When it comes to prepping your own meals food safety is key. Make sure your perishables are not perishable! Fully dehydrating food makes it safe to consume when hydrated but if there is any moisture left in it at all you could get sick. Don’t cut corners.

Prepping and dehydrating hiking food is time consuming. With this in mind do it in bulk! Once you have a tried and tested recipe cook 10 times what you need! Most dehydrated meals (if fully dehydrated and sealed) will store for over 12 months in the freezer.

Remember when you are out on trail you will be adding water back into your dehydrated meal. The process of adding water back in can dilute flavor. When cooking your meals before dehydrating them make sure you increase the flavor/herbs/salt etc so you don’t get a bland result after rehydrating.

Most people struggle with how to figure out a single portion after they have dehydrated their meals. Do it BEFORE you dehydrate it. Firstly weigh a single wet serve, and then dehydrate that single serve. Then weigh it after you have dehydrated it. You now know what a single serve weighs and approximately how much water to add back in.

Remember to write what the meal is, the date you dehydrated it and the water needed to rehydrate it at camp on the bag. That way there is no guess work when you are tired and hungry.

Fat will go rancid and it will spoil your food and quite possibly make you sick. Trim the fat from all meat and don’t add oil when cooking your meals prior to dehydrating. Add fat (and flavor) back in at camp by taking a small bottle of olive oil, some single butter sachets, dried parmesan or some coconut cream powder.

Unless meat is prepped properly it is as tough as old boots and can take a lifetime to rehydrate on trail. Meals that take a long time to cook on trail use precious gas. Canned meat is great but um…yuk! To ensure your meat rehydrates quickly on trail simply pressure cook it! Then dehydrate and add to your meals. When using mince adding a handful of breadcrumbs to your recipe ensures better rehydration.

There is no need to pre-cook and dehydrate dried pasta. Simply choose small shapes (macaroni is good) or fine spaghetti. They will cook or rehydrate just as quick as your meat and veggies.

Size does matter. Large chunks of meat or vegetables will take forever to rehydrate so chop your veggies and meat into small pieces before dehydrating.

You can absolutely dehydrate soups and liquids. I love a jus/gravy with my beef cheeks and sweet potato mash! Simply line your trays with baking paper or silicone sheets. Pour your soup or sauce onto the tray and dehydrate. When done, I grind mine in a coffee grounder to a fine powder. Add water at camp and yum!

Make your own dehydrated sweet potato or potato mash. Cook and mash your potatoes (remember don’t add butter or oil). Spread thinly on your trays and dehydrate. Then grind to a fine powder or tear into leather. Pop one serve into your zip lock bag with salt, parmesan and a bit of milk powder. Rehydrate out on trail.

ZipLock bags are great for storing your new meals in. If they have the freezer proof label on the box, they can withstand boiling water too! Remove as much air as possible from the bag after putting your meal into the bag. Fully seal and label and then store in the freezer.

Supermarkets are getting savvy and know that not all consumers want canned foods these days. Look near the “Deb potato” section in your local supermarket and you will find dried peas, mushrooms and other dried veggies. These are great to throw into your homemade meals.

If you are a lover of pasta grab a few packets of flavored pasta next time you are at the supermarket. Add a sachet of tuna and some dried veggies and its a quick, cheap and tasty meal.

Check out the rice section of your supermarket. You will find pre-mixed dried risotto meals! All you have to do is cook at camp. Turn a bland risotto into a great paella by adding some herbs and a chopped salami stick through it.

There are some yummy single serve cous cous sachets available at the supermarket. The great thing is you can eat them hot or cold. When out on trail add some dried tomato, sliced salami and pine nuts for a super tasty lunch or dinner.