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Best Food for Camping: Keeping it Light
Camping trips are a fantastic way to connect with nature, relax, and enjoy the great outdoors. One of the keys to a successful camping experience is planning your meals wisely. We’ll show you how the best food for camping doesn't have to be limited to nuts, cans, and MREs.
Freeze-drying can help make your camping meals both delicious and convenient with little added weight. You can prepare a complete meal at home as part of your camping preparation, freeze-dry it, and enjoy it in the woods!
At a Glance
Keep It Light
Keeping food lightweight is essential for ease of transport, simpler meal prep, and reducing waste on camping trips.
Ideal Camping Food
Non-perishable essentials like trail mix, granola bars, beef jerky, and peanut butter, along with quick meals such as instant coffee, canned beans, and pasta salad, are ideal.
Freeze-Drying Benefits
Freeze-dried meals preserve flavor and nutrients better than traditional dehydrated options, offering lightweight, tasty, and long-lasting alternatives that diversify your camping menu.
Harvest Right Advantage
A home freeze dryer like Harvest Right allows campers to customize meals, save costs, and enjoy high-quality meals in the woods.
Why Keeping It Light Matters
If you want to survive for more than one night on your camping trip, balancing what you pack is important. With that being said, food tends to take up the most space. The last thing you want is to be bogged down by heavy cooking equipment and cumbersome food supplies.
The food you bring should be both lightweight and have a long shelf-life. Keeping your food light is essential for several reasons. Light food is easier to pack and carry, especially if you're hiking to your campsite. Not a lot of food fit this criteria though, and it'd be a pretty sad trip if all you're eating is canned chickpeas.
Ideal Camping Meals
Non-Perishable Essentials
When it comes to camping food ideas, non-perishable essentials are a must. Trail mix, granola bars, beef jerky, dried fruits, and energy bars are excellent choices because they are lightweight, nutritious, and easy to pack. Peanut butter and other nut butters are also great options, providing a protein boost that pairs well with bread or crackers.
Quick and Easy Meals
- MREs: Great meals that reheat with flameless ration heaters, are calorie-dense, and delicious.
- Instant Coffee & Ground Coffee: For that essential morning brew.
- Powdered Drinks: Powdered milk, juice, coffee, etc. are lightweight and easy to prepare.
- Pasta Salad: Pre-made meals that can be enjoyed cold.
- Canned Beans, Chickpeas, and Tinned Fish: Versatile and easy to use in various dishes.
- Baked Beans: A classic camping comfort food.
- Scrambled Eggs & Fried Eggs: Easily cooked on a portable stove or campfire. If you're camping for a week or more, use unwashed eggs. These have a shelf life of up to a month!
- Hot Dogs: Simple and can be cooked on a campfire. These have an unrefrigerated shelf life of two weeks.
- Grated Cheese & Hard Cheese: Great for adding to meals or enjoying as a snack.
- Graham Crackers: Essential for making s'mores, a sweet camping treat when paired with homemade marshmallows and dark chocolate.
Fresh and Perishable Items
If you want to bring fresh vegetables and fruits, get the ones that don't need to be cooked, such as celery, apples, and berries. Hard-boiled eggs and grated cheese provide convenient, tasty options, while fresh herbs can enhance the taste of your dishes.
Freeze-Drying as a Superior Option
Traditional dehydrated backpacking food has been a go-to for many campers. However, freeze-dried meals are a lighter and more nutritious alternative. Freeze-drying removes moisture while preserving most of the food's flavor and nutrients. This translates to lighter packs and tastier meals on the trail. Freeze-dried foods also have a longer shelf life, making them a perfect option for extended camping trips.
Harvest Right and Freeze-Drying
If you want to enjoy home cooked meals during your camping trip, consider freeze-dried meals.
Commercially available freeze-dried meals are convenient, but if you want full control over your menu, you can invest in a home freeze dryer like Harvest Right. This allows for complete control over your camping food list and will let you stay prepared, whether it's an impromptu camping trip or one that's been planned for months.
Diversify With a Freeze Dryer
With the advent of freeze-drying technology, you can now afford to bring crazier foods that were previously impractical due to weight and perishability. Dehydrated meals like steaks, shrimp, chicken, and other proper food are now possible to enjoy while camping, meaning you no longer have to live off of fresh fruits and cans! Since they're freeze-dried, these easy camping meals are not only delicious but also maintain their nutritional value and flavor.
Tips for an Easy Camping Experience
Meal planning is crucial for ensuring you bring enough food without overpacking. The best food for camping are lightweight and ready-to-eat items that are easy to transport. Use ziplock bags and containers to keep your food organized and fresh.
By incorporating Harvest Right products into your meal planning, you can enjoy the convenience of freeze-dried foods during your camping trip without sacrificing taste or nutrition. Whether you’re on a short camping trip or a multi-day adventure, keeping your food light and easy to prepare will enhance your overall experience.
Have any questions or would like to place an order? We'd love to help! Chat with our friendly customer service team by calling 1-844-945-3625, chatting in on our website or email us at customersupport@wildoaktrail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
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