Hiking and Food Dehydration

Hiking provides a chance to explore the world on foot, requiring however that all of the necessary supplies for an adventure be carried by backpack. Dehydrated foods allow hikers to transport a variety of foods that would otherwise spoil or be too heavy to take along.

  1. Function

    • The process of dehydrating removes moisture from foods, thus reducing their weight by 60 to 90 percent and making items nonperishable that would otherwise require refrigeration.

    Types

    • Almost any type of food can be dehydrated. A variety of prepackaged meals are available at outdoor stores and online retailers, or hikers can dehydrate their own foods at home. Popular snacks include dried fruit and meat jerky, while dinners can consist of everything from stews to mac and cheese.

    Preparation

    • Dehydrated items that are meant to be reconstituted require only hot water to prepare. When backpacking with dehydrated foods, be sure to have a heat source and plenty of fresh water available to prepare meals.