. I've been doing mainly car camping which means a lot of "real" food, but I'm starting to think about what kind of stuff I will take on my first back packing trip early next year.
Spam in a pouch, tuna in a pouch, granola bars, instant coffee, instant creamer, hot cocoa mix, instant potatoes broken down into smaller packets, cup-o-soup, ramen, instant oatmeal, peanut butter packets, trail mix, drink powders w/ electrolytes. When I'm not so worried about weight, I'll bring a steak (frozen, thawing throughout the day), eggs (heavy for the # of calories), and sardines/kippers (because I'll need to pack that can back out). I really like the instant stuffing idea. kicking myself for never thinking of that before.
Instead of Romen Noodles in the package, try the noodles in the bowls instead, you can usually find them next to the Romen. They come with a seasoning packet, dehydrated meat packet and a dehydrated veggie packet. Only 76 cents at Walmart and equals about 2 packs of Romen Noodles so it is a larger heartier meal with meat and veggies :)
Brenda Odom Not to mention tastes 100 times better than the maruchan ramen. Cut up some beef jerky and add some hot sauce to your liking, and mmm. =) This coming from someone who lived off that Ramen stuff for a while.
I also use the noodles in cream sauce. You can buy the packaged chicken or tuna BUT you can also buy canned meats like chicken,beef, spam, or whatever and use your handy vacuum packing machine and loose the can. Works great!
I love the knorr meals. I like to add dehydrated chicken or dehydrated hamburger into them as well. With the ramen I love to add dehydrated vegetables and diced up jerkey into it. Great stuff thanks for sharing. I dehydrate lots of my own foods or break them down into smaller vacuum sealed packs to reduce trash I take in with me. On a overnight or even 2 day trip I dont pay attention to calories, lightweight and easy to prepare is what im after. Anything longer then that then I would start to be concerned about calorie intake.
Powdered butter and cheese are good to take along, too. Sometimes I'll take squeeze margarine on my longer treks. You can also take; Spam servings, fruit bits, raw almonds, Power Bars/granola bars and M & M's. Liked your vid. ATB, Jb.
bear creek mixes at Big Lots (or other places) 3 bucks...you can split it into 4 portions into a freezer bag, add a 1/2 cup of instant rice to each portion, and a cup of instant mashed potatoes (chicken or tuna, bacon pieces, too)....add 3 cups of boiling water, salt and pepper to taste (free packets from burger king or mcdonalds), let sit for 5 minutes....great meal!
I usually add a little bit of granola in my oatmeal, it adds nice texture and more calories. I also like to bring things like beagles, crackers, and if you’re worried about the eggs getting too heavy or going bad then try out powdered eggs.
Awesome video. I started backpacking last year, and I must confess that my first trip included the cliche Mountain House packs from the sporting good store. It didn't take long to realize that my next trip would be Ramen, oatmeal packets, etc...Pretty much anything that just takes "adding water" in the grocery store is a great idea. Going to try the chicken rice next time. Again, great vid! Not condescending...just helpful.
i like the knorr alfredo i add a package of flat pack tuna. it adds more protein, caliries and last but nit least flavor. almost is like a tuna casserole. i think they make chicken breast in a flat pack like the tuna also.
Sardines, kipper snacks (Brunswick is the best brand) olive oil all mixed in cous cous. Sure you have to pack out the cans, but I just pack them in an odor free ziplock bag. The protein content is worth it, plus the olive oil is jam packed energy source. Cous cous cooks up fast and it’s very filling. I challenge anyone to eat more than a cup of it....I get my sardines from Trader Joe’s, cheap with a lot of choices, with oil, in water, they have canned trout, too
Eggs are a pain to carry but you drop a raw egg into ramen, soup, rice, etc as it's cooking for added protein. Chocolate covered nuts add sugar to the protein and melt less than a candybar.
On the eggs, ignoring if the lack of refrigerate will cause problems, they aren't great for the weight to calories ratio. They weigh 2oz of 90 calories, plus the 3oz of the 6 pack case for just 36 calories per oz. I found OvaEasy Whole Egg Crystals is an amazing replacement for taking the whole eggs. At 168 calories per oz, they rock. They are not as cheap, $6/pack at REI or I found some for $4.50 online, but that is still pretty darn cheap. Though what made me love they was the cooking method, where you measure a meals worth into a ziplock bag, add seasoning, then on the trail, you add the water and cook them in bag by putting the bag into boiling water. No clear up, and so good. The difference in weight between 12 real eggs and the Egg Crystals would be 1.3lb of pack weight. To me, it is worth the extra few $.
You might also consider adding some lard and masa flour. Lard adds fats and oils, plus plenty of calories to your dishes and also adds plenty of flavor. It stores well and is inexpensive. Masa Flour/Masa Harina/Corn Flour is light weight and easily made into corn tortillas with a bit of water. They are notably better if you cut them up and pan fry them into tortilla chips
One thing that I have heard about the eggs needing refrigerating. Modern eggs are washed and that removes some protective coating that keeps bacteria out of the developing embryo. When eggs where sold from the coop to the table, the eggs still had that coating. If that is false, whatever. I dont have much time to research egg myths.
+Stargazer131000 Hi! In most European countries egg's are not in the cold or refrirated in markets. More important is that they stay in somewhat steady temperature and don't get shaken a lot.
I just recently discovered how easy it is to bring Knorr noodles and instant rice. I bring uncle Bens rice because it already comes flavored. Great backpacking foods
Although they're not the cheapest pre-made meals out there, I've enjoyed the Alessi brand of risotto dishes for years. I'll bet you they'll cook up fine on the trail, since all they need is water and (if you have it) a little butter. They've got dried soups, too.
Great video (I know I'm a few years late in watching it), but I have to say, I'm 43 and I remember keeping eggs in the fridge when I was a young kid. I think it's been much longer than 20 years that we've been refrigerating eggs. Although I get your point, they are very stable and will last a few days not in the fridge.
CAUTION ON EGGS: Straight out of the chicken, you do not have to refrigerate. If you wash them, you must refrigerate. Once they are refrigerated, they must stay refrigerated. Right out of the chicken, wipe clean and then wipe down with an edible oil. This makes them keep unrefrigerated for weeks. Eggs bought at store must remain refrigerated. The danger is air getting through the shell and causing bacteria to grow.
I have found that rubbing a little bit of mineral oil on the outside of the shell of an egg, will give it a year of life refrigerated, about 6 months if in a cool dark area, or 3 months at room temperature. The eggs that have a light coating of mineral oil on their shell, will pass the "water test" (common test to see how fresh an egg is, at bottom = good, floating = bad), and they cook up perfectly!prepared-housewives.com/preserve-eggs-with-mineral-oil/Eggs have a natural way of preserving the contents of the egg, that even when fresh from my chickens, can last weeks on the counter at room temperature and still be fresher than store bought. The membrane that protects the contents of the egg eventually break down and the breaking down process gets accelerated. An egg has a natural coating when it first comes out of the chicken that gives it a couple of weeks, the mineral oil is like an extension to that coating adding much more time before the process happens.I have not heard of anything where once refrigerated, you have to keep an egg refrigerated. For a camping trip, I would recommend reaching out to local sources to get farm fresh eggs, coat them with mineral oil, and they would absolutely survive backpacking for a tasty breakfast treat. Starting with farm fresh, you could even skip the mineral oil step. I will have fresh eggs on my counter for 2 weeks. I would recommend doing a quick water test of course. The closer the eggs floats to the top, the less fresh it is. But as long as it is below the water line and sits on the bottom or hover below the surface, it is good to eat.Just my 2 cents.
