How to Make Your Own Dehydrated Meals for Backpacking

Blog
14 May, 2025
Posted By: Adele P

When you're deep in the backcountry, a hot, satisfying meal can make all the difference. While pre-packaged freeze-dried meals are convenient, they can be expensive, high in sodium, and lacking in variety. Making your own dehydrated meals for backpacking offers a more affordable, healthier, and customizable alternative. Plus, it’s a fun way to prepare for your trip.

Why Dehydrate Your Own Meals?

1. Cost Savings: Store-bought backpacking meals can cost $8–$15 per serving. Homemade meals typically cost a fraction of that.
2. Nutrition Control: Choose whole, nutrient-dense ingredients and adjust macros for your needs.
3. Customization: Tailor meals to your taste and dietary preferences (gluten-free, vegan, high-protein, etc.).
4. Reduced Waste: Use reusable packaging and minimize single-use plastics.

What You’ll Need

Dehydrator: A food dehydrator is the most efficient tool. Popular models include the Excalibur and Nesco Snackmaster. Oven drying is possible but less energy-efficient and harder to control.
Blender or Food Processor: For pureeing soups or sauces.
Vacuum Sealer or Zip-top Bags: For packaging your meals.
Parchment Paper or Silicone Sheets: For drying wet or sticky items like sauces or stews.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Dehydrated Backpacking Meals

1. Choose Your Meal

Start with dishes that dehydrate and rehydrate well, such as:

Chili
Pasta with meat sauce
Stir-fried rice or curry
Lentil soup
Shepherd’s pie
Avoid meals with high-fat content (like heavy oils, cheese, or cream) as fat doesn’t dehydrate well and can cause spoilage.

2. Cook the Meal

Prepare your meal just as you would at home, with fully cooked ingredients. This ensures everything is ready to eat once rehydrated.

3. Dehydrate the Components

You can either:

Dehydrate the whole meal: Spread it thinly and evenly on dehydrator trays using parchment or silicone sheets.
Dehydrate components separately: Rice, vegetables, meat, and sauces can be dried individually for mix-and-match flexibility.

General dehydration guidelines:

Vegetables: 125°F–135°F until crisp
Fruits: 135°F–145°F until leathery
Meats: 145°F–160°F until brittle
Meals/Soups: 135°F–145°F until crumbly

Drying times vary from 6 to 16+ hours depending on ingredients, humidity, and thickness.

4. Test for Dryness

Break apart pieces—there should be no moisture. If in doubt, dehydrate longer. Moisture is the enemy of safe, shelf-stable storage.

5. Package for the Trail

Let food cool completely before storing. Vacuum-seal for long shelf life or use zip-top freezer bags for shorter trips. Include a label with:

Meal name
Water quantity needed
Rehydration instructions
Date

Optional: Add a small desiccant pack to extend shelf life.

6. Rehydration Tips

Boil water, pour into your meal pouch, stir, seal, and let sit for 10–15 minutes.
Most meals require a 1:1 to 1.5:1 water-to-food ratio.
Insulate your bag with a cozy or towel to retain heat.

Sample Dehydrated Meal: Lentil Curry with Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked lentils
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced onions
1/4 cup peas
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 cup cooked rice
Salt to taste

Instructions:

Cook all ingredients together until well-blended.
Spread on dehydrator tray in a thin, even layer.
Dry at 135°F for 10–12 hours, until crumbly.
Break into pieces and store in a sealed bag.
Rehydrate with 1.25 cups boiling water per serving.

Pro Tips

Go lightweight: Stick with calorie-dense ingredients like quinoa, beans, or peanut powder.
Test at home: Rehydrate a meal before your trip to check taste and water ratio.
Make it tasty: Season well—spices survive dehydration better than you think.
Include fats on-trail: Add olive oil or nut butter at mealtime for flavor and calories.

Final Thoughts

Making your own dehydrated backpacking meals takes time and effort upfront, but the benefits are huge once you're on the trail. You'll enjoy better flavor, nutrition, and savings—all while eating food you actually like. Experiment with different recipes and find your trail favorites.

Happy dehydrating and happy trails!

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