A Dozen Ways to Take Your Freeze-Dried Meals to the Next Level
Posted by Mark Richardson on Nov 15, 2023
Freeze Dried food is pretty good these days and here at UOG we Taste Test most of them and tell you our view – this causes arguments in the office so what you get is an average view – helpful if everyone thinks they are great or poor, but not so good if opinion is divided. Check out our Top Ten Winners here
Out on the trail though they can be improved, usually by the addition of one or more items that you take with you or buy en route. If you pass through a village or town with a shop you can pick up some treats. Here are our Top Twelve tips for getting the best out of your meals. Some controversial no doubt, but it's what we do.
1. Salt – Well some are bland so I always take a small container of salt. Of course, it's personal taste and you enjoy the level of salt in food that you get used to and I may just be used to more than average. I nearly always add it to scrambled egg dishes though and after that it's just if I think it will improve the taste.
2. Chocolate Chips are great for adding to muesli, buy chips or chip your own. Of course, chocolate can be difficult to keep in good condition on a trek, especially if it's hot, but in the cooler months it’s a great option.
3. Bananas or Apples – Added to a custard dessert or to muesli really peps them up, bananas won’t last long in your pack so don’t buy too many.
4. Mushrooms – I love fried mushrooms and they can be added to most main meals to add substance and flavour, ideal for curries, pasta dishes and stews. OK, so you need to cook them and that means bringing some oil along too and that might put some people off.
5. Tomato Puree – GSI Outdoors do a condiment bottle set which is ideal for, well, condiments. Tomato puree can be carried and used easily in one of these – add it to tomato based pasta dishes for a fuller flavour.
6. Chilli Jam – A staple at most supermarkets, decant some into an appropriate receptacle and add to any chilli based main meal, adds sweetness and heat, adjust to taste.
7. Nuts – Salted or unsalted peanuts or cashews add interest to a bland-ish curry or most rice dishes.
8. Onions – These need frying like mushrooms before adding them to a meal, but if you make the effort they add real interest.
9. Crackers – I always have a soup starter, even if it's just a Cup-a-Soup, and it's just not the same if I don’t have a few crackers to break up and drop in.
10. Instant Mashed Potato – Tastes great, if your freeze dried meal is a stew the whole experience can be enhanced by mixing some mashed potato and serving both in the same bowl.
11. Cheese – Hard cheeses are easier to keep in good condition on the trail, GSI Outdoors do a backpackers cheese grater or you can slice it thinly and add it to various meals, good with scrambled eggs but also works with Pasta dishes, and soups etc. Parmesan cheese is a good option if added to pasta. Boost the appeal of Mac and Cheese!
12. Sultanas add flavour and texture to porridge, muesli and curries. They are easy to keep in good condition on long multi-day hikes.
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Mark Richardson |
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Mark was the founder of Ultralight Outdoor Gear back in 2006 and has completed long distance backpacking routes in some of the remotest parts of the world. His favourite hikes have been Torres del Paine (full circuit), the John Muir trail and the Markha Valley trail (Ladakh, India). Although semi-retired Mark has not lost any enthusiasm for minimalist backpacking and is tackling Scotland’s Munros choosing multi-day backpacking routes over the more usual guide book excursions. |
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Freeze Dried food is pretty good these days and here at UOG we Taste Test most of them and tell you our view – this causes arguments in the office so what you get is an average view – helpful if everyone thinks they are great or poor, but not so good if opinion is divided.
Out on the trail though they can be improved, usually by the addition of one or more items that you take with you or buy en route. If you pass through a village or town with a shop you can pick up some treats. Here are our Top Ten tips for getting the best out of your meals. Some controversial no doubt, but it's what we do