Just subscribed... I've never been backpacking, but I really want to. As far as food goes, I wouldn't take much of the stuff you have on that table (only the nuts, *powdered* eggs & milk, rice, and cider mix), but that's because I'm allergic to everything else. 😂 My body can't handle grains & legumes (soy is in *everything*), for the most part, and I have to be careful about dairy, too. I'd take tea, instant coffee, cocoa mix, grain free bouillon, full fat powdered milk, dry coconut water & milk, coconut &/or maple sugar, coconut aminos (soy sauce sub), hot sauce, honey, herbs/spices, grain free or buckwheat (pseudograin, unrelated to wheat) pancake mix, almond flour biscuit mix, soy & wheat free jerky, smoked fish, dried fruit, nuts, soy & dairy free chocolate, nut/seed butters, nori wrappers, hard cheese, grain free crackers, pouch chicken, salmon & tuna, dehydrated ground beef, prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, quinoa, rice pasta, dehydrated veggies. With all that I can make everything from hot cereal (rice/quinoa), French toast (almond flour pan-fried bread), hash browns, jambalaya, & chili, to pho, salmon cakes, fried rice, "pasta" w/pesto, red, white or meat sauce, stroganoff, shepherds pie, chicken & dumplings, pizza & grilled cheese w/tomato soup. Or I could take instant potato soup & a couple cans of clams to make clam chowder (usually includes a little soy & cornstarch if I remember correctly, so less than ideal if I want to hike the next day). I think it makes about a gallon of soup & it's delicious! Not to forget dessert, options include no bake trail cookies, brownies, muffins, scones & short cake, cobbler, or bringing along already baked grain free cookies &/or astronaut ice cream. I can get most of the supplies from my local grocery stores, too. Of course the big bonus is that I wouldn't have an allergic reaction on the trail. Donno about the calories, or how the macros stack up to my everyday eating, but I suspect carbs are a bit higher than my usual. I also suspect that it would be fine.
Nice tips, I have one concern and that is the sodium content..... are those packaged side dishes pretty high in sodium ? is the seasoning separate or pre mixed? I know with the ramen its easy to deal with by pitching the seasoning packed and adding alternatives.
I think couscous is ready to eat in about 10-seconds. If I have too much water added in a meal, I add a little couscous. It swells up, adding too much volume if too much is added. Otherwise, I use it as the primary ingredient of an entree, adding whatever I would add to noodles. It takes up flavorful ingredients well, as noodles do. I like it as backpacking food because it can rescue an entree with too much water added, and it is very good as the basis of an entree. It is also exceptionally lightweight.
I take half a box of Stovetop stuffing mix and half a package of Idahoan mashed potatoes and put in a Ziploc bag. At camp I will add 2 cups hot water and I mayo package and some dried turkey jerky and you have Thanksgiving dinner.
hanks for sharing. Good info. Love bagels w/ peanut butter mixed with honey. My Cheap & light meal, 1 pack of Ramen , broken up to make it easier to eat with a spoon, and one cup of TVP - Textured Vegetable Protein, available at some health food stores. You could just soak it, but I like a hot meal at the end of the day. Alternative, Ramen and add a half of a cup of powdered eggs. Both of those give some balance of protein and carbs.
Dependent upon taste, it couldn't hurt to carry some small packets of salt and pepper (easily obtained at many fast food restaurants) in a small ziplock bag (these should weigh less than one ounce). As one may need to replenish salt due to sweating on a long hike the salt would be particularly useful.
I've tried the pasta meals but do you recommend reducing the water? I tried them as eat from the bag and they were soupy. Also for anyone who really likes Mountainhouse buy the multiple day boxes-----you get a nice variety and the cost goes way down per meal.
I always enjoy watch what people eat while hiking. Looking to hike the AT in March and bought a food dehydrator and having a lot of fun with that. Have you any experience with one and if so, have you dehydrated any soups? Will be going to the store tomorrow to give it a shot.
Wondered if the food pouches can handle boiling water poured in them? Would they leak? Use the food pouches instead of a pot. No clean up. Or put contents of food pouches in quart freezer bags that can handle hot water.? Thanks
I usually do day hikes so weight doesn't really bother me so I bring the Campbell's pre made soup cups, they are kind expensive but you can walk and have soup at the same time.
brian simpkins you can get the chili mix pack, dried beans, and beef jerky. Mix it in boiling water to rehydrate the meat and cook the beans in a cozy pot. Tried it several times and it comes out pretty good.
What a great video. Such good ideas. I plan on taking sardines and maybe some other canned goods and heat them in the can over the camp stove. I am going to do some more research on what I can bring.
the cheap sardines are tempting, but I have to say, the ones packed in olive oil or those ones smoked and packed in olive oil are AMAZING. King Oscar brand is terrific.
There are a few good ideas on there. A lot of those things are ridiculously high in sodium. Not to mention the calories your receiving from them are empty calories. If you really want to save money start dehydrating. I bought a dehydrator on Craigslist for $40. You can get 12-15 full on hearty spaghetti meals with $20 worth of food. Want to make that ramen way better rehydrate some brocolli and carrots maybe some onion back in with the soup. This is an okay post.
Hormel: Complete Microwave Bowls/ and others: avg is 280 cal per serving...at $2.50. they weigh little and are very very good. I haven't found a "salty" one yet. Mountain-house has a few that taste way too salty. also you can eat out of the container as well. However the best is while hiking put a little water in them,hike away by lunch or dinner time open and eat. the sun warms them very well with that plastic lid on. don't even need to boil water for them.
G Wubllu on your RUclips channel, under your name (G Wubllu) you'll see a few page tabs (Home - Videos - Playlists - Channels - About) CLICK PLAYLISTS. On the Playlists page you'll see a two buttons [All Playlists] [+New Playlist] CLICK [+NEW PLAYLIST] Give it a Name, you can rename it later if you want, and choose if you want this playlist to be Public, Unlisted or Private. Once created you can add a description and add videos to your new playlist. CLICK [ADD VIDEOS] You can now add videos by: (1) Searching RUclips for videos (2) Adding a shortcut (URL) that you copied (3) or choosing one of your own videos. AFTER you create a new empty Playlist, there is a FOURTH way that I ALWAYS USE to add someone elses videos to a playlist. When I find a video I want to add to a playlist. Under the video, above the comments, you'll find a couple of links: [+Add to] and [< Share] If you CLICK [+ADD TO] it will show you a list of your playlists and all you have to do is click the checkbox to add it to your list.
