Best products from r/trailmeals
We found 49 comments on r/trailmeals discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 174 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Reusable Silicone Food Storage Bags Set of 6 - LARGE Size 50 OZ Small Size 30 OZ Airtight Zip Seal Bags Keep Your Food Fresh Bag For Cooking, Sous Vide, Lunch, Snack, Sandwich, Freezer
2 LARGE HERMETIC PRODUCE SAVER BAGS 50 OZ/1.5L/6 cups to store family portions and meal prep; 4 SMALL BAG 30 OZ/1L/4 cups for snacks, fruits and veggies, sandwiches.Our SOUS VIDE BAGS are made of SAFE ECO FRIENDLY and CERTIFIED FOOD GRADE SILICONE.Hermetically sealed closure preserves and extends th...
2. Excalibur 3926TB 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator with Temperature Settings and 26-hour Timer Automatic Shut Off for Faster and Efficient Drying Includes Guide to Dehydration Made in USA, 9-Tray, Black
10 YEAR Limited CoverageCAPACITY - The 9-Tray electric food dehydrator has 15 square feet of drying space and offers plenty of space for your favorite snacks.TIME AND TEMPERATURE - Features a 26-hour timer and adjustable thermostat. The thermostat ranges from 105 degrees Fahrenheit to 165 degrees Fa...
3. NESCO FD-75A, Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, Gray
- EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION: 600 watts of drying power provides even heat distribution; consistent drying that is four times faster than other food dehydrators
- ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL: The adjustable temperature control (95°F -160°F) gives you the flexibility to achieve the best results when drying different foods that need varying temperature settings
- EXPANDABLE TO 12 TRAYS: Comes with five (13 1/2″ diameter) trays and expands up to 12 trays so you can dry large quantities at once with no tray rotation needed; additional trays sold separately
- EXPANDABLE TO 12 TRAYS: Comes with five (13 1/2″ diameter) trays and expands up to 12 trays so you can dry large quantities at once with no tray rotation needed; additional trays sold separately
- ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: (2) Fruit Roll Sheet, (2) Clean-A-Screens, a sample of Jerky Seasoning & Cure, and (1) Care & Use Guide
- MADE IN THE USA: Proudly made in the USA of global and domestic components. Only the powerhead of this item is imported from China. The rest of the product is 100% made and assembled in the USA
Features:
4. Coconut Milk Cream Powder Chao Thai Size 60 G(2.0 Oz) X 5 Bags
- Made from coconut milk.
- Easy way to cook for all your cuurry ,No squeezing,No fuss,No Mess
- No Preservatives added
- Product of Thailand. (Ship from Thailand).
Features:
5. Valley Fresh 100% Natural White Chicken Cuts Pouch, 7 Ounce (Pack of 12)
- Fully cooked, ready to eat chicken in no drain pouch
- 12 grams of protein; 70 calories per serving
- No preservatives added; minimally processed, no artificial ingredients
- No refrigeration necessary until opened; no prep or clean up required
- Gluten free and nutritious; perfect for part of a quick tasty meal
Features:
6. Rome Industries 1705 Pie Iron Sandwich Cooker
- The Original Pie Iron Since 1964
- Heavy Duty Square Cast Iron Design
- 28 inch Overall Length
- Toasts Pies and Sandwiches With Ease
- Great Fun For Firepits
- The Original Pie Iron Since 1964
- Heavy Duty Square Cast Iron Design
- 28 inch Overall Length
- Toasts Pies and Sandwiches With Ease
- Great Fun For Firepits and inchStaycations inch
Features:
7. Starkist Tuna Creations Variety Bundle, Single Serve 2.6-Ounce Pouch (Pack of 5) includes 1-Pouch Sweet & Spicy + 1-Pouch Hickory Smoked + 1-Pouch Herb & Garlic + 1-Pouch Ranch + 1-Pouch Lemon Pepper
- Starkist Tuna Creations Variety Pack - 5 Pack
- 1 Sweet & Spicy, 1 Hickory Smoked, 1Herb & Garlic, 1 Ranch, 1 Lemon Pepper
- 80 to 110 Calories Per Pouch
- High In Protein and Low In Fat and Calories
Features:
8. Spam Single Classic, 2.5 Ounce Pouch (Pack of 24)
- Canned luncheon meat brand
- Fully cooked canned pork with ham
- 0 grams trans fat per serving; 1 grams sugar per serving
- 9 grams of protein with 210 calories per serving
- Shelf stable; does not require refrigeration until after it's opened
Features:
9. Santa Fe Bean Company Instant Southwestern Style Refried Beans 7.25-Ounce (Pack of 8) Instant Southwestern Style Refried Beans, High Fiber, Gluten-Free, A Great Source of Protein, Low Fat
- PUT SOME BEANS ON IT: Santa Fe Southwestern Style Refried Beans are great on nachos, quesadillas, tostadas, tacos, burritos, or as a nutritious side dish for any Mexican meal. They're high fiber, low fat, cholesterol free & a delicious source of protein.
