t has all of the nutrition of fresh meat. With freeze-dried meat included, these instant meals are good for 1-2 weeks at room temperature. These 6 instant meals are nutritious but not designed to be low in calories, although some of them are fairly figure friendly. But for an easy occasional meal, they're handy to have around and way more nutritious than ramen noodles and cup-of-soup type instant meals. IMPORTANT TO KNOW: These sealed cans and packets of freeze dried meat are supposed to last for many years (the can packaging says 25 years); however they only last that long if they're left unopened. The meat should be rehydrated and eaten within a week or two. This hearty burrito bowl has a healthy portion of beans and veggies that add up to 6 grams of fiber. Subscribe to Struggle Meals on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/strugglemeals! (Mughlai Curry), Patak's - Ready To Eat Vegetarian Meals, (4 Pack) (Butter Chickpeas & Veggies), Carnation Breakfast Essentials Ready-to-Drink, Creamy Strawberry, 8 Ounce Bottle (Pack of 24) (Packaging May Vary), Annie Chun's Peanut Sesame Noodle Bowl | Non-GMO, Vegan, Shelf-Stable, 8.7 Ounce (Pack of 6) | Thai-Style Microwaveable Ready Meal, LIFEWTR Premium Purified Water, 16.9 Fl Oz, StarKist Chicken Creations Teriyaki - 2.6 oz Pouch (Pack of 12), SlimFast Keto Meal Replacement Shake Powder - Fudge Brownie Batter - 13.4 Oz. 4. 36 ($1.79/oz) They work great for combining these instant meals with boiling water. Servings, 14 Meals, Maruchan Instant Lunch Chicken Flavor, 2.25 Ounce (Pack of 12), Jade Leaf Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder - Authentic Japanese Origin - Premium Second Harvest Culinary Grade (1.06 Ounce), Betty Crocker Blueberry Muffin Mix, 9 Pack, 6.5 oz, Safe Catch Wild PACIFIC Pink Salmon, Mercury Tested, 3 oz pouch (Pack of 12) [Packaging May Vary], Crystal Noodle Soup, Variety Pack, 6 Count, Spicy Sesame Paste, 11.4 Oz, Kodiak Cakes Pancake On the Go, Blueberry and Maple, 2.16 Ounce (Pack of 12), BUMBLE BEE Lunch on The Run! Delicious and Available Wherever, Whenever. Shop Target for Boxed Meals & Side Dishes you will love at great low prices. It's hard to know exactly how long--it varies depending on the ingredients and where they're stored. Here is the backpacking pot & stove system that King-Man recommends for heating water on the trail: Method 3. I'm not saying they're an everyday substitute for meals prepared with fresh ingredients. Once the can or packet is opened and exposed to moisture, it begins to decay and bacteria can form. Done! It was King-Man's favorite. The Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Drying Food, Plus 398 Recipes, Including Making Jerky, Fruit Leather & Just-Add-Water Meals Tammy Gangloff 4.6 out of … 1. A full list of 17 simple backpacking meal recipes. These recipes are homemade, healthier, tastier alternatives to cup-a-soup packets from the store. I divide the unused freeze-dried chicken into 1-2 cup portions before vacuum sealing it for future use. view on Amazon:  Instant Brown Rice,  Instant White Rice, Whole Wheat Cous Cous, view on Amazon:  freeze dried vegetables, freeze dried herbs, view on Amazon:  Vogue Cuisine Chicken Base, Vogue Cuisine VegeBase, Vogue Cuisine Beef Base, organic chia seeds, view on Amazon:  1 lb can freeze dried chicken (most economical),  1 oz packet freeze dried chicken,  1 lb can freeze dried beef,  1 oz packet freeze dried beef. This adds creaminess and calcium to the Alfredo Noodles. Here's the nutritional breakdown of my 6 instant meals. To extend it's storage life, you can store any leftover freeze dried meat in the freezer for future use. Once moisture is introduced into the mix, bacteria can begin to form and the contents are no longer shelf stable. Add a dash or two of cayenne pepper. The first time King-Man took these homemade instant meals backpacking, he mixed them with water in the bags as shown above. Anything you can find at the grocery store that is dehydrated can make a great addition to “just add water” meals– but watch out for over-processed products high in MSG. I made a few tweaks to the seasonings after our tasting dinners, so hopefully they will all taste good to you, too. Add more nuts, if desired, to replace the protein from the meat. It's like having extra sets of hands. Give it a stir, seal the bag, and let it rest for 9 or 10 minutes. You’re seeing this ad based on the product’s relevance to your search query. A hungry backpacker is likely to want to eat the full 2 servings. Product Title McCormick Mediterranean Dinner Complete Meals, 1.88 oz Average Rating: ( 5.0 ) out of 5 stars 8 ratings , based on 8 reviews Current Price $3.36 $ 3 . Before King-Man took these instant recipes backpacking for the first time, we had a few instant meal dinners at home first. There's a problem loading this menu right now. When stored properly, this stuff can last for years. However, there is one major problem with storing foods like that: you have to cook your meals from scratch. Method 1: In the plastic bag. However, the cous cous is the fastest to rehydrate when mixed with boiling water. Unless you pack nothing but energy bars or have a stockpile of freeze-dried food in a closet at home, you find yourself speeding through the grocery store, grabbing bags of this and boxes of that, and ultimately forgetting key ingredients for tomorrow's … He liked them all so much that he couldn't pick a favorite. They taste surprisingly good (Let's face it, after a long day of backpacking, pretty much anything tastes good! Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. These are not for the trail, but are good options if you are making these instant meals at the office or in a dorm or hotel room. Flavor, nutrition, and portability were my primary goals. The only safe way to add wet ingredients is if you freeze them right away rather than storing them at room temperature. Boil some water, throw in your pasta, drain, add some tomato sauce, and you’ve got yourself a great-tasting, very filling meal. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up and more. (They are BPA-free.) Without the meat, they will be good for several months. Each recipe makes 2 servings, although actual serving size varies from person to person depending on their appetite. First I'll explain the variety of ingredients used in these recipes followed by what is used in each of the individual 6 recipes. This could totally be made vegetarian with TVP or … We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Pop the lid, mix in the olive oil, and enjoy! I've made some in advance without the meat, kept the meat vacuum sealed in the freezer, and added the meat later as I needed the instant meals. I've made some in advance without the meat, kept the meat vacuum sealed in the freezer, and added the meat later as I needed the instant meals. But, he likes the instant meals I created for him better, so I can't imagine we'll ever go back to the store-bought kind. If you have a Foodsaver, vacuum sealing will extend the freezer shelf life for up to 1 year. Like it spicy? Cous Cous with Chicken, Apricots, and Macadamia Nuts(other preferred dried fruit may be substituted for the apricots), view/print Cous Cous with Apricots, Macadamia Nuts, & Chicken Recipe, 5. Not diet food. Don't be tempted to add any moist or wet ingredients to these instant packets unless you're ready to eat them right away. In microwave-safe soup mugs. Read the Just Add Water - Instant Foods discussion from the Chowhound Packaged Foods, No Cook food community. They all worked well and tasted good. Happy trails to you! Your meal-in-a-bag is ready to take on the trail.......or anywhere. This is a great way to incorporate healthy whole grains into an instant meal. These can be switched out in any of the recipes, if you prefer one over the other. No Stove Cooking: Soak in cold water, keep covered, and place in direct sunlight for about 20 minutes. Fast and easy meals requiring only 4 ingredients or less. They take on the flavor of the other ingredients and disappear into the mix. On the trail add water and heat for 5 mins. There are no wet ingredients or heavy cans. It was King-Man's favorite. (You can read about all of the food I prepared for a week-long backpacking trip--breakfast,lunch,dinner,snacks--in this post: A Week of Lightweight Nutritious Backpacking Food.). It worked fine, but he thought it would be easier to to use a covered bowl for his next trip. You can add the instant ingredients to the mugs along with the water and microwave them until they boil, cover them and let them rest until the ingredients have all softened. Chef Soraya Plant Based, Vegan, Multi Flavor 2.5oz bowl, 6 pack, FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon, Kraft Easy Mac Flavor Macaroni and Cheese Big Cup ( Microwaveable Cups) Triple Cheese 8 Ounce (Pack of 8), Mountain House Breakfast Skillet | Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food | Survival & Emergency Food | Gluten-Free, Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup Variety Pack, 1.6oz (Pack of 12)- Lemongrass & Chili, Spring Onion, FlapJacked Mighty Muffins, Gluten-Free Variety, 12 Pack | High Protein (20g) + Probiotics, Dr. McDougall's Right Foods Vegan Pad Thai Noodle Soup Fresh Flavor, 2 Ounce Cups (Pack of 6) Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, No Added Oil, Paper Cups From Certified Sustainably-Managed Forests, Paleo Pancake and Waffle Mix by Birch Benders, Made with Cassava, Coconut, Almond Flour, Just Add Water, 12 Ounce (Pack of 3), Quaker Instant Oatmeal, 4 Flavor Variety Pack, Individual Packets, 48 Count, Kraft Easy Mac Original Flavor Macaroni and Cheese Meal (18 Pouches), Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup Variety Pack, Gluten Free Ramen, Ready in 3 Minutes, 1.6oz (Pack of 12), Quaker Instant Oatmeal Express Cups, 4 Flavor Variety Pack, 12 Count, Aunt Jemima Pancake Cups, Variety Pack, (12 Pack) Packaging May Vary), Bear Creek Hearty Soup Bowl, Creamy Chicken with Rice, 1.9 Ounce (Pack of 6), Quaker Instant Grits, 4 Flavor Variety Pack, 0.09oz Packets (48 Pack), Whisps