The one thing I would say about eggs. One reason they were never refrigerated is because they were fresh. These days the eggs from the grocery store are a month old before you even get them home. We only buy farm fresh eggs, not only are they better, but you can leave them unrefrigerated without fear, because they are only days old when you get them. Farm fresh eggs are readily available at farmers markets.
It is not that the eggs are months old, that's inaccurate, the demand is to high. The reason for refrigeration goes with the cleaning process done in processed eggs, it essentially washes out the egg cuticle making it more permeable and raising risk of salmonella - European eggs do no do the washing process therefore do not require refrigeration. US eggs are illegal in Europe and vice versa. If you have farm fresh eggs take them, If you bought them in a grocery store I would stay away.
Good video great tips. Don't forget canned meat like spam and bagged tuna, chicken and turkey, and of corse Butter Buds, and pre cooked bacon and Betty Crocker Blueberry muffin mix just add water!!!
Cans are tough with back country backpacking though. They have a lot of weight and bulk, then you have a can to pack back out too. Meats in a pouch are far lighter and easier to cart out.
I love to carry Bohemian Hearth wheat Sandwich rounds, also pretty lightweight. Tortillas got old for me, had to change it up a bit. I have been considering Malt-O-Meal to replace oat meal. Any thoughts on that?
It's truly amazing how you can get along nicely without the necessities as long as you are amply supplied with a few luxuries. Definitely yes to the high proof spirits.
I have been buying the 303 size cans of dehydrated food from the Mormon Pantry for less than ONE mountain house meal. Hunt down a Mormon Pantry and save 1 billion dollars on great dehydrated food.
Eggs Part I: I'm a weightlifter in addition to being a hiker-climber so I consume far more protein than most. I get my protein by purchasing 10 dozen eggs at a time (I buy cases of 5 dozen at Walrus Mart) and although the cases are refrigerated at the store I NEVER refrigerate them once home. I leave them in their original shipping cases snd sit them on the tile floor. I eat 1 dozen/day and they easily last the 10 days it takes to finish them. I've kept them 14 days with no problems. The longest I've tried to keep them on the trail was 2 days and they lasted that long even while hiking in the Mojave and during hot and humid Florida and Louisiana. Something I'm going to try as soon as I get all my ex wives paid off is to buy a #10 can (approx. 94 XL eggs; $50) better a #2-1/2 can of FREEZE DRIED (NOT dehydrated!) whole eggs and repackage them into individual meal-sized portions. I'll cook 1-2 portions each day to determine how long they'll remain edible after the can is opened.
Eggs Part V: The second reason that an egg is a poor trail food choice is that your protein needs are minimal when hiking. When you're training for a climb yo in blnot u need a high protein diet to build muscle. On the trail or out climbing you need fats and carbs. Nutritionists will tell you that consuming a small amount of protein with your carbs increases absorption rate. So toss in some egg whites with your oatmeal and bananas. But overall most people consume more protein than they can use at one time. Even Meatheads (bodybuilders) end up urinating a substantial amount of protein into the toilet. There are foods that don't spoil, or "spoil reluctantly." Butter in sticks or blocks adds a lot of calories and a lot of flavor to your vittles and won't spoil before your trip ends. Don't forget freshly cracked black pepper. Cheese omelet anyone? Purchase hard cheeses in blocks, wrap in cabbage and/or lettuce leaves and then wrap in "cheese cloth." Make soup from the wrappers.
+Heather Contos: Actually that's a trick I learned from the Meatheads (bodybuilders). I'm an Olympic lifter and of course we share the same gym unless one is fortunate enough to live somewhere that had a true weightlifting gym, and virtually all of the ones I got to know ate egg whites mixed with oatmeal for breakfast. Unless I'm on the trail I eat a high protein high fat diet with essentially no carbs, so no oatmeal for me. So for breakfast and post workout I eat-GET READY FOR IT-two whole raw eggs (large) and four raw egg whites with stevia and vanilla extract mixed with either almond milk or heavy whipping cream. As to egg whites in your Ramen, egg drop soup had been around a gazillion years and it sounds like it would be a good combination. I'm going to try it myself! How many egg whites do you use per pack of Ramen?
+Frowning Angel Haha, who would of thought this video would of produced so much discussion on eggs. Good thoughts though. Eggs are ok if it is a short trip and you like to cook. Or in your case drink. Thanks for watching.
My new favorite hiking food store is Walmart. Within the last week I bought...powdered milk, butter flakes, powdered peanut butter, pan cake mix, nuts, a plastic crate of a dozen eggs for $1.88, a Luci solar light for $14.00, plus the usual tuna packets, Kron pasta packets, etc. The ent time you need to load up for a hike check out a Super Walmart and be surprised with all the dry food you might need.
I do motorcycle camping, so I'm not as limited with weight - but space is a premium, so I learn a lot from videos like yours. Thank you!
I'm so happy a plastic egg saver carton actually exists! Tip: coating an egg with mineral oil mimics the egg coming out of the chicken and preserves it for up to two years.
Another idea is to take Pasta Roni meals, trash the box and move the meal to a ziplock bag. I always bring the powdered milk too for coffee and adding to a Knorr or Pasta Roni meal. Bring along a Chobani yougurt cup ( and a full one for a first day snack) and it is exactly one cup for measuring or something to mix your powdered milk with. Another tip is to make a dry cereal mix at home with nuts crasins, etc, bag it and you got a custom breakfast. Love all your tips as are good ideas. I’m a wilderness backpacker and always looking for great new ideas. Thanks and will subscribe!
Go to a Mexican food store (or Amazon) and get whole dry milk...tastes way better than the non-fat Carnation.
I've been using Mountain House for my backpacking trips and they are expensive. I'm gonna shop at the dollar store for my pasta and start dehydrating some meals to save money. Thanks for the ideas. Good video!!
Lots of good information here, both in the video and the comments. My 65 year-old knees won't let me backpack the way I used to and force me to be a fanatic about weight. I always carry a bunch of jerky, both as a standalone snack and as flavoring for other stuff I happen to have. I also like to carry some of the real bacon bits, because what doesn't taste better with bacon?
Thanks to all of you!
Single serving, 2.5oz packs of Spam are awesome. Taste great on flatbread for lunch or with any of those meals you do. I get em for a dollar at local CVS.
I carried eggs inside my British army mess tins for years (if you're in a hotter climate maybe bury them in your pack to keep sunlight/temperature down) and never had any problems, fantastic on that first morning when you need that little boost to get you going. People just used to stick cans of meat/vegetables and instant potatoes, rice or pasta in there, you were either heading towards some sort of stew/soup thing or a globby potato mess kind of thing, I think I prefer a chilli myself! In the UK all cider contains alcohol so you saying ''I like a cider in the morning'' sounds a little like ''I like a bourbon on the rocks in the morning'' It did confuse me the first time I heard it.
jelkel25 That is funny!
great video pal - can never understand the guys who feast on Mountainhouse food at he price they are. A little imagination can turn basics into really good on the trail food. regards from the uk
alan kelsall Mountain house isn't too bad if you can get the #10 cans nad split them up between a few people. Otherwise it is pretty ridiculous for the price.
if I could add one item with these you have is to melt 2 sticks of butter and skim the fat clouds to make GEE. it does not need refrideration and works well with cooking and baking on the trail. I put mine in an empty mustard bottle, just squeeze and you have butter with most of the bad fats gone.
