Eating 25 Year Shelf-Life Survival Food For Fun

[gungate]

I bought a 3 month supply of 25 year shelf-life survival food and gave 1/2 of it to my in-laws as a gift. They are avid outdoors-people including hunting and fishing for much of their protein. They appreciate being self-reliant. To my surprise they were talking about bringing this with them when they go on fishing outings. I was a bit surprised and told them this really was designed as survival food they store in a cool dry place and forget about until/if they need it. Not really a grab and go meal while camping.

It really isn't a big deal to me certainly the gift wasn't given with any strings. But does anyone here treat survival food like this? I can understand maybe 20 years into the 25 to start eating it and replacing it but the clock for this batch just started.

I have sampled it as a quality check and it is quite good but the rest of mine will not be eaten unless needed for (actual) survival.

 

[Docster]

Many avid outdoor people eat freeze-dried and dehydrated foods for camping/hiking, etc. It isn't and shouldn't be an issue

 

[K31]

OP, I would worry about their expectations of replacing it should an actual emergency take place. I've read more than a couple of times about people telling neighbors about their preparations and the neighbors response is "Good, we'll know where to go then". In one instance during COVID a woman sent her kids to the neighbors because she herself didn't want to go to the grocery store.

 

[mauser58]

I know people that do long hikes like the Appalachian trails carry these foods because of non perishable and light. Just get water and heat and rehydrate and good to go. I am not sure about nutrition wise over moths of eating it.

 

[Brychan]

We use it some. Find your out of flour, sugar, or egg noodles pop a can of the emergency food. Some of the bulk stuff like beans, oatmeal get used regularly.

 

[KingClown]

I freeze dry my own. I take it camping and with me on the boat. Easy to tote around and a campfore or 12v water kettle to boil some water and I have a nice hot fresh tasting meal

 

[Trekker]

I know people that do long hikes like the Appalachian trails carry these foods because of non perishable and light. Just get water and heat and rehydrate and good to go. I am not sure about nutrition wise over moths of eating it.

The light bit is the most important part. With backpacking there is a saying "ounces make pounds, and pounds equal pain". There is only so much weight that can be carried without making the walk unpleasant, and increasing risk of injury. Any weight that is saved eases the walk, or can be put towards luxuries (camp pillow, pack of cards or book, M&Ms, etc.) Freeze dried food is really light, you just need to make sure your campsite has water access for rehydrating the dinner. Even as there are locations where you can walk off the trail into a town to resupply, it might cost you half a day going to and back from town.

I freeze dry my own. I take it camping and with me on the boat. Easy to tote around and a campfore or 12v water kettle to boil some water and I have a nice hot fresh tasting meal

Commercial freeze dried meals cost $10-$15 each, so I also prepare my own. I use my dehydrator on cooked meat strips or beans, and diced vegetables as well. Rice or quinoa makes up the carbohydrate component. I store it in a repurposed water bottle container, and pour out a appropriate measure for dinner.

 

[gungate]

I use "My Patriot Supply" so it ends up being around $3/meal. I understand why they would use the survival food for their "other than emergency use" but I think they just missed the point of the survival part . They aren't hiking miles to their fishing spot. They take their SUV with a new $40k boat attached to the marina. And the majority of their "hunting" is on a stocked, guided pheasant reserve. Now they have started hunting too but have yet to take any larger game.

 

[KingClown]

The light bit is the most important part. With backpacking there is a saying "ounces make pounds, and pounds equal pain". There is only so much weight that can be carried without making the walk unpleasant, and increasing risk of injury. Any weight that is saved eases the walk, or can be put towards luxuries (camp pillow, pack of cards or book, M&Ms, etc.) Freeze dried food is really light, you just need to make sure your campsite has water access for rehydrating the dinner. Even as there are locations where you can walk off the trail into a town to resupply, it might cost you half a day going to and back from town.



Commercial freeze dried meals cost $10-$15 each, so I also prepare my own. I use my dehydrator on cooked meat strips or beans, and diced vegetables as well. Rice or quinoa makes up the carbohydrate component. I store it in a repurposed water bottle container, and pour out a appropriate measure for dinner.

I know its why I bought a freeze dryer. They are well worth the money

 

[Trekker]

Ah, here is a possible reason for eating freeze-dried "survival" food outside of a survival situation:

Before you are in an emergency situation, test the food for taste preference, any gastro-intestinal distress, whether it sticks to and gums up pots, etc. If the freeze dried food tests well, then follow up could be obtaining a stock against emergency situations.

 

[Ponder_MD]

My only gripe against this stuff is the amount of water needed to prepare it.
If you're eating "survival food" you're probably also short on water.