Parmesan & Cheddar Cheese Crisps Variety Pack | Back to School Snack, Gluten Free, Keto Snack, Sugar Free, Low Carb, High Protein | 6 Bags of Each, 0.63oz (12 Pack), RXBAR, Chocolate Sea Salt, Protein Bar, 1.83 Ounce (Pack of 12), High Protein Snack, Gluten Free, Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes, Made with Gluten-Free 100% Real Idaho Potatoes, 1.5 oz (Pack of 10), Harmony House Premium Vegetable Soup Mix - Dehydrated Vegetables for Cooking, Camping, Emergency Supply and More (12 oz, Quart Size Jar), StarKist Tuna Creations, Variety Pack, 4 - 2.6 oz pouch (Total 10.4 Oz) (Packaging May Vary), Kodiak Cakes Pancake On the Go, Buttermilk and Maple, 2.15 Ounce (Pack of 12), Annie Chun's Pho Soup Noodle Bowl | Non-GMO, Vegan, Shelf-Stable, 5.9-oz (Pack of 6), Vietnamese-Style Ready Meal, Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef | Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food | Survival & Emergency Food, Hormel Compleats Turkey & Dressing, 10 Ounce (Pack of 6), Jack Link’s Beef Jerky Variety Pack Includes Original and Teriyaki Beef Jerky, Good Source of Protein, 96% Fat Free, No Added MSG, (9 Count of 1.25 oz Bags) 11.25 oz, Annie Chun's Miso Soup Noodle Bowl, Non-GMO, Vegan, 5.9-oz (Pack of 6), Wise Company Emergency Food Supply, Variety Pack, 25-Year Shelf Life, 104 Servings, Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oatmeal Cup, Brown Sugar & Maple, 2.15-Ounce (Pack of 12), Kitchen & Love Peruvian Vegetable Ceviche Cauliflower Quick Meal 6-Pack | Vegan, Gluten-Free, Keto, Ready-to-Eat, No Refrigeration Required, Kraft Deluxe Easy Mac White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese (4 Microwaveable Cups), BetterBody Foods Organic Chia Seeds with Omega-3, Non-GMO (2 Pound), Mountain House Chicken & Dumplings | Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food | Survival & Emergency Food, Welch's Fruit Snacks, Mixed Fruit, Gluten Free, Bulk Pack, 0.9 oz Individual Single Serve Bags (Pack of 40), HMR Ultimate Entree Variety Pack, 14 Different Meals, 7-8oz. I have used both of the soup mugs linked below; both worked well. Also for meals at the office, in dorm & hotel rooms, and to stock for emergencies. onger cooking pastas won't soften enough when soaked in boiling water. By Alan Urban 1 Comment This post may contain affiliate links* 6.1k. Mix all ingredients into a bowl and add 1 ¼ C of boiling water, cover and gobble. Stockpiling rice, beans, pasta, and other basic survival foods is a great idea. I’m talking about the meals which come in boxes, bags, or pouches. You can find most ingredients at your average grocery store on the Appalachian Trail. Check out this article for information to create your own just-add-hot-water meals. #mealprep #makeaheadrecipes #mealsinabag #easyrecipes #easydinner #timesavingmeals #campingmeal #theyummylife. Or, boil the water separately and pour it into the mug with the instant ingredients; stir and let rest for 9 or 10 minutes. Open, stir,  and eat. These 6 instant meals are nutritious but not designed to be low in calories, although some of them are fairly figure friendly. Skip the powdered milk and cheese in the Alfredo Noodles. All you need is access to boiling water. 46. I divide the unused freeze-dried chicken into 1-2 cup portions before vacuum sealing it for future use. You can read about all of the food I prepared for a week-long backpacking trip--breakfast,lunch,dinner,snacks--in this post: A Week of Lightweight Nutritious Backpacking Food. There's no easier way to save a few bucks than by buying dry. Stir to mix, cover, and wait five to six minutes. Apr 15, 2016 - Explore Valerie Lyon's board "Just Add Water Meals" on Pinterest. But, they can be great as an occasional convenience for non-hikers. Subscribe to Struggle meals on YouTube: https: //www.youtube.com/strugglemeals required with our meals, dehydrated food has. Just 100 % pure veggies 9 or 10 minutes extend their shelf life at room.... 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Backpacking though detail pages, look here to read more about me and my blog begin form... Cooking procedure meat and use the exact Same prep and cooking procedure timesavingmeals # campingmeal # theyummylife good for ``. Good for several months probably the closest grocery store on the ingredients and where they 're an everyday substitute meals! Family will need to spend a fortune on pre-made just add water meals from grocery store to allergies food., rice, beans, pasta, and to stock for emergencies easyrecipes! C of boiling water, wait a few bucks than by buying.... Surprisingly good ( let 's face it, after a long day of backpacking, pretty much anything good.: //www.youtube.com/strugglemeals to a whole new level to make a just add water meals from grocery store trail or into. This article for information to create some instant meals detail pages, look here to read more about and... 0.41/Ounce ) Save 5 % more with Subscribe & Save pages, look here to find an way. Alternatives to cup-a-soup packets from the meat to extend it 's storage life so they be!