Hiking takes a lot of energy. After a long day on the trail, you need to pause and refuel. Trail mix is perfect for a quick pick-me-up, but you need a meal to replace the energy you’ve lost. The best freeze dried food options on the market will help you recover and continue your hike.
Freeze dried food is shelf-stable and easy to carry in a backpack. Whether you’re going to be on the trail for a few days or a week, it can be an important supplement to your food supply.
Just because you’re exhausted from hiking doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste. This guide will help you find the best freeze dried food for your hike and your palate.
For more of our top backpacking gear recommendations, check out the Best Backpacking Stoves.
Quick Answer - The Best Freeze Dried Food For Hiking
- Mountain House Beef Stroganoff
- Mountain House Chili Mac
- Good To-Go Thai Curry
- Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai Veggie
- Good To-Go Classic Marinara Penne
- Backpacker’s Pantry Red Beans and Rice
- Paleo Meals Summit Savory Chicken
Comparison Table - Best Freeze Dried Food for Hiking
For the best experience turn your device horizontally| Name | Servings | Calories per Serving | Sodium | Price | Rating | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain House Beef Stroganoff | 2.5 | 260 | 800 mg | $ | 4.6 | Read Review |
| Mountain House Chili Mac | 2.5 | 230 | 780 mg | $ | 4.6 | Read Review |
| Good To-Go Thai Curry | 2.0 | 380 | 500 mg | $$ | 4.5 | Read Review |
| Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai Veggie | 2.0 | 460 | 480 mg | $ | 4.3 | Read Review |
| Good To-Go Classic Marinara Penne | 2.0 | 460 | 360 mg | $$ | 4.2 | Read Review |
| Backpacker’s Pantry Red Beans and Rice | 2.0 | 300 | 1,160 mg | $ | 4.1 | Read Review |
| Paleo Meals Summit Savory Chicken | 1.0 | 300 | 140 - 730 mg | $$ | 4.1 | Read Review |
| Name | Servings | Calories per Serving | Sodium | Price | Rating | Review |
Reviews - The Best Hiking Freeze Dried Food
Mountain House Beef Stroganoff
Specs
- Calories per Serving: 260
- Servings: 2.5
- Sodium: 800 mg
BEST FOR: HIKING AND BACKPACKING
PROS: Tastes good, noodles have nice texture and consistency, packaging is easy to pack out
CONS: High in sodium, beef takes a while to rehydrate, single serving size is too small
Mountain House Chili Mac
Specs
- Calories per Serving: 230
- Servings: 2.5
- Sodium: 780 mg
BEST FOR: HIKING AND BACKPACKING
PROS: Tastes good, well-seasoned, packaging is easy to pack out
CONS: High in sodium, watery, noodles take a while to cook, single serving size is too small
Good To-Go Thai Curry
Specs
- Calories per Serving: 380
- Servings: 2.0
- Sodium: 500 mg
BEST FOR: HIKING AND BACKPACKING
PROS: Tastes good, rice has a nice texture, well-seasoned, lower in sodium, lots of vegetables, gluten-free
CONS: Expensive, single serving size is too small, takes a long time to cook
Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai Veggie
Specs
- Calories per Serving: 460
- Servings: 2.0
- Sodium: 480 mg
BEST FOR: HIKING AND BACKPACKING
PROS: Inexpensive, high in protein, gluten-free, vegan
CONS: Single serving size is too small, a little bland, watery, noodles don’t always cook through
Good To-Go Classic Marinara Penne
Specs
- Calories per Serving: 460
- Servings: 2.0
- Sodium: 360 mg
BEST FOR: HIKING AND BACKPACKING
PROS: Tastes good, noodles have nice texture and consistency, lower in sodium, vegan, gluten-free
CONS: Expensive, single serving size is too small, takes a long time to cook, noodles do not always rehydrate properly
Backpacker’s Pantry Red Beans and Rice
Specs
- Calories per Serving: 300
- Servings: 2.0
- Sodium: 1,160 mg
BEST FOR: HIKING AND BACKPACKING
PROS: Tastes good, inexpensive, gluten-free, vegan
CONS: Very high in sodium, single serving size is too small, a little bland, takes a long time to cook, texture is slightly off, beans don’t always cook through, watery
Paleo Meals Summit Savory Chicken
Specs
- Calories per Serving: 300
- Servings: 1.0
- Sodium: 140 - 730 mg
BEST FOR: HIKING AND BACKPACKING
PROS: Tastes good, has nice texture and consistency, separate salt packet for control over the level of sodium in the meal, high in protein, paleo, gluten-free, very filling
CONS: Expensive, not flavorful enough, short shelf life
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FREEZE DRIED FOODS
TASTE
If you don’t like your food, you’re not going to eat it. The bar sometimes seems lower when you’ve just covered a lot of miles, but taste is still important!
The freeze dried food made today is much better than what was on the market 20-30 years ago. That said, some products still have weird texture and aftertaste issues.
You don’t want to be disappointed when you’re desperate to get some calories into your body. Try your freeze dried meals out before you get on the trail. Sampling it will give you the opportunity to make sure you find it tasty.
Testing your meals lets you troubleshoot the cooking process. It will also give you time to figure out how to make it fit your palate. Sometimes, the best way to make a freeze dried meal great is to add a little spice.
You can’t make the best freeze dried food without hot water. Find the right stove for your trip with our guide to the best backpacking stoves.
CALORIES
Your caloric intake is crucial when you’re hiking. According to Mayo Clinic, a 160-pound person can burn 438 calories per hour hiking. Backpackers burn approximately 511 calories per hour on the trail.
What do these numbers mean? If you’re hiking or backpacking for five hours or more, you will burn an enormous amount of calories.
Choose a freeze dried meal with enough calories to replace what you’ve lost exercising. You may even need to eat more than one serving of your freeze dried food. You don’t want to stuff yourself, but you want to select a meal that will leave you feeling satisfied.
SODIUM
Like soup and other preserved foods, many freeze dried meals are high in sodium. Sodium, aka salt, adds flavor to food. It also helps to keep it fresh.
However, too much sodium in your diet is unhealthy. It can raise your blood pressure and put you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. For this reason, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.
With freeze dried food, it can be easy to exceed this number – especially if you eat all 2.5 servings in a bag.
Be conscious of how much sodium you’re eating in each serving. Strike a balance by alternating high-sodium freeze dried foods with lower sodium ones. Also, consider supplementing your freeze dried food with lower sodium foods throughout the day.
What if you’re on a low-sodium diet? Are there still freeze dried options available? Yes! Companies like Harmony House Foods sell basic items that you can use to create your own freeze dried meals. There’s little to no sodium included, so you have the freedom to add as much or as little as you would like to your meal.
PROTEIN
Protein helps your muscle fibers repair themselves, which can help you recover from exercise.
Recovery time is vital when you’re on the trail. On a long backpacking journey, you need to be able to get up and hike day after day. Look for freeze dried foods that are high in protein and can give you the edge you need to continue.
In need of more energy while hiking or backpacking? Check out our article about making coffee while camping.
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