+1 for the ghee suggestion. Its awesome to have in the backcountry. You can buy it pre-made as well if you don't want to make your own. Usually in the organic section of supermarket or Indian foods specialty grocers.
I like when my wife massages by balls with ghee
Jason Monto 😂
@@jasonmonto4445 "Ghee, these balls are so tiny"
Careful with the eggs. They are commercially washed and that cleans a natural cover that keeps oxygen from the eggs. It is true that they were not refrigerated in the golden days, but they were not washed like they are now.
broadwayFan28 I would have never thought of that! You might just have saved me an my family from getting food poisoning or salmonella 30 miles in the forest on a snowy night . Thank you.
If you lightly coat them in an oil they'll keep a long time. It stops, or at least slows oxygen penetrating the shell
Js Dubon if it’s snowy, keeping eggs cool isn’t tough.
True. Those washed eggs need to stay cool. Now if you know someone who has their own egg laying chickens then get some of those eggs for the trail.
Eggs will last as long as you carry them at 2 or 3 eaten daily. I have been taking them camping since I was a kid with no ill effects. The egg carrier that my mom had looked the same as that cute little one. I always start an outing with fresh and hardboiled eggs. They never make it to the third day anyway. That's why I pack them in cardboard that I use for firestarter when the eggs are gone. Dropping some eggshell into a pot of camp coffee will make the grounds drop to the bottom of the pot.
I did something like this on my most recent short trip..... $15 for 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners....and i had actual Chicken. Can't do this on longer trips but those Knorr Sides, and Idahoan Potatoes are AWESOME for backpacking. only $1, on trips where you don't need a lot of calories you can split them in half and they're MORE than enough if you've got some sort of entree protein. (If you are really good at fishing and it's the right season, you don't have to pack any proteins)
I've begun planning and preparing for AT thru-hiking and i'm going to try to incorporate this type of stuff into my food picks. Might weigh a little more than Mountain House but it will definitely be more calories and slightly better nutrition.
Nice little video, I didn't think about those premade soup mixes..... Those would be good for the colder months, February or March and into Spring time hiking the AT....good way to warm up + have a full belly
If you're sick of oatmeal for breakfast... mix minute rice, milk powder, cinnamon, brown sugar (or maple flakes if you can find them) and raisins. Add hot water for instant rice pudding for breakfast. You could also add that apple drink to your oatmeal for a change. Also, for the potatoes and knorr sides... ghee (clarified butter) lasts well without refrigeration and gives that buttery taste.
Nice suggestions in this video. Thanks.
Nice video, good inspiration, looks very similar to my setup. Subbed and liked. Eggs can last for a long time without a fridge, but I heard somewhere that the reason they started use fridge is, that the eggs are treated in factories, and the treatment "destroys" the natural protection the egg has, and therefore need fridge. But if you get them straight from a farm, no problem. Here in Thailand they drive around with them on open trucks in direct sunlight.
Never been camping before and def couldn't afford the real camping food packages So Thanks for these great ideas !!!
My pleasure, here is a cheap and easy recipe for you to look at. The Ultimate Backpacking Pizza Recipe
Outstanding review! I've been looking for low cost alternatives to the commercial freeze dried camping foods that are more expensive and usually in two or more servings. Thanks for the ideas!
I really like to bring no-drain pouches of lemon-pepper flavored tuna. Hard salami and summer sausages will last for several days, as will string cheese snacks. For breakfast, I have some portioned ziploc bags with GrapeNuts, dried milk and raisins -- just add water & a spoon to eat! Dried fruit leather and Turkish dried apricots are great for snacking on the trail. I don't think most produce is worth the water weight in my backpack but I will bring a few fresh sugar snap pea pods, grape tomatoes, and baby carrots just because I love the crunch and healthy taste. Single-serve cups of peanut butter are handy for spreading on whole wheat tortillas.
Sounds great. I just got into dehydrating and love the options it gives me.
+NampaHiker A couple of items I like to bring that are very light weight but add good calories and protein; powdered milk and jerkey (beef and turkey).I put the powdered milk in the oatmeal. It ups the protein and calories and makes the oatmeal creamier too. Addiing dried cranberries and blueberries is also nice. Yu can also just add water to the milk to drink obviously.I add jerkey to Cup of Noodles (or Ramen). When your pour in the boiling water, the jerkey rehydrates and softens. It adds significant protein to the noodles and really tastes very, very good. Jerkey is also a nice trail snack while you're hiking.If you've got a dehydrater, making jerkey is cheap-cheap. Thin sliced London broil marinated/soaked in soy sauce is a simple and good one. Add black pepper or crushed red pepper (free from pizza orders) if you want peppered or hot spiced jerkey.
Tuna or sardines and crackers is one I have a lot. Also for the first night I'll bring something good that wouldn't keep longer. Last trip I put a couple of frozen hot dogs and buns in the pack for an easy first night dinner. I don't normally eat hot dogs very often but they sure were good over the fire!
If you get sick of oatmeal for breakfast you can make up an easy rice pudding mix with minute rice, brown sugar (or maple flakes), milk powder, raisins and cinnamon. Just add boiling water and cozy it for a bit. If you want healthier you can get brown minute rice but you may need to actually simmer it for a bit before cozying, so you'll have a pot to clean.
Get tired of oatmeal too. Powdered eggs work well too. High protein item.
FlashGeiger This has been my favorite backpacking breakfast. If you get tired of raisins, you can add other dehydrated fruits like dates, blueberries, or cranberries. Sometimes I add a few chopped nuts too.
Great idea.
Why oh why have I never thought of rice pudding
Most people don't seem to know that you can get WHOLE powdered milk at most stores in the Hispanic section. It's called Nido, and goes great in coffee, Knor (when calls for milk), oatmeal, or by itself as a hot or cold drink. Also, the cold instant puddings need milk to thicken, and it works great there too. My wife makes a mean granola that I put in a ziplock with Nido. Just add hot or cold water for breakfast.
Rubbing fresh eggs with some mineral oil will greatly increase their shelf life.
I usually make my Ramon add an extra 2 cups of water mix in my broth then mix in the idaho potato mix....its really good
Charles Ajjan Affectionately referred to as a "Ramen Bomb" on many trails.
Charles Ajjan Yea, that's a Ramen Bomb!
MrChuck333 RAMENBOMB!!!!
Thanks for the video. I too am based in Nampa! My daughters and I are getting into backpacking and always looking for a way to stretch the food dollars. Maybe we'll see you on the trail!
South Africans make a dried meat called biltong. Similar to jerky, but much more flavorful as they make it out of brisket. If you can find a S. African store, highly recommend it for backpacking.
go for couscous with instant soup mixed in = fast and tasty
I was just thinking about that for a recipe
This is great........you could also add some bagged tuna or chicken to any of those pasta mixes.
I usually add some sort of protein to make it better as well as powdered milk and olive oil.
