The best freeze dried foods offer many benefits for preppers and fans of the outdoors.
Freeze dried foods provide a long shelf life so that you can be assured that the food you buy now will still be edible for at least the next ten years and beyond.
The packets are also extremely easy to reconstitute, often only from a few cups of boiling water.
They are easily portable, making them a fantastic option for hikers, hunters, and outdoors folks in general.
Not only that, the meals also provide the needed nutrients to keep you going throughout the day with little energy wasted on preparation.
I did a ton of research to find the best tasting, longest lasting, and easiest to prepare options out there and put them in one list. Having food options available in a SHTF situation is one of the top recommended survival tips.
Whether you are in need of food for long term storage or need meals that you can carry with you on the trail, here are the top 10 freeze dried foods that last for years, are easy to prepare, and taste great.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, where I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Best Freeze Dried Food - Top 10
1. Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with Noodles
This is one of the most popular freeze dried products by Mountain House.
Like all of their freeze dried options, this meal takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and only requires a little boiling water.
There are several packaging options for this meal including a ten-serving can as well as a six-pouch pack that makes an excellent option for hikers.
For the pouches, there are 2 ½ one-cup servings per pouch. There is a 30-year taste guarantee that cannot be found with other freeze dried products.
It uses real beef along with mushrooms and onions that taste great when reconstituted. There are several allergens that are in this meal including milk, soy, wheat, and egg.
The Mountain House freeze dried food is one of the best brands out there. Their products are definitely some of the best dehydrated food that you can get.
2. Mountain House Essential Bucket
The next great option of the Mountain House meals is the essential bucket if you are looking to buy meals in bulk.
This essential bucket contains 32 total servings.
It has enough food for three and a half days for a family and is a great option for a short-term food shortage.
The good news is that this product has a shelf life of 30 years without a drop in taste quality. No refrigeration is needed.
There are several potential allergens in these products including soy, milk, wheat, and egg.
The Essential Bucket includes four packets of three different meals. These meals include Chili Mac & Beef, Rice and Chicken, and Spaghetti with meat sauce. That way, you get all of the best mountain house meals in one bucket.
Like all of Mountain House’s products, these meals can be eaten directly from the pack and only takes 10 minutes once boiling water is added. It is easily some of the best tasting freeze dried food out there.
3. Mountain House Breakfast Skillet
Whether you are a prepper or looking to take a couple of days out on the trail, having a hearty breakfast will provide the energy needed to get your day started right.
You have the option of a ten-serving can or a six pack of single pouches that offer 2 one-cup servings per pack.
We like the ease of the packs and the ease of cleanup, especially when used on the trail.
The meal consists of hash browns, scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, and pork crumbles. It provides an excellent source of calories, protein, and good flavor.
Like all of Mountain House’s freeze dried products, this meal is quick prep and carries a 30-year taste guarantee. It does contain milk, egg, wheat, and soy.
If you are out on a weekend hiking trip, then nothing is better than having the best backpacking food freeze dried and ready to make in the early morning over an open flame.
4. Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef
This is another one of Mountain House's more popular freeze dried meals.
Even when storing up in the case of an emergency, you should not skip out on great tasting meals.
The Chili Mac with Beef does not disappoint in the flavor department.
You again have several serving size options.
The six-pack option offers 12 total servings and provides a great source of calories, carbohydrates, and protein.
It also has an incredible shelf life without sacrificing taste. Just add some piping hot water, and you have a no-mess, self-contained meal that you can take on the go. This product is made with real beef and contains wheat and soy.
5. Mountain House Lasagna with Meat Sauce
While it may not be your grandmother’s lasagna, this is a great little Italian meal that is very filling.
This meal can be ready to eat in 10 minutes with a cup of boiling water.
It has pasta, cheese, and a real beef meat sauce that is great for a quick dinner at the end of a long day hiking.
There are several options regarding packaging including a single can with 10 one-cup servings as well as a six pack that is great for prepping and hiking alike. The six pack offers you 12 total servings.