- SANTA FE BEAN COMPANY DEHYDRATED BEANS: Santa Fe Beans are convenient, nutritious and full of flavor. We make dehydrated beans because they're easy to make, retain more of their nutrients than canned beans, and taste like gourmet homemade beans in no time.
- TACO TUESDAY JUST GOT EASIER: Canned beans can be messy & inconvenient, and soaking beans overnight takes time. We make instant, dehydrated beans in easy tear pouches. They're great as backpacking or camping rations or as a part of any healthy meal.
- FOR FAST & EASY MEALS: Try our vegetarian refried beans, refried black beans, southwestern style refried beans, pinto beans, Borracho Beans made with dehydrated pinto beans, & chipotle refried beans. Add them to boiling water & they're ready in minutes.
- IF YOU'VE TRIED OTHER BEANS like Rosarita Refried Beans, La Preferida Refried Beans, Santiago Beans, Amy's Beans, Old El Paso Refried Beans, 365 Organics Beans, or La Sierra Beans, you're sure to fall in love with Santa Fe Bean Company's delicious beans.
Features:
10. Backpack Gourmet: Good Hot Grub You Can Make at Home, Dehydrate, and Pack for Quick, Easy, and Healthy Eating on the Trail
Backpack Gourmet
11. Excalibur 3500B 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator with Adjustable Thermostat Accurate Temperature Control Faster and Efficient Drying Made in USA, Black
10-YEAR LimitedSIZE: 5 poly-screen trays equaling 8 square feet of drying space are perfect space for preserving extras from the garden.TEMPERATURE: The Excalibur 3500B Deluxe Dehydrator features built in on/off switch and adjustable thermostat temperature control ranging from 105 degrees Fahrenheit...
12. Santa Fe Bean Company Instant Fat Free Vegetarian Refried Beans 7.25-Ounce (Pack of 8) Instant Vegetarian Refried Beans; All Natural; High in Fiber; Fat Free; Gluten-Free
- PUT SOME BEANS ON IT: Santa Fe Refried Beans are great on nachos, quesadillas, tostadas, tacos, burritos, or as a nutritious side dish for any Mexican meal. They're all natural, cholesterol free, high fiber, gluten-free & a delicious source of protein.
- SANTA FE BEAN COMPANY DEHYDRATED BEANS: Santa Fe Beans are convenient, nutritious and full of flavor. We make dehydrated beans because they're easy to make, retain more of their nutrients than canned beans, and taste like gourmet homemade beans in no time.
- TACO TUESDAY JUST GOT EASIER: Canned beans can be messy & inconvenient, and soaking beans overnight takes time. We make instant, dehydrated beans in easy tear pouches. They're great as backpacking or camping rations or as a part of any healthy meal.
