Freeze-dried meals are some of the most popular options for campers and hikers heading into the wilderness. These convenient meals make the perfect option for camping or hiking trips as they are lightweight, calorie-dense, and above all, tasty after a long day outdoors.
With tons of different flavors and brands of freeze-dried foods on the market, you may be wondering what some of the top options are. Lucky for you our very own Abby Casey of the Outsider Pro Staff is here to guide you in the right direction.
In Outsider’s recent YouTube video, “Which Freeze Dried Meals are Best for Camping,” Casey showcases three breakfast meals by three different brands. All of them are affordable, simple to cook, and of course tasty.
Wise Company – Apple Cinnamon Cereal – $5.99
Although still a great meal for breakfast, Wise Company’s Apple Cinnamon Cereal may be the least convenient of the three in the video. While many freeze-dried foods can be cooked directly in the bag with a little boiling water, Wise Company’s product requires the camper to have a pot with a lid ready.
However, as Casey points out in the video, it may be worth bringing a pot and lid if you have the extra room. The Apple Cinnamon Cereal, which is similar to oatmeal, tastes just how it sounds.
“That’s pretty good oatmeal,” Casey says. “It tastes like apple it tastes like cinnamon — as far as taste goes, I give this a 10 out of 10. As far as preparation, not such a high score unless you’ve got an actual campsite set up with pots and pans.”
OMEALS – Hash Brown Potatoes – $13.94
The OMEALS Hash Brown Potatoes come with a heater in the bag, for easy, no-mess cooking without pots or pans. Just add some water and you’re on your way to a quick and easy hash brown breakfast.
“It’s way easier than the oatmeal packet because you don’t have to have the pots and the pans and all that,” Casey explains. “Everything is in one bag.”
Another plus regarding OMEALS hash brown meal: you don’t have to use your drinking water to cook with. Just head to the nearest creek or stream and use water from there to activate the heating agent. The meal is cooked separately in its own adjacent bag.
After about five minutes, the hash browns are ready to go. Casey says that while they’re not Waffle House hash browns, they are still pretty darn good.
Although this meal is more expensive than the other meals reviewed here, Casey feels it is worth the price due to the convenience of the built-in heater. “I would buy this and take this on a camping trip,” she says. That’s a strong recommendation.
Mountain House – Granola with Milk and Blueberries – $5.95
Last but not least, Casey showcases Mountain House’s Granola with Milk and Blueberries. Mountain House is a well-known brand that can be found easily almost anywhere. “I love Mountain House. I buy their stuff all the time,” Casey quickly states.
Perhaps the most simple-to-put-together meal on the list, the Mountain House product is ready almost instantly. Just pour in a little distilled or filtered water into the bag and mix it around a bit. That’s all there is to it.
Casey, an obvious fan of all things freeze-dried for breakfast, gives this meal a 10 out of 10 as well, thanks to its simplicity and its yummy taste. And while it may not be a diner’s breakfast, it will still give your taste buds something to write home about. Besides, when you’re an Outsider, everything tastes better in the wilderness.