This product has a 30-year taste guarantee making it perfect for long term storage. It also comes in very convenient packaging making eating and cleanup a breeze. This product does contain milk and wheat allergens.
6. Mountain House Rice and Chicken
This is a great choice for a filling dinner that offers a nice source of protein.
If you are looking for a chicken meal with a little more kick to it, then the Teriyaki with Rice meal might be a better option for you.
If you just want something a bit lighter on the taste buds, we recommend this meal.
You have the option of a can packaging offering 10 one-cup servings and the six-pack meal that has 3 one-cup servings per pack.
The seasoned rice and real chicken covered in a savory sauce can be prepared in as little as 10 minutes with some boiling water.
This product has a 30-year taste guarantee and comes in a BPA-free bag making it an excellent long-term storage option. It does contain soy and wheat.
7. Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki with Rice
This is a great tasting meal that packs a lot of flavor.
If you go with the six-pack, which we think offers a lot more convenience; you get 2 ½ one-cup servings per pack making it an excellent deal.
These packs offer a 30-year taste guarantee, so they are not only excellent for taking on the trail but also for long term storage in case of emergency.
This is a great meal that has a little extra flavor to it and can be easily prepared and cleaned up with minimal effort. It does contain both soy and wheat.
8. Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries
This is another great breakfast option from Mountain House.
The Granola with Milk and Blueberries meal is a lighter option than the breakfast skillet, but still offers the benefits of being filling and providing the necessary nutrients and energy for the coming day.
You can purchase this meal in a ten-serving can, six-pack pouch, or a pro pack.
All options come with Mountain House's 30-year taste guarantee. All of them can be ready to eat in 10 minutes. For more of an oatmeal taste and texture, just add a cup of boiling water.
For more of a cereal consistency, you can add cold water to the pouch. Either way, it is a great tasting, light meal. It does contain soy, milk, wheat, and coconut.
9. Chef’s Banquet All-Purpose Readiness Kit
If you want to make one purchase to give you a large amount of food, this kit from Chef's Banquet is a fantastic option.
All meals come in a six-gallon pail with a tight seal. It's a great bulk freeze dried food option.
Each of the eight meal types included in this kit is in BPA-free packaging.
These are high-quality freeze dried meals that offer 330 total servings.
Each meal type is in its own package, but each serving is not.
The included meals are oatmeal, hearty potato soup, chicken vegetable soup, mixed vegetables, instant potatoes, pasta with cheddar cheese sauce, beef flavored vegetable stew, and cheddar broccoli rice.
These meals are made with quality ingredients and taste fantastic. Meals can be prepped in a little under 20 minutes.
You get plenty of years of shelf life with this kit. When stored at 60 F, this kit has a shelf life of 20 years and a shelf life of 10 years when stored at 70 F. This is a great bulk food option for those looking for long-term food storage options.
10. Augason Farms 30-Day Supply Pail
This supply pail from Augason Farms is another fantastic option for bulk food storage.
This freeze dried food supply is made from quality ingredients and has up to a 20-year shelf life and is best stored between 55-70 F.
This supply pail has 307 servings of food although each serving is not individually packaged.
There are 35 food packets that consist of cheesy broccoli rice, creamy chicken rice, creamy potato soup, elbow macaroni with cheese powder, hearty vegetable chicken soup, maple brown sugar oatmeal, morning moo's low-fat milk alternative, and instant potatoes.
All meals are very easy to prepare and have excellent nutritional value. It is a 30-day food supply for a single person and can feed a family for two weeks.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has provided you with several excellent options for foods that can be stored long term without freezing or other prep work, taste great, and provide the needed nutrients.
Freeze dried foods offer a tremendous source of backup food sources. Of all of the freeze dried food reviews, Mountain House stands at the top for great quality.
All of these products can be a life saver by offering you and your family some peace of mind, knowing that you will have food available if the lights go out.
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