How Do You Dehydrate Food When Backpacking?

By Michael Ferguson

Dehydrating food is an effective way to reduce the weight and volume of food that you carry on your backpacking trips. It is also a great way to preserve food for extended periods of time. Dehydrating food involves removing moisture from the food, which reduces spoilage, and makes the food easier to transport.

How to Dehydrate Food

Dehydrating food is relatively easy, and there are several methods you can use. The most common method is to use an electric dehydrator, which can be bought from most hardware stores or online. Electric dehydrators are relatively inexpensive, and they will quickly and evenly remove moisture from your food. Another way you can dehydrate food is to use an oven set at a low temperature (usually around 140-150 °F).

This method takes longer than using an electric dehydrator, but it will get the job done if you don’t have access to one. You can also dehydrate food using solar energy by placing it in a sunny spot or in a solar oven. This method works well in dry climates but can take days depending on the weather conditions.

Tips for Dehydrating Food

When dehydrating your own backpacking meals, it’s important to remember that some foods do not dehydrate well. Fruits such as apples and bananas tend to become too soft when dried out completely, so it’s best to leave them slightly under-dried if possible.

Vegetables such as carrots and potatoes should be cut into small pieces before drying, as larger pieces may not dry out evenly or completely. If you plan on rehydrating the food after it has been dried out, make sure that you don’t over-dry it so that it won’t become too hard once rehydrated.

Conclusion

Dehydrating your own backpacking meals is a great way to reduce weight and volume while preserving the quality of your meals for extended trips in the wilderness. With a few simple tips and techniques, anyone can learn how to effectively dehydrate their own meals with ease!