Boil the eggs before you go. Apples - suppress hunger and full of vitamins. I carry an emergency pack of chocolate covered raisins. They're like rocket fuel if you bonk.
Never underestimate the need for chocolate!
Good video. Thanks for the good ideas. With sons in scouts we find ourselves out on the trail quite often. I have many of those items in my camp pantry already but the Carnation powered milk is a great idea. Didn't think of that. Just a little bit in a small baggie will do.
Also, Tyson makes small bags of pre-cooked chicken pieces that are great to add to soup (Ramen, soup packets, etc) as well as to instant stuffing or the Idahoan potatoes. And of course those Idahoan potatoes are awesome... many flavors to choose from and simple to make.
Thank you for posting this! I’ve been trying to find food that I can keep I. My pack long-term, to have available for spontaneous bush-craft or camping trips. Some of what you mentioned are foods that others have suggested. So, it’s nice to confirm those choices. I bought a military style 3 day assault pack for bush-craft/camping trips. So, I realize I need to pack smaller packages than what most people would consider. I’m not in the military, I just like the space and durability of the packs.
The Knor pasta sides instructions say to add 1/2 cup of milk and 1 1/2 cups of water. I've found most dehydrated milks are 1/3 a cup of mix to one cup of water. So, this is 1/6 a cup of mix. This is about 4 teaspoons or 2 tablespoons of mix. I've also found if you add 2 cups of water and the mix, it's a little too much water. I like about 1 3/4 to 2 cups of water in my pot and then I add the 4 teaspoons of milk mix and the pasta sides all together before it boils. I also like to carry a little bottle of olive oil or rendered pigs fat (bacon grease that I've rendered into a pure lard, doesn't go bad that way). I'll add a teaspoon of one of these fats. It adds big calories from fat instead of more carbs. I would add dehydrated fruit to the choices for on-the-move energy foods. A small jar of Nutella that you could spread on to the fajitas for quick morning food would work. I know a lot of the more health conscious hikers are dehydrating veggies and making their own soup/stew mixes to get more vegetables in their diets. Summer sausages don't need refrigeration and they are a good supplement to add to cooked rice for protein and fats. Just some ideas.
Sean M I take my Knorr pasta sides and repackage them into ziplock bags, adding the powdered milk right into the bag. That way, it is all ready to go when it comes time to cook and I don't need to carry an extra packet of powdered milk.
Thia Anderson Funny you say this. I was just watching a different vid and the guy mentioned repackaging in zip locks to get the size down. It's a good idea.
Add pieces of summer sausage to the Idahoan Loaded Potatoes. Yum!
Take with a few packs of "Cup a Soup" (I am not familiar with the American term; perhaps you know the brand Maggi?); they are instant soup mixes, weighing next to nothing, and simply require boiling water. Nutritionally perhaps insignificant; but added to anything else (be it a simple starch of any sorts; say rice or beans or mashed potatoes for instance or a stew), it adds tremendous flavour. And it comes in a multitude of varieties: chicken, beef, vegetable, mushroom, french onion, garlic, teriyaki chicken, and the list goes on....... The cost is minuscule too.
If you are going to catch fish you should look for Betty Crocker hash browns(I think they are called something else now)Back in the good old days a packet was $.88 cents.Make a great meal with some fish..
I also carry some of those tuna packets and now spam makes packets and has a pretty good shelf life it also good with eggs all cooked togethet
i get a product called (ova-easy) dehydrated eggs..5$ for a package equal to 12 eggs ..weighs 6 ounces..makes great breakfast burritos paired with salsa packet an some cheese..
You left out single packets of Spam, Tuna fish, and sardens (if you like them),😁
im vegetarian :/
you can just rub the eggs with mineral oil all over the shells, that will allow them to stay relatively fresh safe for eating throughout your camping trip without refrigerating
eggs last for weeks unrefridgerated but as soon as you do refrigerate them they need to stay there but can last for months, salted butter will last for a few weeks as well. I dry my own veg and chicken roll to add to pasta meals along with NIDO dried whole milk. put in packet before hike with some butter, smooth oats, NIDO and some sugar makes a porridge alternative delicious cold.
Fantastic Foods refried beans are better than the canned stuff. I even use them at home now. For one person, 1/2 pack of beans, 3/4 cup boiling water, 2 Tbsp oil, 2 ounces of cheddar, and finish with 2 ounces of corn chips with taco sauce to taste makes an awesome hot meal - though a little high in calories if not packing. You can wrap it in a tortilla for even more calories. Nido is an excellent base for breakfast. I premix it with 2 ounces vanilla protein powder and mix with 8 ounces of water on the trail in one of my water bottles for a 340 calorie, 30+ grams of protein breakfast. Add in a granola bar or a Snickers bar and you have a really good start to your day that takes next to no time to prepare. I also sometimes make a cup of coffee and add a little of my vanilla protein shake to make it oh so much better. Chocolate protein powder would work well too of course.
i love these videos and i am taking a train ride cross counrty this year. These meals will save me money too. But i will still
buy the regular meals. Thanks for the tips here.
Great tips! Thank you! Here are a few of mine of you don't mind the comments. I bring summer sausage as a food luxury. I can add it to raman, and ill try it with some of those Knorr products you mention, sounds great!
I like a hot breakfast and I'm tired of oatmeal. Last trip out I brought instant grits. I added butter, and chease that comes in the little wax packets. Plus a packet of parmigian that comes with pizza delivery. It was awsome. A little difficult cleaning the cheese out of the pot. I love eggs with grits so I may have to try your idea on bringing eggs.
Again thanks for the tips.
They call me Two Packs - I’ve been reusing a Packit Gourmet bag to hydrate food for past two years. Precook some bulk sausage and freeze it. Pour 2 packs of grits, your Parmesan cheese, precooked sausage or bacon bits into the bag. Add hot water, let rehydrate in reflectix bag. Mighty Fine.
I like your list. Similar to my own. I also carry Energen-C drink mix packets and dried seaweed, which is cheap.. I just munch on rhat. Lots of iron and makes up for fewer veggies on-trail. Instant miso soup also is high protien and you can crumble the dried seaweed in (same stuff used in sushi rolls). I spend for only one thing in expensive trail food: freeze dried ice cream for a treat, LOL. I like the nuts and berries trail mixes offered at Trader Joe's as well.
If you are traveling with a group and main resupply boxes ahead, you can go to a restaurant supply store for packets of peanut butter and jelly for your tortillas. Less heavy than PB&J jars
hi. Just subscribed, one Idaho hiker to another. Just getting back into the camping thing after a 15 year absence. I've been doing mainly car camping which means a lot of "real" food, but I'm starting to think about what kind of stuff I will take on my first back packing trip early next year.
I’ve hiked since back in the 60’s an have never had a Mt House meal or anything like like them
Thanks for sharing
Spam in a pouch, tuna in a pouch, granola bars, instant coffee, instant creamer, hot cocoa mix, instant potatoes broken down into smaller packets, cup-o-soup, ramen, instant oatmeal, peanut butter packets, trail mix, drink powders w/ electrolytes.