- FOR FAST & EASY MEALS: Try our vegetarian refried beans, refried black beans, southwestern style refried beans, pinto beans, Borracho Beans made with dehydrated pinto beans, & chipotle refried beans. Add them to boiling water & they're ready in minutes.
- IF YOU'VE TRIED OTHER BEANS like Rosarita Refried Beans, La Preferida Refried Beans, Santiago Beans, Amy's Beans, Old El Paso Refried Beans, 365 Organics Beans, or La Sierra Beans, you're sure to fall in love with Santa Fe Bean Company's delicious beans.
Features:
13. True Lime Shaker (2pk)
- INCLUDES: 2 Lime Shakers
- 100% Natural Ingredients with no artificial sweeteners, colors, sodium or preservatives
- 0 calories, 0g carbs, 0g sugar and no artificial sweeteners
- No artificial colors, preservatives, sodium or gluten
- ½ tsp = 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Features:
14. Lobo Brand Thai Kao Soi Seasoning - 1.76 (3 Packs)
Order more than one item and save on shipping.
15. SWEET SUE Chicken Breast, High Protein Food, Keto Food and Snacks, Gluten Free Food, High Protein Snacks, Bulk Canned Food, 7 Ounce Pouches (Pack of 12)
- SWEET SUE CANNED CHICKEN BREAST: Our SWEET SUE Premium Chicken Breast Pouch contains premium chicken breast fully cooked to perfection
- QUALITY IN EVERY CAN: Each 7-ounce chicken pouch in this pack of 6 contains tender, flavorful white meat chunks that are 98% fat free and ready to add into your favorite recipes
- HIGH IN PROTEIN AND GLUTEN FREE: SWEET SUE chicken pouches are 98% fat free, gluten free and high in protein—they're a great keto food and keto snack for individuals following a keto or paleo diet
- CONVENIENT AND VERSATILE: Enjoy SWEET SUE chicken as a great-tasting, protein-packed snack or a quick meal—easily prepare a delicious lunch or dinner with premium SWEET SUE chicken pouches
- SWEET SUE CHICKEN: With SWEET SUE chicken pouches, it's never been easier to enjoy your favorite chicken recipes, including chicken salad, chicken noodle soup, chicken pot pie and more!
- CHICKEN POUCH: SWEET SUE chicken pouches are a tasty and convenient alternative to whole chicken, chicken thighs and chicken wings—these chicken breast pouches are perfect for salads, sandwiches, or wraps
- SWEET SUE: You can always count on delicious, home-style recipes from the kitchens of Sweet Sue
Features:
16. Set of 3 - 14 x 14 Inches - Excalibur ParaFlexx Ultra Silicone Re-usable Non-stick Dehydrator Sheets
Set of 3 Excalibur Dehydrator Easy to clean Sheets - Each measures 14 x 14 inches squareSheet is Non-stick and Re-usable - Silicone ParaFlexx Ultra dehydrator Silicone SheetsFits Excalibur 2500, 2900 & 3900 Series DehydratorsIdeal Gift for Home Bakers - Perfect for making roll-ups, cookies, crackers...
17. Premium Vegetable Soup Mix - Dehydrated (12 oz. Quart Size Jar) by Harmony House Foods
FARM SOURCED: All of our carefully selected vegetables are gently air dried; No additives or preservatives; Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Kosher OUNUTRIENT RICH: Dehydrated at the peak of their nutrient value, you get more of the nutrition your body needsSAVE TIME, SAVE MONEY: 12-ounces of dried vegetable s...
I've found that one of the keys is to get them involved with the cooking. If you make it fun for them to cook while camping, they'll eat every bit of what they help with. I threw in a few ideas that you can cook without any pots/pans (just a fire and grate) which has the extra benefit of cutting down cleanup. It's advisable to bring some fire gloves and tongs, though.
