New food option question

Tbob

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 17, 2016
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So I usually go on quite a few solo pack trips and am getting a little tired of the MT House dinner options for every night in the back country. So here's my new plan, just wanted to get some opinions.
Last month I smoked a few pork shoulders and shredded them all up into pulled pork. With all the left overs I just put dinner sized portions in the food saver and vacuum sealed them and then popped them all in the freezer. So the other night I pulled one straight out of the freezer and dropped into a boiling pot of water.. Within 10-15 min I pulled it out, cut the bag open and it was Delish! Hot and juicy just like I pulled it off the grill..
So now I'm thinking for a 3 day trip, I could freeze a few portion size bags of protein of some sort (pulled pork this time) put it in my pack like a frozen brick and then just throw a vacuum pack of meat in my jetboil when I'm ready to eat. I figure as long as I'm not in the hot desert these packets should stay frozen or cold enough for a few days of dinners.. Maybe take a Mt House for the last night or something...
Anyone else do this?? Just seems like a better way to go not eating those sodium bombs every night that are now sort of all tasting the same to me.. Any thoughts on this? Good or bad?
 

Daniel_M

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Wasilla, Alaska
Portion sized packs won't last more than 4-5 hours at best. I do the same for my Kodiak trips including moose and extended back country trips. I'll pack dinners ahead of time and unless I have a full cooler, everything is thawed the first day.
 

Tsnider

WKR
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Sep 8, 2016
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Carbondale, CO
yeah i wouldnt do that man. i camp a lot in higher cooler elevations, and the meat in my pelican cooler will be thawed out within a day if im using ice that weekend (sometimes use ice packs). those things arent going to stay cold enough in my opinion. dehydrate it.
 

Daniel_M

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Shameless plug for these guys. I was looking for something equal in weight and just as high if not higher in protein, carbs and fats but an alternative to Mtn House. I go all summer eating them, and when August/Sept rolls around I'll stick with the Beef Stro and Biscuits..other than that, I'm burnt out.

Heather's Choice

Dinners | Adventure Appetites
 
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Lakewood, CO
I've heard "Good to Go" is another brand that's not as high in sodium and are o retry good. I'm planning to try some this year but no experience yet.

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Joined
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East Wenatchee, WA
Dehydrate your food, add boiling water back, just like a Mt. House. This is all the girlfriend and I ate last year, and now's the time to experiment and get your portions/water right. Having said that, pork is not a great choice for dehydrating because of the fat content, when it came to meats, we only did chicken and elk burger, specifically because of the low fat content.
 
Joined
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New Mexico
These guys are telling you the safest option.

But I think you're on to something for short term. Yeah, it thaws in 4-5 hours, but it's not spoiling at 5:01. If you're in a situation the temps aren't getting that hot, you ought to be able to keep it at least a couple days cool enough that it's not going to cause any problems. If you have a cold creek nearby, store them under a rock in the creek. If you're certain the packages aren't going to leak, and they're clean on the outside, Your sleeping bag is a great cooler for the pack in, which will buy you some more time. Just be sure there's no food residue, no need to be a pig in a blanket for a bear. Of course you take the weight penalty by not dehydrating, but for a few nights, could be a timesaver.

I'm not saying it's your best option, but I do think it's viable if you manage it carefully.
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2012
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Add it into an idahoan potato packet for additional calories.
I think you'd be fine for a couple days at least.
I would personally dehydrate, mix in potatoes and maybe a bbq sauce pack from the gas station.
 
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T

Tbob

Lil-Rokslider
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Jun 17, 2016
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149
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to give it a try for at least a 2 day trip.. Now I know by day 2 things will definitely be defrosted, but I still think it will be cold enough to safely eat on night 2 for dinner.. I'll let you guys know if i die from rancid meat. Lol....
I'm just trying to avoid dehydrating and eating something more fresh tasting.
 

Daniel_M

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Jan 17, 2013
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Wasilla, Alaska
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to give it a try for at least a 2 day trip.. Now I know by day 2 things will definitely be defrosted, but I still think it will be cold enough to safely eat on night 2 for dinner.. I'll let you guys know if i die from rancid meat. Lol....
I'm just trying to avoid dehydrating and eating something more fresh tasting.

I wouldn't sweat the death part, rather the woodsy shits or bubble guts on a trip. Those always suck. I try to add some extra care to perishable foods, granted in Alaska it's fridge/freezer temps come September. :cool:
 
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Lakewood, CO
One other quick thought is you could wrap it in dry ice. A little extra weight going in but none going out!

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dog812

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Apr 11, 2015
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Dehydrator s are cheap... I take all my left over meals for the couple week s before, dehydrate them... Good to go. Some things come back great, others a little soupy....but you already ate them so you know what they taste like anyway.
 
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IMG_5483.jpgMy hunting buddy introduced me to the dehydrated food approach this last season. He made a lentil stew from a package he picked up at a hippie market in Frisco and added ground turkey. He dehydrated it after it was fully cooked, vacuum sealed and then froze. I think this method ought to have several days of shelf life in the field. With packets of cholua or tapatio it is delicious.
 

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dariian

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Aug 31, 2016
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San Diego, CA
Another vote for Heather's Choice. The breakfast in particular is great.

I bought a $30 dehydrator last year before an Idaho elk hunt and it paid for itself easily. I made fish jerky and dehydrated rice and beans and veggies. I like to know what I'm eating and using the dehydrator to make my own meals was easy as filling it up, turning it on and coming back a few hours later.

I smoked a bunch of tuna and vacuum sealed it also and after two days it was still good. It wasn't cold but it was doable. Definitely a nice treat after a long day.
 

Idahomnts

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Often times I make a "burrito " from left overs to what ever I wan, pre cook the ingredients, let them cool before wrapping in tortilla to avoid condensation and sticking of tortilla to tin foil , some cheese in there , wrap in foil and food saver bag and freeze hard, ive packed couple of them for a couple day pack in insulation of some sort, make a nice fire and cook till cheese melts and tort is golden brown,
Still experimenting with filling content , have noticed eggs don't do so good , elk spaghetti is my favorite, yes weight deduction but damn a hot burrito is good on cold days , great for day hunts ,
 
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