When I'm not so worried about weight, I'll bring a steak (frozen, thawing throughout the day), eggs (heavy for the # of calories), and sardines/kippers (because I'll need to pack that can back out).
I really like the instant stuffing idea. kicking myself for never thinking of that before.
Instead of Romen Noodles in the package, try the noodles in the bowls instead, you can usually find them next to the Romen. They come with a seasoning packet, dehydrated meat packet and a dehydrated veggie packet. Only 76 cents at Walmart and equals about 2 packs of Romen Noodles so it is a larger heartier meal with meat and veggies :)
Brenda Odom Awesome tip. Thanks
Brenda Odom Not to mention tastes 100 times better than the maruchan ramen. Cut up some beef jerky and add some hot sauce to your liking, and mmm. =) This coming from someone who lived off that Ramen stuff for a while.
+Ice Wolf Add your powdered eggs to it....very filling.
Dump the contents into a ziplock bag silly, you can add boiling water right into the ziplock.
Ramen noodles, pronounced "raw-men", not Romen.
I also use the noodles in cream sauce. You can buy the packaged chicken or tuna BUT you can also buy canned meats like chicken,beef, spam, or whatever and use your handy vacuum packing machine and loose the can. Works great!
That was awesome. Ill be 57 next month. I wish I really found out about hiking/backpacking much earlier in life.
I love the knorr meals. I like to add dehydrated chicken or dehydrated hamburger into them as well. With the ramen I love to add dehydrated vegetables and diced up jerkey into it. Great stuff thanks for sharing. I dehydrate lots of my own foods or break them down into smaller vacuum sealed packs to reduce trash I take in with me. On a overnight or even 2 day trip I dont pay attention to calories, lightweight and easy to prepare is what im after. Anything longer then that then I would start to be concerned about calorie intake.
Jason Fishaholic Schneider how do you prepare the knorr meals? I hate anything that I can't just add boiling water to.
Excellent tips. I was planning a trip to town for stocking my 24 and 72 hour BOGs. Thanks.
Powdered butter and cheese are good to take along, too. Sometimes I'll take squeeze margarine on my longer treks. You can also take; Spam servings, fruit bits, raw almonds, Power Bars/granola bars and M & M's. Liked your vid. ATB, Jb.
bear creek mixes at Big Lots (or other places) 3 bucks...you can split it into 4 portions into a freezer bag, add a 1/2 cup of instant rice to each portion, and a cup of instant mashed potatoes (chicken or tuna, bacon pieces, too)....add 3 cups of boiling water, salt and pepper to taste (free packets from burger king or mcdonalds), let sit for 5 minutes....great meal!
I usually add a little bit of granola in my oatmeal, it adds nice texture and more calories. I also like to bring things like beagles, crackers, and if you’re worried about the eggs getting too heavy or going bad then try out powdered eggs.
Awesome video. I started backpacking last year, and I must confess that my first trip included the cliche Mountain House packs from the sporting good store. It didn't take long to realize that my next trip would be Ramen, oatmeal packets, etc...Pretty much anything that just takes "adding water" in the grocery store is a great idea. Going to try the chicken rice next time. Again, great vid! Not condescending...just helpful.
i like the knorr alfredo i add a package of flat pack tuna. it adds more protein, caliries and last but nit least flavor. almost is like a tuna casserole. i think they make chicken breast in a flat pack like the tuna also.
Sardines, kipper snacks (Brunswick is the best brand) olive oil all mixed in cous cous. Sure you have to pack out the cans, but I just pack them in an odor free ziplock bag. The protein content is worth it, plus the olive oil is jam packed energy source. Cous cous cooks up fast and it’s very filling. I challenge anyone to eat more than a cup of it....I get my sardines from Trader Joe’s, cheap with a lot of choices, with oil, in water, they have canned trout, too
real one right here. Stove top, idaho, lipton..... dude you are a boss hope kids take notes. Cheers
mustard, ketchup, mayo, jellies, etc. packets - good to make a quick tuna salad out of the flavored tuna packs, one pack of mayo and a tortilla...
Eggs are a pain to carry but you drop a raw egg into ramen, soup, rice, etc as it's cooking for added protein. Chocolate covered nuts add sugar to the protein and melt less than a candybar.
On the eggs, ignoring if the lack of refrigerate will cause problems, they aren't great for the weight to calories ratio. They weigh 2oz of 90 calories, plus the 3oz of the 6 pack case for just 36 calories per oz. I found OvaEasy Whole Egg Crystals is an amazing replacement for taking the whole eggs. At 168 calories per oz, they rock. They are not as cheap, $6/pack at REI or I found some for $4.50 online, but that is still pretty darn cheap. Though what made me love they was the cooking method, where you measure a meals worth into a ziplock bag, add seasoning, then on the trail, you add the water and cook them in bag by putting the bag into boiling water. No clear up, and so good. The difference in weight between 12 real eggs and the Egg Crystals would be 1.3lb of pack weight. To me, it is worth the extra few $.
lol i just mentioned ova easy not seeing your comment..great product at 6 ounces for 12 eggs..
You might also consider adding some lard and masa flour. Lard adds fats and oils, plus plenty of calories to your dishes and also adds plenty of flavor. It stores well and is inexpensive. Masa Flour/Masa Harina/Corn Flour is light weight and easily made into corn tortillas with a bit of water. They are notably better if you cut them up and pan fry them into tortilla chips
One thing that I have heard about the eggs needing refrigerating. Modern eggs are washed and that removes some protective coating that keeps bacteria out of the developing embryo. When eggs where sold from the coop to the table, the eggs still had that coating. If that is false, whatever. I dont have much time to research egg myths.
+Mysticfox2010 Actually, that is true. i would only not refrigerate fresh eggs unwashed from th coop. Check for further info.
+Stargazer131000
Hi!
In most European countries egg's are not in the cold or refrirated in markets.
More important is that they stay in somewhat steady temperature and don't get shaken a lot.
You are 100 % right
I just recently discovered how easy it is to bring Knorr noodles and instant rice. I bring uncle Bens rice because it already comes flavored. Great backpacking foods
Although they're not the cheapest pre-made meals out there, I've enjoyed the Alessi brand of risotto dishes for years. I'll bet you they'll cook up fine on the trail, since all they need is water and (if you have it) a little butter. They've got dried soups, too.
Great video (I know I'm a few years late in watching it), but I have to say, I'm 43 and I remember keeping eggs in the fridge when I was a young kid. I think it's been much longer than 20 years that we've been refrigerating eggs. Although I get your point, they are very stable and will last a few days not in the fridge.
CAUTION ON EGGS: Straight out of the chicken, you do not have to refrigerate. If you wash them, you must refrigerate. Once they are refrigerated, they must stay refrigerated. Right out of the chicken, wipe clean and then wipe down with an edible oil. This makes them keep unrefrigerated for weeks. Eggs bought at store must remain refrigerated. The danger is air getting through the shell and causing bacteria to grow.