WORD OF CAUTION: These are great meals for the kids to help with, but closely supervise them around the fire. Depending on their ages, only the adults should be placing or removing food from the fire/coals.
For dessert - all kids like dessert:
Baked apples - core an apple. Mix brown sugar and cinammon and fill the core. Plug each end with marshmallows. Wrap in aluminum foil and let it sit in the coals until done (turn over in 5 minutes, remove in 10). They taste like apple pie.
Banana boats - Pull one peel of the banana (leave it dangling). Scoop out some banana to make a sort of canoe. Fill it with marshmallow pieces and chocolate chips. Put the peel back together and wrap in aluminum foil. Put it in hot coals until done (about 10 minutes)
For dinner:
foil packs are good for kids because they make their own and they can be rather creative. You'll need a selection of sliced foods for them to build their meal. Slice the potatoes, add veggies and even meat (hot dogs, hamburger, etc.) Season to taste and put the entire foil pack on the hot coals. Turn about half way through. Let it on the fire until the meat (if any) and potatoes are cooked (about 30-40 minutes.) My kids have even thrown in the occasional chocolate chip. Note that you might want to spray some PAM or butter the inside of the foil before assembly.
Steak - This normally isn't a kid favorite, but if you involve the kids with the dry-rub preparation before you go on the trip, then they'll be looking forward to helping to cook their meal. Before you leave home, get some steak and dry rub a mix of paprika and salt on both sides of the steak. If you don't have a means to keep cold food, freeze the steak and eat it for the first meal since it it will have thawed by dinner time. Just put the steak on the grill and cook it, flipping it once. Cook to desired doneness.
Bonus - if you don't mind buying some extra equipment:
Mountain pie makers - get a couple of these and the ideas are limitless. My kids love making their own - mini pizzas are among their favorites.
Enjoy!
Flexible plastics engineer here. I recommend against using Ziploc brand bags, freezer or otherwise, for pouring boiling water into. They are made of a polyethylene material, which on it's own softens around 195 deg F. Boiling water can definitely cause additive chemicals (stable at normal temps) to leach out of the bag into your food. If you call Ziploc, they will also tell you not to pour boiling water into their bags.
They're more expensive, but using retort grade flexible packages, like what other commenters suggested, is the safe way to go. They're constructed with materials that the FDA rates as safe for food contact and for cooking inside of at elevated temperatures (200+ deg F), and are designed to be safe in this kind of application. These are most similar to the materials found in Mountain House or similar dehydrated meals, and are often sturdy enough to be reused at least a few times.
Silicone bags would be my recommended (and even more reusable!) alternative.
As for using the Knorr sides bag itself, I can't say I would recommend it. It's also got polyethylene elements, though it also contains materials that are "safer" at the temps required. Considering these items tend to be best when prepared over sustained heat, I would say cooking them in a mess kit or pot is the best course.
If you're just cold soaking, the original packaging should more than suffice!
Trail staples like peanut butter, Nutella, trail mix, hard candies/chocolates will all keep really well without refrigeration. Things like Spam Singles and tuna singles are really shelf stable and versatile. Instant oatmeal is also an easy breakfast and pretty negligible in terms of weight, especially since all you need is some hot water. I like taking instant polenta for the same reason - fills you up, takes 3 minutes to cook and is great with some salami or cheese mixed in.
There's also a supermarket chain in Iceland called Bonus and there are quite a few of them around the place. They have a huge selection of things like salami and hard cheeses which were staples of what I carried while I was there (spent 3.5 weeks hiking/camping the whole country basically). Tortillas are light and easy to pack and would definitely last you a week.
Soups and stews, gumbo and jambalaya are great one pot meals.
Bear Creek makes good starters that you can add to.
Knorr sides are also good starters you can add to.
The key to camp cooking is prep work. You want to do as little processing of the food in the wild as you can. Pre chop, and measure your spices as much as you can. Hell pre cook it, so all you have to do is warm it up.
