Freeze Dried Meals

[LennyJ1]

As I am applying for the TGO Challenge I will be taking Freeze dried meals. My only experience with these are Travel Lunch one from Cotswold. They were nice but would like to know what you guys have tried? And what your thoughts were?

Thanks

[RedLeader]

I'm into the freeze dried meal idea myself, especially when coupled with a Jetboil.I've not tried many but I know that Suspectmonkey has a few posts up about the topic. He tested them extensively for the TGO and had come up with a few different types he liked / disliked.

[twentyclicks]

I have no complaints with Mountain House other than the expense - as I deem the 2 person pack to be just about enough for a main meal (1200-1400kcal) that's about £8!!  Only as a treat or for an event like MMM.

I find regular food as calorific, easy & tasty. Thinking of investing in a £40 dehydrator to make my own meal packs (bit more veg).

[twentyclicks]

Think those are the ones I've been looking at (linked in another thread today too!)

I wonder if it can handle sauces or is it just for solids? Maybe they do adaptor trays, although not sure how the ventilation would work then...

[suspectmonkey]

Lenny, last year Challengers got  discount with a great supplier called Outdoors Grub so hopefully they will do the same this year.  They stock a wide range of dried meals and taste test them all to make sure they are edible (obviously subjective, but reassuring!).  I generally bought curry/rice type meals or meat/gravy/potato.  I tried ones from Mountain House, Adventure Food, Be-Well, Backpackers Pantry and MX3 Adventure.  I wasn't overly keen on the Adventure Food meal and I would never buy an MX3 meal again!  The MX3 meal tasted okay but the packaging was vacuum sealed or something and was a nightmare to open.  In the end the side of the packaging split and I had to make it in my pot rather than the pouch.  May have been a one off, but I wouldn't want to risk one if it was the last meal in my rucksack!  I never got to try my Backpackers Pantry meal, its still in my cupboard but as its from America they can't import their meaty meals, only vegetarian.  My favourite meals by far came from Be-Well and Mountain House.  You can also buy meals direct from Be-Well and they usually do clearance prices on meals that are approaching their use-by date.  It's a good way of saving some cash if you know you can use them up before the date runs out.  I actually based my daily menu on the Outdoors Grub one-day ration packs but made up my own porridge for breakfast, bought my own flapjacks, nuts etc. and just used a dried meal/dessert for the evening meal.  Aimed for a minimum of 2500kcal per day which seemed spot on.  Works even better when your diet is supplemented with pub grub and local produce along the way

[RedLeader]

10 tray? That badboy sounds huge. You got a link so we can check it out?

My 10 tray dehydrator came today  Just waiting on the paraflexx sheets to come then some serious dehydrated meal action is on the cards!!!! Hopefully be trial running a recipe or two at the binnian camp

[LennyJ1]

My 10 tray dehydrator came today  Just waiting on the paraflexx sheets to come then some serious dehydrated meal action is on the cards!!!! Hopefully be trial running a recipe or two at the binnian camp

Good job, Im looking forward to see how it goes.

[RedLeader]

I think we use those in the office for filing

I got this one. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KITCHENSTAR-600W-10-TRAY-FOOD-DEHYDRATOR-/130571085079?pt=UK_HGKitchen_SmallApp_RL&hash=item1e66a4a517#ht_1919wt_982

[suspectmonkey]

Im looking forward to see how it goes.

Forget that, the proof is in the pudding - I'm looking forward to seeing how it tastes