Dehydrated backpacking meals and snacks seem to be the convenient choice for meals on the trail these days. But for all the ease of preparation, you often pay in flavor. (Read our review of backpacking meals here.) But this doesn’t have to be the case. With a little pre-trip prep, you can have great tasting snacks and meals.
One of my favorite ways to perk up a dull backpacking meal is to add a bit of my own home-dried fruits of veggies. This simple step can add a lot more flavor to the mix, and only takes a few hours of prep time. Nesco has some great dehydrators that are worth the price-after only a few batches of dried cherries or strawberries, they will have paid for themselves. Plus, you have the knowledge of how great the produce tasted before it was dried-something you aren’t guaranteed with pre-packaged dried foods.
The best part about dehydrators is that you can dehydrate just about anything. While they are great for drying fruits and veggies, you can also make your own jerky, fruit leathers, and even dehydrate pasta sauce (just add hot water at camp and mix with pasta). If you are a fan of mushrooms in your pasta, they are an easy addition to a pre-packaged pasta meal that could be less than exciting. Before your trip, just slice the mushrooms, toss with your favorite spices, and dry in the dehydrator. At camp, all you have to do is add a little warm water to the mushrooms, and toss them in with the pasta. Simple and easy, but adds a lot of flavor.
And of course, drying your own fruit is a great base for making your own customized trail mix. (My personal favorite is dried cherries, shaved coconut, dark chocolate chips, and dry roasted peanuts). Strawberries are a great intro to drying fruits-they dry quickly and easily, and the flavor packs a punch. Perfect for adding into your morning oatmeal, or eaten plain as a sweet snack.
I haven’t included drying times because most models vary slightly in performance, and it’s always best to refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Most dehydrators come with a booklet that lists recipes, preparation, and drying times for just about anything you could imagine, including nuts and herbs, and are a good place to start because the recipes are designed for the specific model dehydrator.
Do you dehydrate your own food? And if so, what are some of your favorite recipes for on the trail? We’d love to hear about them!
