These are Food Packages that every Backpacker should know.
One of the biggest worries of any backpacker is how to remain full while trekking for long days. The food must be wholesome as well as something that is a treat to the taste buds.
However, in order to achieve the flavor of a home cooked meal, it takes a lot of preparation to gather a great amount of kitchen ingredients and to take them with you during an emergency situation.
You already know it’s literally impossible. Then what is the solution?
Here it is, Mountain House food packages.
Taste with health is what Mountain House aims at and the proof is in their budget friendly packages. Mountain House keeps the nutrients intact during the freeze-dried process. All dishes are prepared with the backpackers in mind who need a refreshing meal with all the nutrients in a single bowl after a long day on a trail.
In this comprehensive guide, we are going to review and select the 8 best Mountain House meals. It is for the convenience of every backpacker to choose their best ones from this recommended list.
Are Freeze-Dried Foods a Healthy Option?
It’s true that during the process some nutrients such as Vitamin C, E and folic acid may lose their effectiveness. But the good news is, after getting reconstitution, the nutritional value stays intact. Thanks to the cold vacuum process through which water is extracted from the food without heat, the nutritional value remains intact up to 97%.
Here is a list of 8 best Mountain House food products that will never let you look back. This best Mountain House emergency food review is what you need to find the right Mountain House meals for yourself.
Review of the 8 Best Mountain House Food Packages
Mountain House offers a wide variety of emergency survival food packages. Our survival experts has spent many hours to compile these list of the 8 Best meals for your convenience to choose the best ones for you and your family.
1. Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with Noodles
If you are looking for a meal that not only satisfy your hunger but is a great treat to your taste buds too, Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with Noodles is the name that comes first. This pouch should be the first choice of any back packer.
You can add some of your favorite sauces to relish the dish to the next level.
What you can have in the pack:
- Two servings in one pack
- Tender beef along with mushrooms and noodles seasoned with a tangy sauce
- No need to refrigerate
- No artificial color, flavor and preservatives
- Easy cooking
- Portable and light weight pouch
- Recycling option to reduce waste
- A 30-year of shelf life without compromising taste that makes it a great emergency food option
Pros
- Delicious with a sense of filling
- Good source of protein from more than one source in a single bowl
Cons
- More like a soup
- Beef takes a little bit more time to get tender
- Relatively high in sodium
2. Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef
The next one that is a must have in any backpacker’s list – Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef. This will be perfect for you to give you satiety along with a feeling of fullness. It may take a few minutes more in cooking but when you are done, you have a mouth-watering dish.
What you can have in the pack:
- Available in different sized packs
- Two servings per pack
- Have a spicy flavor with chili sauce with beef, macaroni noodles, beans and onion.
- Refrigeration not needed
- No artificial color, flavor and preservatives
- Easy cooking
- Portable and light weight pouch
- Recycling option to reduce waste
- A 30-year of shelf life without compromising taste that makes it a great emergency food storage option
Pros
- Meat and noodles in good proportion
- A rich source of protein and carbohydrate in a single bowl
Cons
Requires longer cooking time to be perfect
3. Mountain House Chicken Fajita Bowl
Are you looking for a traditional Mexican dish? Then Mountain House Chicken Fajita Bowl is just what you need. It has an awesome combination typical of a Mexican dish containing rice, black beans, corn, bell pepper, onion with seasoning that you will love.
A bit of cheddar cheese will make it even more delicious.
What you can have in the pack:
- A great Mexican dish with rice, black beans, corn, bell pepper, onion
- Gluten free
- No artificial color, flavor and preservatives
- Can be cooked in minutes
- A 30-year of shelf life without compromising taste that makes it a great emergency food storage option
Pros
- Gluten free
- Multiple protein sources in one bowl
- A wholesome meal option
Cons
- Soy is present, not for people with soy allergy
- Salt content is quite high
4. Mountain House Rice and Chicken
If you want to have the comforting feeling of a home cooked meal in your bowl, Mountain House Rice and Chicken is your best choice. With an array of spices and dehydrated vegetables, it has a special charm to it.
What you can have in the pack:
- Rice and chicken with savory sauce
- No need to refrigerate
- No artificial color, flavor and preservatives
- Easy cooking
- Portable and light weight pouch
- Recycling option to reduce waste
- A 30-year of shelf life without compromising taste that makes it a great emergency food option
Pros
- Gluten free
- Feeling of comfort that of homemade food
- Per serving highest calorie meal
Cons
- Protein content is relatively lower
- The rice and chicken is not optimally proportioned
- On the salty side
- 6-pack option is more expensive than 6 individual packs
5. Mountain House Lasagna with Meat Sauce
Imagining to have lasagna in a freeze dried package? Mountain House Lasagna with Meat Sauce is what you can’t but grab. This is where you can find classic Italian staple with tomato sauce. The meat sauce added to pasta has made it one of the bestsellers.