On the first day everything will be fresh. That is when you have a steak dinner or bacon for breakfast.
Day 2 you will eat things that have defrosted (you froze and chilled everything before putting it in the cooler, right?) Chopped up and cooked chicken, pre cooked hamburger crumbles.
After all the fresh stuff is gone you go to shelf stable meats like chicken in a pouch, beef in a pouch, caned tuna. For more good camping meats check out this thread
I love fresh fruit, but camping is hard on them. You could bring pre made fruit salad for the first few days. I like fruit pouches. Most are apple based but you can find some that are mango/pineapple or berry mix. They will be with the apple sauce, chilled case in the fresh fruit section, or the baby food section.
Breakfast: Oatmeal or home fries (pre boiled chopped potatoes, veggies, breakfast meat)
Lunch should be packable on the go food. Jerkey, bebel cheese, carb of choice (tortilla, pita, bagel) fruit pouch, protein bar.
One of my favorite quick dinners is Bangers and mash:
2 Aidells sausage per person. They are pre cooked. Get a couple of different flavors for aded fun. I slice them in half then put them in a baggie with enough for each meal. Heat on the skillet.
1/3 of a cup per person fancy potato flakes all you have to do is boil the water.
edit:spelling
Just to add, you can get a really good dehydrator for about $65 that will do virtually anything you want. I've done jerky, fruit leathers, veggies, etc but you can also dehydrate cooked meals with great success. It's crazy how easy it is, you literally pat stuff dry, cut it into small/thin pieces, and plug it in. It's really that easy.
Google led me to this Canadian online store: http://www.bridensolutions.ca/instant-refried-pinto-beans-nutristore-10-can
That's about twice as expensive as I pay on Amazon in the US: https://www.amazon.com/Santa-Fe-Bean-Southwestern-7-25-Ounce/dp/B000FI701Y
But 2x as expensive might be acceptable if you really really want beans.
You might also experiment with looking for instant bean soup, instant hummus, and instant falafel.
Couscous is a pretty solid base for cold-soaked meals as well, but it might not pack as much nutritional value as the beans, depending on how important that is to you.
Check your local health food store as well. You might get lucky in the bulk bins.
I've helped with cooking for 50+ youth groups. This is spot on advice.
Pasta is a no-go. Giant pots of water take way too long to boil.
Sandwiches benefit from a side of soup. Canned soups don't have to boil. Heating should be your watchword.
Also, camp pies are awesome for groups. Bring some canned pie fillings and white bread, and butter or pan spray. Lots of apple filling, everybody loves apple pie. Buy a few of these and you are set.
I love ramen for cold nights. The shin black is OK, but this one is spicier and I like it a lot more. I add a dehydrated veggie mix like this one.
This makes for a relatively low-sodium soup. Add chicken or some other freeze-dried protein and it’s a light weight and tasty trail meal.
Good to know.
I have a Excalibur 9-tray dehydrator. It's great. Good temp and timer controls - not digital though.
https://www.amazon.com/Excalibur-3926TB-Dehydrator-Temperature-Dehydration/dp/B008OV4FD0
This Chili-Mac recipe is a great one to start out with, it's very tasty and very easy to make. I bring it on all my trips.
I also recommend Linda Frederick Yaffe's book Backpack Gourmet.
I originally went looking for coconut milk powder but could only find coconut cream powder. This is the brand I ended up using, and maybe it's a translation thing, but I do think its coconut cream? When you let the noodles sit for a while in the powder, it really all thickens up nicely, making it pretty creamy and hearty.
This is the model I have: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0090WOCN0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_27ABybM378CRH
Pros are it's cheap to get into, expandable up to 12 trays, and easy to clean.
Cons are the heat comes from one end, so you will have to rotate trays part way through.
An alternative is something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017HX1966/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_F.ABybB9VDQGT
Pros are it heats evenly, so no need to rotate.
