When you’re backpacking, dehydration of your meals can be an incredibly useful way to save time and effort. Dehydrated meals are easy to make, light-weight, and can last for years if stored properly. Here’s how to dehydrate a backpacking meal:
Step 1: Choose Your Ingredients. Select the ingredients you want to include in your meal.
Think about nutrition, taste, and portion size. It’s best to select ingredients that have a low moisture content so they won’t take too long to dehydrate.
Step 2: Prepare the Ingredients. Chop up all of the ingredients into small pieces so they will dehydrate quickly and evenly. If you want to add spices or herbs, mix them into the ingredients now.
Step 3: Spread Out the Ingredients on Trays. Place the chopped up ingredients on trays lined with parchment paper or wax paper and spread out evenly so they don’t touch each other. This will help them dry quickly and evenly.
Step 4: Dehydrate the Ingredients. Place the trays in a dehydrator or oven set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). The drying time will vary depending on what type of ingredients you are using, but it should take about 8-12 hours for most vegetables and fruits.
Step 5: Package Your Meals. Once your ingredients are completely dried out, package them together in airtight containers or vacuum sealed bags for storage. Make sure all air is removed from the package before sealing it shut – this will help keep your meals fresh for longer periods of time.
Conclusion:
Dehydrating meals is an easy way to save time and energy when backpacking. By following these five steps – choosing your ingredients, preparing them, spreading them out on trays, dehydrating them, and then packaging them – you can create delicious dehydrated meals that will last for years if stored properly.