Wherever you’re headed on your next camping trip and however long it is, one of the most important things to consider is your food supply. As preparing food in the wild isn’t quite as practical when you’re lacking all of your usual kitchen supplies, you’ll often have to switch up your typical food choices for more practical options. One of the most convenient types of camping food is dehydrated food, but what is it, and why is it so commonly used? We’ll cover these questions and everything else you need to know about these meals in this complete guide below.
What Is Dehydrated Food?
Dehydrated food is food that has had nearly all its moisture removed, typically by drying it for long periods in commercial hot-air dryers. Through this process, food can be preserved for much longer, as bacteria and mould need water to grow and therefore can’t grow as effectively. Adding water to them will make them edible again for instant meals.
In addition, the process makes the food much lighter and more compact, making it easier to pack and transport. As a result of these qualities, dehydrated food is a highly convenient camping option that can be prepared just about anywhere and kept for long periods.
What Kinds of Food Can Be Dehydrated?
A wide variety of foods can be dehydrated, so dehydrated camping meals come in many flavours to choose from. Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, sauces, and herbs all lend themselves well to dehydration and rehydration. As such, dehydrated camping meals include pasta dishes, curries, stews, desserts, porridges, and more, providing a wide variety of choices for all tastes.
How Long Does Dehydrated Food Last?
Thanks to their preparation methods, dehydrated food can last between two and five years, depending on the brand. The lack of moisture means that foods take much longer to spoil, as bacteria and fungi cannot grow without water; therefore, dehydrated food can be stored for several years and still be safe to eat.
Is Dehydrated Food Healthy?
Though some may have the misconception that pre-prepared camping meals may have hidden additives, preservatives, or ingredients that make them a less healthy choice than freshly prepared meals, this isn’t the case.
As a result of the dehydration process, there is no need for any artificial ingredients to preserve them. The meals retain their original flavour for long periods and are made with natural ingredients. They retain nearly all their original nutritional value, meaning meals retain most of their calories, protein, nutrients, and vitamins. The only exception is that certain vitamins, such as vitamins A and C, may be reduced or lost, so they will need to be obtained from other sources to avoid deficiencies.
Which Dehydrated Food Is Best for Camping?
The dehydrated food that we most recommend is our collection of TentMeals and Firepot meals. Their collection of meals offers many flavoursome choices to suit all needs and preferences, with savoury and sweet options ideal for camping breakfasts, camping meals, and camping desserts alike.
The Firepot preparation process makes them a preferred choice, as they are all made from natural ingredients, many of which are sourced locally for their Dorset kitchen. In addition, their meals are prepared by dehydrating them whole rather than as separate ingredients. This means their meals taste much more like home-cooked meals than those from many other dehydrated food brands.
TentMeals are also an excellent choice, with all their dehydrated meals being made from natural, healthy ingredients. Their collection features many options that are especially lightweight and compact, making them easy to pack and carry. Each meal is also completely free from any animal products, making them the perfect option for vegan and vegetarian campers.
To suit many different dietary requirements, their range also contains many options for gluten-free camping food, vegan camping food, vegetarian camping food, and lactose-free meals.
Dehydrated Camping Food at Base Camp Food
The many benefits of dehydrated camping food make them perfect for adventurers of all kinds, with tasty meals that are convenient to pack, easy to prepare, and last for many years.
Our dehydrated meals at Base Camp Food, featuring trusted brands such as our TentMeals and Firepot meals, contain many high-energy options to keep you powering through your adventures, with each being full of flavour.
To find out more about our dehydrated camping foods, as well as our equally convenient and flavoursome meals, such as our freeze-dried and wet meals, a member of our team will be more than happy to help you when you get in touch.