There is hardly any freeze dried meal that can stand before it.
What you can have in the pack:
- Options of 4-pack and 6-pack as well
- Cheesy pasta with rich tomato meat sauce
- No need to refrigerate
- No artificial color, flavor and preservatives
- Easy cooking
- Portable and light weight pouch
- Recycling option to reduce waste
- A 30-year of shelf life without compromising taste that makes it a great emergency food option
Pros
- Tomato sauce serves best for being less acidic
- Pasta and meat sauce proportion is good
- Per serving sodium content is lowest
Cons
- Cheese is quite sticky
- Becomes soupy with a little bit more water, so carefully need to add water
- Not for those who are on spicy side
6. Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki with Rice
Imagining to have lasagna in a freeze dried package? Mountain House Lasagna with Meat Sauce is what you can’t but grab. This is where you can find classic Italian staple with tomato sauce. The meat sauce added to pasta has made it one of the bestsellers.
There is hardly any freeze dried meal that can stand before it.
What you can have in the pack:
- Options of 4-pack and 6-pack as well
- Cheesy pasta with rich tomato meat sauce
- No need to refrigerate
- No artificial color, flavor and preservatives
- Easy cooking
- Portable and light weight pouch
- Recycling option to reduce waste
- A 30-year of shelf life without compromising taste that makes it a great emergency food option
Pros
- Tomato sauce serves best for being less acidic
- Pasta and meat sauce proportion is good
- Per serving sodium content is lowest
Cons
- Cheese is quite sticky
- Becomes soupy with a little bit more water, so carefully need to add water
- Not for those who are on spicy side
7. Mountain House Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
Are you willing to opt for a vegetarian dish? Mountain House has brought you a range of vegetarian options too. Mountain House Creamy Macaroni and Cheese is a great treat for you. The classic Mac and Cheese reminds you of warm, comfy home cooking.
Takes a few more minutes to cook the cheesy noodles and relish the great taste.
What you can have in the pack:
- Macaroni noodles with cheesy sauce
- Refrigeration not needed
- No artificial color, flavor and preservatives
- Easy cooking
- Portable and light weight
- Recycling option to reduce waste
- A 30-year of shelf life without compromising taste that makes it a great emergency food option
Pros
- A great option for vegetarians
- Per serving calorie content is higher
Cons
- Per serving fat content is highest
- Noodles may take a few extra minutes to cook
- Additional spices need to be added to relish the dish properly
8. Mountain House Pasta Primavera
Another great choice in the vegetarian category that begs a mention is the Mountain House Pasta Primavera. Loaded with a pack of vegetables, the parmesan cheese sauce and macaroni combination is just what makes it divine.
It is completely vegan and not compromising on taste. A bit of your favorite seasoning can give it even heavenly.
What you can have in the pack:
- Option of 6-pack is available
- A lot of veggies like cauliflower, red and yellow bell pepper, zucchini, green beans along with macaroni in parmesan sauce
- No need to refrigerate
- No artificial color, flavor and preservatives
- Easy to cook
- Portable and light weight
- Recycling option to reduce waste
- A 30-year of shelf life without compromising taste that makes it a great emergency food option
Pros
- A complete vegan food option
- A truly mouth-watering dish
- Pasta and veggies proportion is perfect
Cons
- More cooking time is needed
- Macaroni texture is not perfect
How to Choose the Best Mountain House Meal for You
Mountain house supplies a huge range of food packages among which it is really very difficult to sort out which one is the best for you and your family.
The following criteria give you some guideline to make the right decision:
- Your plate tells your taste
Of course what you like is not liked by the other family members or true from the opposite side too. So while choosing for your mountain house food package, always keep in mind the choice of the individuals of your family and shop accordingly to avoid waste.
2. Look at nutritional content
After all, a trailing or camping needs a lot of extra stamina and that’s why foods loaded with some added nutritional benefits are needed on the journey. Mountain House food packages are great combination with rich calories and protein contents.
Look for the nutritional benefits you want in your meal during the journey while purchasing.
- The weight of the pack
You are going to shop for the entire family and then you have to carry it with you. This is the reason you need to put extra attention towards the overall weight of the food packages. Packages must be portable.
- How much water toad to rehydrate the freeze dried meals
Remember, you are carrying freeze dried foods. So adequate amount of water is needed to de-freeze those meals before cooking. The cooking process may need some additional water. Keeping all these in mind, take water in adequate amount to serve the purpose.
Hope this Mountain House Emergency Food Review guide will be of use to those of you who are planning for Survival Preparedness, the next adventure, or simply for an amazing weekend.
Have a great time!
