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1-844-WILDOAK - Call or Chat: Mon to Fri 10am-9pm CST and Sundays 11am-7pm
November 27, 2022 3 min read
Packing enough food for several full meals on a camping trip is tough, especially when you have to worry about it spoiling. While camping is synonymous with s'mores and hotdogs, you don't have to compromise your healthy eating habits or change the original flavor!
Fortunately, thanks to Harvest Right freeze dryers, you now have a whole new way to prepare your favorite meals for your trip without carrying around a heavy cooler. Let's talk about how to freeze-dry your own food for your next camping trip!
We all know how good freeze drying fruits can taste. Well, you have options here! Consider making overnight oats that can keep in a cooler for up to 4-5 days and adding freeze-dried fruits for some sweetness. Alternatively, freeze-dry your entire bowl of oatmeal and add some hot water to them when you're ready to enjoy!
Get as creative as you want here. Pasta dishes are incredibly popular freeze-dried meals and for good reason. You can add cheese, vegetables, pasta sauces, and more. This all rehydrates perfectly when it's time to eat.
We recommend cheese macaroni for a nice comfort food on your trip!
Do you enjoy a nice rice bowl? This is a great option to rehydrate on a camping trip, and you can pack a lot of nutrition into them.
Add rice, beans, a protein of your choice (tofu is a great option!), and some vegetables. You can also add cheese, salsa, hot sauce, or corn to make it even better. Once you're ready to eat, all you have to do is slowly add hot water to rehydrate your meal!
Stew or something similar is a great choice for freeze-drying, especially because you can't mess it up! Also, most of its total weight is from water, so freeze-drying can make it very light. When you go to eat it, it won't matter if you overdo the hot water by a little because, well, it's stew!
You can use any broth, vegetables, and protein you like. Although, we recommend a good quality beef stew!
There are plenty of options for freeze-drying desserts, so do whatever you want. You can't go wrong. Did you know that you can even freeze-dry ice cream?
Same as always, make sure you have your mylar bags ready to go, add up to 12-16 pounds of fresh food (average yield is 7-10 lbs for medium-size freeze dryer) to your stainless steel trays, check and filter your oil, and press start on the touch screen. Doing this at home is a great way to save money on healthy food with a long shelf life, which is perfect for outdoor activities!
Make a plan for your nutrition, especially for longer camping trips. A wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins is the best way to go. Legumes, nuts, and seeds won't need freeze-drying, as they're already nutrient- and calorie-dense without carrying too much water weight.
Remember that Harvest Right home freeze dryers can only handle up to 3.5 gallons of food (for the large model) per batch. Because of the necessary dry time, planning should begin as soon as possible. So, plan ahead, as it can take a long time to prepare all of your meals! This is especially true with small freeze dryers.
Also, are you bringing pets with you? You may want to freeze-dry some pet food for them!
With the right planning, you can make up to 20 lbs of food for your next camping trip, and you won't have to worry about your leftovers spoiling in your cooler. Freeze-drying food is the best way to give it a long shelf life
Stay up to date with our latest outdoor adventure tips, and buy a Harvest Right freeze dryer today with free shipping in the United States and Canada!
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