I have found that rubbing a little bit of mineral oil on the outside of the shell of an egg, will give it a year of life refrigerated, about 6 months if in a cool dark area, or 3 months at room temperature. The eggs that have a light coating of mineral oil on their shell, will pass the "water test" (common test to see how fresh an egg is, at bottom = good, floating = bad), and they cook up perfectly!prepared-housewives.com/preserve-eggs-with-mineral-oil/Eggs have a natural way of preserving the contents of the egg, that even when fresh from my chickens, can last weeks on the counter at room temperature and still be fresher than store bought. The membrane that protects the contents of the egg eventually break down and the breaking down process gets accelerated. An egg has a natural coating when it first comes out of the chicken that gives it a couple of weeks, the mineral oil is like an extension to that coating adding much more time before the process happens.I have not heard of anything where once refrigerated, you have to keep an egg refrigerated. For a camping trip, I would recommend reaching out to local sources to get farm fresh eggs, coat them with mineral oil, and they would absolutely survive backpacking for a tasty breakfast treat. Starting with farm fresh, you could even skip the mineral oil step. I will have fresh eggs on my counter for 2 weeks. I would recommend doing a quick water test of course. The closer the eggs floats to the top, the less fresh it is. But as long as it is below the water line and sits on the bottom or hover below the surface, it is good to eat.Just my 2 cents.
www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/09/11/336330502/why-the-u-s-chills-its-eggs-and-most-of-the-world-doesnt
Yes not everyone knows this detail.
Dipping the eggs in wax or paraffin will seal them and keep the bacteria out.
Take some beef jerky with you. Add it and Rehydrate it when your cooking your ramen or knorrs rice/pasta with some dehydrated vegetables. Good stuff
Just subscribed... I've never been backpacking, but I really want to. As far as food goes, I wouldn't take much of the stuff you have on that table (only the nuts, *powdered* eggs & milk, rice, and cider mix), but that's because I'm allergic to everything else. 😂 My body can't handle grains & legumes (soy is in *everything*), for the most part, and I have to be careful about dairy, too.
I'd take tea, instant coffee, cocoa mix, grain free bouillon, full fat powdered milk, dry coconut water & milk, coconut &/or maple sugar, coconut aminos (soy sauce sub), hot sauce, honey, herbs/spices, grain free or buckwheat (pseudograin, unrelated to wheat) pancake mix, almond flour biscuit mix, soy & wheat free jerky, smoked fish, dried fruit, nuts, soy & dairy free chocolate, nut/seed butters, nori wrappers, hard cheese, grain free crackers, pouch chicken, salmon & tuna, dehydrated ground beef, prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, quinoa, rice pasta, dehydrated veggies. With all that I can make everything from hot cereal (rice/quinoa), French toast (almond flour pan-fried bread), hash browns, jambalaya, & chili, to pho, salmon cakes, fried rice, "pasta" w/pesto, red, white or meat sauce, stroganoff, shepherds pie, chicken & dumplings, pizza & grilled cheese w/tomato soup. Or I could take instant potato soup & a couple cans of clams to make clam chowder (usually includes a little soy & cornstarch if I remember correctly, so less than ideal if I want to hike the next day). I think it makes about a gallon of soup & it's delicious!
Not to forget dessert, options include no bake trail cookies, brownies, muffins, scones & short cake, cobbler, or bringing along already baked grain free cookies &/or astronaut ice cream.
I can get most of the supplies from my local grocery stores, too. Of course the big bonus is that I wouldn't have an allergic reaction on the trail.
Donno about the calories, or how the macros stack up to my everyday eating, but I suspect carbs are a bit higher than my usual. I also suspect that it would be fine.
Great recommendations Matt. I'm leaning towards home grown stuff when ever I can. Great stuff!
Nice tips, I have one concern and that is the sodium content..... are those packaged side dishes pretty high in sodium ? is the seasoning separate or pre mixed? I know with the ramen its easy to deal with by pitching the seasoning packed and adding alternatives.
I think couscous is ready to eat in about 10-seconds.
If I have too much water added in a meal, I add a little couscous.
It swells up, adding too much volume if too much is added.
Otherwise, I use it as the primary ingredient of an entree, adding whatever I would add to noodles.
It takes up flavorful ingredients well, as noodles do.
I like it as backpacking food because it can rescue an entree with too much water added, and it is very good as the basis of an entree.
It is also exceptionally lightweight.
I take half a box of Stovetop stuffing mix and half a package of Idahoan mashed potatoes and put in a Ziploc bag. At camp I will add 2 cups hot water and I mayo package and some dried turkey jerky and you have Thanksgiving dinner.
Nice tip on the dried Milk.
hanks for sharing. Good info.
Love bagels w/ peanut butter mixed with honey. My Cheap & light meal, 1 pack of Ramen ,
broken up to make it easier to eat with a spoon, and one cup of TVP - Textured
Vegetable Protein, available at some health food stores. You could just soak
it, but I like a hot meal at the end of the day. Alternative, Ramen and add a
half of a cup of powdered eggs. Both of those give some balance of protein and
carbs.
This is basically what I being with me. But I usually bring dry pasta and seasonings. For the instant mash potatoes I add a pouch of tuna to it.
Dependent upon taste, it couldn't hurt to carry some small packets of salt and pepper (easily obtained at many fast food restaurants) in a small ziplock bag (these should weigh less than one ounce). As one may need to replenish salt due to sweating on a long hike the salt would be particularly useful.
Really enjoyed this, thank you for sharing all the useful information, gave me plenty ideas, food for thought , no pun intended 👍
I usually make some biscuits, then pack them in with me. I also bring boiled eggs, you can eat them on the move.
I've tried the pasta meals but do you recommend reducing the water? I tried them as eat from the bag and they were soupy. Also for anyone who really likes Mountainhouse buy the multiple day boxes-----you get a nice variety and the cost goes way down per meal.
I always enjoy watch what people eat while hiking. Looking to hike the AT in March and bought a food dehydrator and having a lot of fun with that. Have you any experience with one and if so, have you dehydrated any soups? Will be going to the store tomorrow to give it a shot.
Wondered if the food pouches can handle boiling water poured in them? Would they leak? Use the food pouches instead of a pot. No clean up. Or put contents of food pouches in quart freezer bags that can handle hot water.?
Thanks
I usually do day hikes so weight doesn't really bother me so I bring the Campbell's pre made soup cups, they are kind expensive but you can walk and have soup at the same time.
I bring out cans from time to time. especially chili, nothing like hot chili by the camp fire.
brian simpkins you can get the chili mix pack, dried beans, and beef jerky. Mix it in boiling water to rehydrate the meat and cook the beans in a cozy pot. Tried it several times and it comes out pretty good.
Libyrinth Hidden thanks but why the hell i want beef jerky is some good chili??
What a great video. Such good ideas. I plan on taking sardines and maybe some other canned goods and heat them in the can over the camp stove. I am going to do some more research on what I can bring.
the cheap sardines are tempting, but I have to say, the ones packed in olive oil or those ones smoked and packed in olive oil are AMAZING. King Oscar brand is terrific.
