Freeze Dried Food

Freeze dried food has become very popular in the last 25 years. You can buy it in one-serving pouches or #10 cans. The pouches are a favorite of hikers and some campers because of their light weight and the preparation consists of just adding water - hot or cold - and they're ready to eat instantly.

For these same reasons, this makes this type of packaging ideal for your food storage. Sealed in nitrogen flushed #10 cans, they have these great survival food benefits:

How Do They Freeze Dry Food?

FREEZE DRYING PROCESS —"Freeze drying" is a unique process that provides product characteristics that cannot be achieved with any other food processing method. We start by using fresh or cooked foods then flash freeze them in a special vacuum chamber that reaches -50°F. As low-level heat is applied (much less than dehydrating), the ice crystals evaporate without going back to the liquid phase. This process, called "sublimation", removes approximately 98% of the moisture and prevents the food from spoiling. The ultimate long term storage.

WHY IS FREEZE DRIED IMPORTANT? — Freeze drying provides very unique benefits and advantages over other food processing methods. Frozen foods maintain their fresh flavor, but they must remain frozen. Dehydrated and canned foods are shelf-stable, but their high-temperature processing reduces their flavor, texture, color, and nutrients. Freeze drying combines the best of these methods—it locks in the freshness, color, original shape, texture, and aroma of frozen food while providing the shelf-stable convenience of canned or dehydrated food.

Try Before You Buy

If you choose to fill your food storage with freeze dried foods, it's best if you try the pouch size first to find out what your family likes. You may actually have to eat it some day should a crisis arise and it's best to be sure you have the varieties everyone likes.

Mountain House® freeze-dried food is probably the most well-known brand. They are located in Oregon and have been in business for over 40 years. They have three manufacturing plants and provide over 60% of the freeze-drying capacity of the U.S. They have Kosher and Halal certifications and produce over 400 different foods and beverages. (The Nutri/System weight-loss products are private-labeled by Mountain House.)

The leading Master Distributor for Mountain House is Nitro-Pak® Preparedness Center, Inc. One of their best packages will feed a family of four for three months, or is a year's supply for one person.

The "ULTIMATE-PAK" (™) is "THE" Best 'No-Cook' Food Reserve on the market today. Nothing was held back in the making of this unit. It has the BEST of every everything, including all 19 Mountain House freeze-dried entrees plus vegetables, side dishes, beverages, breakfast items and desserts. You'll dine on gourmet dishes like Seafood Chowder, Sweet & Sour Pork, Chicken ala King, Beef Stew, Turkey Tetrazzini and Lasagna (most entrees include real meats, too). The balance of your unit includes their Premium NITRO-PAK brand of 'no-cook' foods like fruits, side dishes, granola, snacks, and beverages. You just can't beat that kind of convenience!

Be sure and take advantage of Nitro-Pak's free shipping also. On the Ultimate-Pak™, that could save you several hundred dollars!

What about nutrition?

Freeze dried retains most of its nutritional value without the added chemicals and additives found in store-bought foods.  Because many bulk foods are packaged in an oxygen-free environment, there is no need for additives or preservatives to keep the food fresh.

You may find that freeze dried foods are the "best of the best" when it comes to food storage or quick meals while camping. Why? Because they contain all the ingredients and seasonings needed for a complete meal. Nothing more is needed, just a little cook time in hot water and they are ready to eat. They are pre-seasoned, pre-cooked and pre-mixed with other ingredients, making them the fastest, easiest and tastiest foods available.

There are many package sizes to suit your budget, your space requirements, and your needs, whether you're using freeze dried food for storage, camping, boating, hiking, or even brown-bagging at work. Try a few and see how you like them.