Freeze Dried Food for Survival

Freeze-dried food can be essential for survival as it is an easy and manageable provision for any camping or backpacking expedition. Freeze-dried food comes in a wide variety, from snacks to full meals.

  1. Identification

    • Freeze-dried food is food that is void of water. Freeze-drying, or lyophilization, extends the shelf-life of food. Microorganisms, such as bacteria that cause spoilage, need water to survive.

    Types

    • Freeze-dried food has been produced in a wide variety. It includes items from ice cream and fruit, to whole meals, like breakfasts, including eggs and pancakes, or dinners including spaghetti and beef stroganoff.

    Packing

    • Food is composed of mostly water. Freeze-drying removes water weight, thus making such food lighter, easier to carry, and allows you to pack more of it, which can be very beneficial for dealing with any survival contingencies.

    Tips

    • Because many freeze-dried meals need to be rehydrated and cooked, it is wise to bring plenty of water-purification tablets and matches or lighters, making sure that your matches or lighters are waterproof in case of accidental soaking.

    Brands

    • There are many freeze-dried food brands like AlpineAire and Backpacker's Pantry, as of 2009. For a full list of these and other brands, including the list of meals, prices and quality, check out www.wildernessdining.com/campingfood.html#faq3.