There are a few good ideas on there. A lot of those things are ridiculously high in sodium. Not to mention the calories your receiving from them are empty calories. If you really want to save money start dehydrating. I bought a dehydrator on Craigslist for $40. You can get 12-15 full on hearty spaghetti meals with $20 worth of food. Want to make that ramen way better rehydrate some brocolli and carrots maybe some onion back in with the soup. This is an okay post.
Hormel: Complete Microwave Bowls/ and others: avg is 280 cal per serving...at $2.50. they weigh little and are very very good. I haven't found a "salty" one yet. Mountain-house has a few that taste way too salty. also you can eat out of the container as well. However the best is while hiking put a little water in them,hike away by lunch or dinner time open and eat. the sun warms them very well with that plastic lid on. don't even need to boil water for them.
Thumbs up buddy! I just added this video to my "Trail Food" play list!
Muskrat Jim How do you make a play list like that.
G Wubllu on your RUclips channel, under your name (G Wubllu) you'll see a few page tabs (Home - Videos - Playlists - Channels - About) CLICK PLAYLISTS.
On the Playlists page you'll see a two buttons [All Playlists] [+New Playlist]
CLICK [+NEW PLAYLIST]
Give it a Name, you can rename it later if you want, and choose if you want this playlist to be Public, Unlisted or Private.
Once created you can add a description and add videos to your new playlist.
CLICK [ADD VIDEOS]
You can now add videos by:
(1) Searching RUclips for videos
(2) Adding a shortcut (URL) that you copied
(3) or choosing one of your own videos.
AFTER you create a new empty Playlist, there is a FOURTH way that I ALWAYS USE to add someone elses videos to a playlist. When I find a video I want to add to a playlist. Under the video, above the comments, you'll find a couple of links:
[+Add to] and [< Share]
If you CLICK [+ADD TO] it will show you a list of your playlists and all you have to do is click the checkbox to add it to your list.
good to know about the eggs, ive always wanted to bring them. but just like Questioned the thought
you can take the kraft singles of mac & cheese and just boil some water it even comes with the bowl to eat out of
Good idea.
Thanks.
Can't eat those things. To me they have an awful after taste.
Great tips. Thanks. I'm definitely using some of these suggestions.
The one thing I would say about eggs. One reason they were never refrigerated is because they were fresh. These days the eggs from the grocery store are a month old before you even get them home. We only buy farm fresh eggs, not only are they better, but you can leave them unrefrigerated without fear, because they are only days old when you get them. Farm fresh eggs are readily available at farmers markets.
It is not that the eggs are months old, that's inaccurate, the demand is to high. The reason for refrigeration goes with the cleaning process done in processed eggs, it essentially washes out the egg cuticle making it more permeable and raising risk of salmonella - European eggs do no do the washing process therefore do not require refrigeration. US eggs are illegal in Europe and vice versa.
If you have farm fresh eggs take them, If you bought them in a grocery store I would stay away.
Good video great tips. Don't forget canned meat like spam and bagged tuna, chicken and turkey, and of corse Butter Buds, and pre cooked bacon and Betty Crocker Blueberry muffin mix just add water!!!
Cans are tough with back country backpacking though. They have a lot of weight and bulk, then you have a can to pack back out too. Meats in a pouch are far lighter and easier to cart out.
Great stuff! We use a lot of the same stuff in our packs while in the mountains!!
I love to carry Bohemian Hearth wheat Sandwich rounds, also pretty lightweight. Tortillas got old for me, had to change it up a bit. I have been considering Malt-O-Meal to replace oat meal. Any thoughts on that?
Foil packs of tuna, salmon, spam, mayo and ketchup packs, pocket bread and..Hi-octane liquor!
It's truly amazing how you can get along nicely without the necessities as long as you are amply supplied with a few luxuries. Definitely yes to the high proof spirits.
I would use Idahoan as kind of a gravy thickener with my pasta side and foil of tuna. definitely filling!
refried beans go along way as well as beef jerky, great video.
I have been buying the 303 size cans of dehydrated food from the Mormon Pantry for less than ONE mountain house meal. Hunt down a Mormon Pantry and save 1 billion dollars on great dehydrated food.
Eggs Part I: I'm a weightlifter in addition to being a hiker-climber so I consume far more protein than most. I get my protein by purchasing 10 dozen eggs at a time (I buy cases of 5 dozen at Walrus Mart) and although the cases are refrigerated at the store I NEVER refrigerate them once home. I leave them in their original shipping cases snd sit them on the tile floor.
I eat 1 dozen/day and they easily last the 10 days it takes to finish them. I've kept them 14 days with no problems. The longest I've tried to keep them on the trail was 2 days and they lasted that long even while hiking in the Mojave and during hot and humid Florida and Louisiana.
Something I'm going to try as soon as I get all my ex wives paid off is to buy a #10 can (approx. 94 XL eggs; $50) better a #2-1/2 can of FREEZE DRIED (NOT dehydrated!) whole eggs and repackage them into individual meal-sized portions. I'll cook 1-2 portions each day to determine how long they'll remain edible after the can is opened.
Eggs Part V: The second reason that an egg is a poor trail food choice is that your protein needs are minimal when hiking. When you're training for a climb yo in blnot u need a high protein diet to build muscle.
On the trail or out climbing you need fats and carbs. Nutritionists will tell you that consuming a small amount of protein with your carbs increases absorption rate. So toss in some egg whites with your oatmeal and bananas. But overall most people consume more protein than they can use at one time. Even Meatheads (bodybuilders) end up urinating a substantial amount of protein into the toilet.
There are foods that don't spoil, or "spoil reluctantly." Butter in sticks or blocks adds a lot of calories and a lot of flavor to your vittles and won't spoil before your trip ends. Don't forget freshly cracked black pepper. Cheese omelet anyone? Purchase hard cheeses in blocks, wrap in cabbage and/or lettuce leaves and then wrap in "cheese cloth." Make soup from the wrappers.
+Frowning Angel I love egg whites in my oatmeal...and in my romen :)
+Heather Contos: Actually that's a trick I learned from the Meatheads (bodybuilders). I'm an Olympic lifter and of course we share the same gym unless one is fortunate enough to live somewhere that had a true weightlifting gym, and virtually all of the ones I got to know ate egg whites mixed with oatmeal for breakfast.
Unless I'm on the trail I eat a high protein high fat diet with essentially no carbs, so no oatmeal for me. So for breakfast and post workout I eat-GET READY FOR IT-two whole raw eggs (large) and four raw egg whites with stevia and vanilla extract mixed with either almond milk or heavy whipping cream.
As to egg whites in your Ramen, egg drop soup had been around a gazillion years and it sounds like it would be a good combination. I'm going to try it myself! How many egg whites do you use per pack of Ramen?
1-2 eggs and I use only half the season packet to cut back on the sodium. Yes! Just like egg drop soup, which is a favorite of mine as well :)
+Frowning Angel Haha, who would of thought this video would of produced so much discussion on eggs. Good thoughts though. Eggs are ok if it is a short trip and you like to cook. Or in your case drink. Thanks for watching.
Are you not building muscles by hiking ? I think so...So I will continue to eat a balance of food products with supplemental vitamins...