Cons are you're stuck at the amount of trays it came with (anywhere from 6-12 usually), and it's a little harder to clean.
Edit - Either way, you'll need to be careful of the smell, it'll get into everything. My dad bought one. I tried to warn him, he didn't believe me (although he did use his balcony). Thought I was exaggerating. Until his neighbor two doors down asked him what he was cooking (jerky). I recommend doing it in a shed or garage.
What u/choomguy says. Santa Fe Bean Company has some that are pretty good and can be bought off of amazon, though you can sometimes find them at the super market. Couple them with Minute Rice!
Note: the amazon link is to an eight pack of beans. I accidentally bought these and end up putting most of the bags in my emergency barrel.
Santa Fe Bean Co., Instant Fat Free Vegetarian Refried Beans, 7.25-Ounce Pack (Pack of 8) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FICDO8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fu0PAb35WF8B2
Amazon.
If you are doing from scratch, you probably need to do the beans from scratch. I would also recommend smashing the beans before dehydrating them, to make flakes.
But, since you are buying the beans, might as well buy pre-dehydrated beans like this
I've made Khao Soi (northern thai coconut curry soup) with Ramen noodles. It was one of the best trail meals I've made
you'll need:
1 package of ramen noodles, throw away the seasoning
1 package of Khao soi seasoning https://www.amazon.com/Lobo-Brand-Thai-Kao-Seasoning/dp/B000ESIDBQ
1 package of coconut milk/cream powder https://www.amazon.com/Coconut-Cream-Powder-Chao-Thai/dp/B0095VQH5M/
1 package of chicken https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Breast-Protein-Snacks-Pouches/dp/B0025ULWVE/
freeze dried shallots and cilanto (Litehouse brand)
chili flakes
crushed peanuts
dehydrated lime juice (optional) https://www.amazon.com/True-Citrus-Lime-Shaker-2pk/dp/B01F2PKK8E/
​
To make:
Crumble a few noodles and reserve, cook the rest in boiling water, pour off a bit of the water and add the chicken, when warm, mix in the Khoi soi seasoning and coconut milk/cream powder, stir to combine. Add freeze dried shallots and cilanto and let them rehydrate, top with crumbled noodle bits, chili flakes to taste and some crushed peanuts, add a touch of dehydrated lime juice. Enjoy.
They'd spoil.
I do know that you you don't need to refrigerate eggs if you put vaseline on them, and these work pretty well for packing in eggs.
You should check out Another Fork in the Trail. It has a ton of great ideas. Also, trailcooking.com has a entire vegetarian section.
As long as your dehydrator has a fan you should be fine. That one seems to have good reviews. Even if it doesn't work as good it's only going to take longer to dehydrate. It's not like it won't work.
Mine is here
Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD-75A https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0090WOCN0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_egq3wbGX4QJPW
The grand daddy of home dehydrators is the Excalibur. I'm waiting for mine to break but it's still going.
Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008OV4FD0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_mkq3wbRYPYS3K
Plus one for Knorr sides. I also had instant potatoes a couple times that I mixed with dehydrated veggies someone had left in a hiker box. (You can buy a pre-dehydrated mix in advance, like here: https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-House-Foods-Dried-Vegetable/dp/B0039QXWPM?th=1) Mix the veggies in with the water first and then add the instant potatoes for a creamy veggie soup (adjust water for preferred thickness). Don't forget salt and pepper!
I use something like this on amazon
You spread out the chilli in a thin layer then let the machine do its work. I have heard of some diy dehydrators, that may be a more economical choice.
Yeah, the chicken is kind of hard to find, I usually just order it on amazon, but it's kind of expensive. http://www.amazon.com/Valley-Fresh-Premium-Chicken-7-Ounce/dp/B000V1LXU4
Typically I dehydrate most meals so 12 of these go a long way.
4 1/2 stars after over 2000 reviews on Amazon for the FD-75A.
This is the one you want
They are very cheap on Amazon