 

[gungate]

My only gripe against this stuff is the amount of water needed to prepare it.
If you're eating "survival food" you're probably also short on water.

This is true. If you are on the "run" so to speak then you would need a water source. If you are in a bug-out location (or sheltering in place) you should have water reserves with your emergency food. That could be in the form of a couple pallets of Deer Park water bottles, 50 gallon drum, or some sort of cistern. I have actually been meaning to get a couple cases of water to put with my survival food. For now I don't have any with the food. In the same respect, also critical to have water purification tablets.

 

[smdub]

We eat Mountain House and Backpackers Pantry all the time while camping. Stuff is super tasty w/ almost no effort. Same stuff as in my 'survival bucket' in the basment.

 

[Trekker]

This is true. If you are on the "run" so to speak then you would need a water source. If you are in a bug-out location (or sheltering in place) you should have water reserves with your emergency food. That could be in the form of a couple pallets of Deer Park water bottles, 50 gallon drum, or some sort of cistern. I have actually been meaning to get a couple cases of water to put with my survival food. For now I don't have any with the food. In the same respect, also critical to have water purification tablets.

Hmm, a bug out location should definitely have a sufficient water source for a prolonged stay. The entire point of a bug out location being a spot to hunker down and start rebuilding from as appropriate. Stored water means being able to stay out of sight or inclement weather longer, but will run out eventually. A renewable water source better allows for a prolonged stay, as long as it does not get contaminated (don't let zombies drown in your fish pond).

On the move, as with backpacking, it is necessary to plan where water is available relative to consumption needs. Evening campsite has a spring / lake / stream, then excellent. Campsite is anticipated to be a dry location, then need to pick up water at the nearest location and carry it to camp.

 

[gamer_jim]

I try to remember to eat my older dehydrated meals to rotate them. The other day I had a 2 1/2 year old tuna casserole stored in a food sealer bag with O2 eater. After re-hydrating it tasted just like it was when I cooked it save the peas needed a lot longer to rehydrate.

I intentionally make my dehydrated meals nutritious and from leftovers of our regular meals. I wonder how healthy the store-bought dehydrated or emergency rations are to eat on a regular basis. I'd be concerned about salt and carb intake on a regular basis.

 

[Muleskinner]

I don't know if it's still true but survival dehy was about half the cost of the dehy they sell in outfitter and camping/hiking retailers. I know several people who were buying it for camping/hiking food pre covid.

 

[Chat-Bot]

You didn't mention the brand and have seen new companies pop up.

This one has been mentioned and decent for camping. Not as cost effective as making your own unless convenience is more valuable.

Freeze Dried Food - Mountain House

Mountain House specializes in freeze-dried foods for all climates & adventures. From Biscuits & Gravy to Chicken Fajitas, we've got you covered! Free ground shipping on all orders!

mountainhouse.com

These are nasty and taste like plastic. They also have a lot shorter lifespan...just a couple years if I remember.

 

[gungate]

You didn't mention the brand and have seen new companies pop up.

This one has been mentioned and decent for camping. Not as cost effective as making your own unless convenience is more valuable.

Freeze Dried Food - Mountain House

Mountain House specializes in freeze-dried foods for all climates & adventures. From Biscuits & Gravy to Chicken Fajitas, we've got you covered! Free ground shipping on all orders!

mountainhouse.com

These are nasty and taste like plastic. They also have a lot shorter lifespan...just a couple years if I remember.

I did in a later post.....

I use "My Patriot Supply" so it ends up being around $3/meal.

 

[pitpawten]

We have a number of Mountain House number 10 cans for emergency use, but every year on our camping trip will take one of them with us as an easy meal on a day when we're doing hiking.

We just started putting away rice in mylar bags and we will probably rotate through them but some kind of basis.

Next step is to start breaking down some of the number 10 cans into smaller mylar bags the kind that stand up on their own with a zipper on the top so that you can pour the boiling water directly into the bag.

Wallaby brand makes good bags for this.

 

[gamer_jim]

You didn't mention the brand and have seen new companies pop up.

This one has been mentioned and decent for camping. Not as cost effective as making your own unless convenience is more valuable.

Freeze Dried Food - Mountain House

Mountain House specializes in freeze-dried foods for all climates & adventures. From Biscuits & Gravy to Chicken Fajitas, we've got you covered! Free ground shipping on all orders!

mountainhouse.com

These are nasty and taste like plastic. They also have a lot shorter lifespan...just a couple years if I remember.

I remember as a kid my parents would take us to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Afterwards at the gift shop we'd get the freeze-dried ice cream that supposedly astronauts ate. I remember thinking this takes like poop but I'm eating like an astronaut--so that's cool.