This document provides information and guidelines for food dehydration and planning meals for backpacking trips, including:
- Calorie and nutrition guidelines for different body weights and activity levels.
- Examples of foods that can be dehydrated at home, like fruits, vegetables, meats and hummus, along with preparation instructions.
- Sample daily backpacking menus and recipes for dehydrated trail meals and snacks, such as oatmeal, jerky, pemmican and granola.
- Tips for using a dehydrator and vacuum sealer to prepare shelf-stable meals for backpacking.
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2012 01-26 amc dehydration 101-v1.1
1. TRAIL FOOD DEHYDRATION 101
When you want to reduce sodium and the hit on your pocketbook…
2. THE OPTIONS
SELF PREPARED TRAIL PAK including PRE-PACKAGED TRAIL FOOD…which is
meal, seasoning, drink & dessert the same size as one self made trail pak
7. CALORIC INTAKE AND RULES OF THUMB
Adult Caloric Calculation during Backpacking Activities (three season conditions)
Note: During winter backpacking and camping increase the caloric intake by an additional 1/3 to 1/2 more of the
base calculation.
• 20-25kcal/ 1 lb of body weight
• Body Weight Kcal/Lbs Daily Caloric Minimum
• 125 lbs 20/1 2,500 calories
• 150 lbs 21/1 3,150 calories
• 175 lbs 22/1 3,850 calories
• 200 lbs 23/1 4,600 calories
• 225 lbs 24/1 5,400 calories
Children Caloric Calculation
• 79-81 lbs; Boy 2,279 calories
• 79-81 lbs; Girl 2,071 calories
• Highly active children may require up to 2,400 calories per day
8. NUTRITION RATIO AND CALORIE LOADING
Nutrition Ratio
• 50-55% calories from Carbs | 15-20% calories from Protein | 30% calories from Fats
• 125 – 130 calories per ounce of food stuff
• 1.7 pounds of foodstuff per day of backpacking; minimum
• You enter a caloric deficiency when you burn more calories than you take in.
• Do not under-estimate the need to drink 3-4 liters of water a day on the trail…if you become dehydrated you are less likely to
feel well and will feel less inclined to eat or drink, leading to big trouble and poor decision making.
Burn Calorie Load : Weight Ratio (at moderate pace over reasonably flat ground)
• 180 pound person = 570 calories/ hour @ average of 6 hours = 3,420 total calories burned
• 180 pound person with a 30 pound pack @ average of 6 hours = 4,000 total calories burned
• 120 pound person with a 25 pound pack @ average of 6 hours = 2,500 total calories burned
Food Types to achieve caloric needs
• Fresh – PB&J, Lunch Meat, Fruit, Nuts and Veggies
• Packaged – “Wet” packaged products, ramen noodles types and energy bars
• Freeze Dried – Backpacking meals and specialty grocery products
• Dehydrated – Homemade meals, jerky and snacks
9. WHAT CAN BE DEHYDRATED? HOW?
Fruits and Vegetables should be ripe and firm, but at the peak of maturity
• Fruits with a higher sugar content dry well, but need to be dried slowly so that a thick casing of
leathery material does not form over the outside.
• Ripe Vegetables are more flavorful than under ripe ones, and are less tough than over mature.
• Herbs and Spices are best dried before the plant begins to flower.
Remove any damaged or bruised parts. Trim or cut to a uniform size to promote even drying
Vegetables should be blanched (by steam or water) before drying
Meats (Beef, Turkey, Salmon, etc) should be low in fat and well-trimmed
Drying is complete when…the item is tough, leathery, and pliable and does not have a moist center
when cut. However, it should not be brittle unless you are making fruit/ veggie chips.
Allow 30 minutes to one-hour of cooling time to prevent condensation. However, do not leave it out
too long so that moisture is allowed back into the item.
Jerky must be stored in the freezer due to the residual fat content in the meat. However, storing all
dehydrated goods in the freezer will extend their shelf life.
10. MY DAILY BACKPACKING MENU
VACUUM SEALED BAG ONE VACUUM SEALED BAG TWO
BREAKFAST APPETIZERS
• Oatmeal with Granola • Hummus
• Coffee & Emergen-C • Spinach & Bean Tacos
SNACKS DINNER
• Trail Mix • Rehydrated Meal; Spaghetti, Mac-N-
Cheese, Beef Stew, Mashed Potatoes
• Japanese Rice Crackers
• Flatbread Round with Butter
• Jerky & Baybel Cheese Rounds
• Baybel Cheese Rounds
• Annie’s Fruit Gummies
• Reese Peanut Butter Cups
• Fiber One Bars
• Tea, Emergen-C
• Whole Foods Pro Bar
11. OATMEAL WITH HATCH’S GRANOLA
Your favorite oatmeal takes on new
dimensions with some dry milk and granola Hatch’s Granola – Qty 6lb/ ~$2.50/pound
• ½ cup flax seed
• 1 ¼ cup rye flakes
• 1 ¼ cup wheat flakes
• 7 cups thick rolled oats
• 1 ½ cup soy nuts
• 2 ½ cup shredded coconut
• 1 ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup sesame seeds
• 1 ¼ cups whole raw almonds
• 1 cup safflower oil
• 1 cup honey
• 2 cups diced, dry granny smith apple pieces
• 1 ¼ cup golden raisins
• 1 ¼ cup diced, dry apricots
• 1 1 /4 cup blueberries
• 1 ¼ cup dry currants
12. TRAIL SNACKS
Asian crackers and snacks make a savory Trail mix…make it interesting to eat and
snack while on the trail & are light weight change up the variety often
13. MEATLESS PEMMICAN
Pemmican Bars…all that Cliff Bars wanted
to be, but aren’t Pemmican – Qty 7-9 rounds
• ½ cup golden raisins
• ½ cup whole raw almonds
• ½ cup sunflower seeds
• ½ cup diced, dry granny smith pieces
• ¼ cup dry blueberries
• ¼ cup dry currants
• ¼ cup dancing deer pumpkin pancake
mix
• ¼ cup chocolate whey powder
• ½ cup cornmeal
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
14. BEEF JERKY
3lbs of top round beef will make one gallon
freezer bag of dry jerky Round Steak Beef Jerky
• 3 lbs Round Steak Beef
• Cut 1/8th to 1/16th inch thick; cut with
the grain of the meat
• The meat for jerky typically needs to
be special ordered from a good
butcher. To get the thin cut it must be
slightly frozen and then cut.
• If you receive jerky meat that is 1/2-
inch or more, it will be too thick to dry
properly and can go rancid on the trail
in hot weather.
15. JERKY CURE AND SEASONING
Jerky cure and seasoning can be either
wet or dry depending on preference.
• Jerky meat should never be cured and
marinated in metal bowls. Always use a
glass bowl or container for this process.
• Marinating requires a minimum of 24-
hours before you can begin the
dehydration process.
GENERAL DEHYDRATION INFO:
• 1/16th inch jerky = 4 trays; 5-hours
• 1/8th inch jerky = 4 trays; 10 hours
• 3 pounds wet jerky meat = 1 gallon
ziplock bag dry
16. HUMMUS
Hummus is easy to make and dehydrates
well as long as you do not use to much oil Lemon Hummus
• 1 can 15-oz chickpeas
• 3 tbsp tahini
• 1 clove garlic
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ tsp Cumin and Paprika
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• ¼ cup water (add in small batches)
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (add when re-
hydrating, not during preparation)
GENERAL DEHYDRATION INFO:
• Let sit overnight; dry in 1/3 cup portions
• 4 cups wet hummus = 2 ½ cups dry; 16 hours
17. SPINACH AND WHITE BEANS
Spinach and Beans are a welcome “green
hit” on the trail Oswegatchie Spinach & Bean Taco
• 1 large onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 pinch spices; cumin, cilantro, chili powder
• 1 bag spinach
• ½ can cannellini beans
GENERAL DEHYDRATION INFO:
• 2 lbs wet spinach mix = 4 cups dry; 8 hours
• Rehydrate and spread on tacos with hummus!
18. SPAGHETTI
Spaghetti is dehydrated with the sauce on
so it is a complete meal when finished Santanoni Spaghetti
• 1 pound angel hair pasta
• 12 fresh mushrooms
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 large onion
• 1 can diced black olives
• 1 can red beans
• 1 or 2 jars spaghetti sauce
• 1 pinch spices; crushed red pepper, salt, pepper
• ½ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
GENERAL DEHYDRATION INFO:
• Combine everything and let sit overnight
• 1 lb wet spaghetti = 1 gallon ziplock; 12 hours
19. SPAGHETTI MEAT ADD-INS
Meat and sliced ham can be added to any
meal for some extra protein and flavor
GROUND MEAT
• Choose lean buffalo, beef or turkey with
a fat content of 15% or less. Add bread
crumbs to the ground meat to improve
rehydration.
• 1 lb grd buffalo = 2 cups dry; 5 hours
DELI MEAT
• Choose lean ham, turkey, roast beef or
chicken with a fat content less than 10%.
Meat shall be around 1/16th inch thick
• 1 lb ham = 1 ½ cup dry; 6 hours
20. MAC & CHEESE
A blend of box mac & cheese with veggie and
spice additions makes a flavorful meal. Spicy Veggie Mac-n-Cheese
• 3 cups cooked Macaroni (Back to Nature; Mac-n-
Cheese Spirals)
• 1 packet dry cheese powder
• 1 1/2 tsp butter
• RE-DEHYDRATE PASTA MIX FIRST; then add
• 4 tbsp powdered milk
• 1 tbsp taco seasoning
• 1 cup dry tomato slices
• 1 cup dry pepper, onions and mushrooms (or
freeze dry veggie mix)
• 1 pinch dry red pepper flakes
GENERAL DEHYDRATION INFO:
• 3 cups dry pasta = 3 cups dry; 4-5 hours
21. BEEF STEW
Add veggies and meat to a beef stew You can cheat a bit and use a pre-packaged
base, along with Chinese mushrooms. meal as your base.
22. ADD-INS
Spices, Red Pepper, Olive Oil and Taco Tomato Soup and similar spices create a
Seasoning add flavor and interest rich and tasty tomato base to meals
23. ADD-INS
Onion is better purchased dry since it can take a Chinese mushrooms are very economical and have
long time to dehydrate and is strong smelling a long shelf-life, plus they give a meaty texture
24. ADD-INS
Freeze dried tofu from the Asian Market is Freeze dried veggies are a great tool and
a great protein source hold up well in the dehydration paks.
25. ADD-INS
Instant Potato Mixes are a great meal with Tuna paks can be used as is, or you can
chicken or tuna added dehydrate the tuna to save weight
26. CLEAN WATER
The Aquamira System is light weight, safe A Katadyn filter is a reliable tool, but takes
and efficient for purifying your water up more pack space and weight.
27. RE-HYDRATION SYSTEM
Hefty Freezer Bags are great and can be Add the food to the bag and fill with hot
used more than once on a trip water to cover
28. RE-HYDRATION SYSTEM
Use a FedEx Bubble Pak envelope as your Modify the size and seal up with duct tape.
re-hydration cozy This cozy is 4 years old and still going!
29. PRESERVING YOUR EFFORTS
Keep the silica paks that you get in pre- Keep your dehydrated foods in the freezer
packaged foods and add them to yours until needed.