As a newbie prepper on a pension I would like to ask what other folk think of freeze dried foods that you can buy online.
In view of their long storage life does anyone think they are value for money?
Thanks!
freeze dried foods
Re: freeze dried foods
That would depend entirely on what you're prepping for, for most here I would expect an honest answer to be no they are not good value for money, applying the old store what you eat, eat what you store rule, you would have to wait some time to start eating because as you said the stuff has a long shelf life 
then as you have waited for that amount of time to logically start rotating before it gets too old, you'll come to realize you're spending far more on food than makes sense, however for a lets say 1 months supply changed out every few years, it could be worked in.
If you are really looking at bunkering down for the long haul and you have resigned yourself to either eating the stuff more or less full time, or throwing it out (donating it to charity perhaps) and only eating it if you enter that situation you prepared for it has the long life advantage, but tinned food if you have the space is the poor person's alternative, though with similar downsides of not wanting to eat it unless push really does come to shove if we're honest.
then as you have waited for that amount of time to logically start rotating before it gets too old, you'll come to realize you're spending far more on food than makes sense, however for a lets say 1 months supply changed out every few years, it could be worked in.If you are really looking at bunkering down for the long haul and you have resigned yourself to either eating the stuff more or less full time, or throwing it out (donating it to charity perhaps) and only eating it if you enter that situation you prepared for it has the long life advantage, but tinned food if you have the space is the poor person's alternative, though with similar downsides of not wanting to eat it unless push really does come to shove if we're honest.
I have a strategy, it's not written in stone, nor can it be, this scenario has too many variables, everything about it depends on those variables, being specific is not possible.
Re: freeze dried foods
I'm with Plymtom, I tend to store what I eat with a few exceptions and I've been a bit 'free n easy' with it, I've got some cans of chicken curry that in the past I wouldn't have eaten but from time to time I'll have as a lunch on a tattie (therefore justifying stockpiling ). Freeze dried meals are handy if you're going to be up the hills for a few days or more and you're carrying what you'll be eating but if you're in your house and you have a means to cook things (whether that's mains or some alternative like camping stoves) then cans are easy and cheap. If you can manage it, dehydrators are great for long term storage, again, do things that you would use, we eat a lot of fresh veg but I've been dehydrating stuff that we can add to either packets of noodles or 'packet' pasta's. Of course, they can be rehydrated and used normally too, air tight containers keep them good long term, I've not tried the oxygen absorbers yet but I think I'll be giving them a shot soon, I've also made jerky on them.
If you're on a budget there are so many more cost effective ways to stockpile food than the pre-made freeze dried meals and if you know things that you like you can do your own thing, don't forget herbs and spices, they can make bland stuff pretty good.
). Freeze dried meals are handy if you're going to be up the hills for a few days or more and you're carrying what you'll be eating but if you're in your house and you have a means to cook things (whether that's mains or some alternative like camping stoves) then cans are easy and cheap. If you can manage it, dehydrators are great for long term storage, again, do things that you would use, we eat a lot of fresh veg but I've been dehydrating stuff that we can add to either packets of noodles or 'packet' pasta's. Of course, they can be rehydrated and used normally too, air tight containers keep them good long term, I've not tried the oxygen absorbers yet but I think I'll be giving them a shot soon, I've also made jerky on them. If you're on a budget there are so many more cost effective ways to stockpile food than the pre-made freeze dried meals and if you know things that you like you can do your own thing, don't forget herbs and spices, they can make bland stuff pretty good.
Re: freeze dried foods
Look at the shelf life of supermarket dried food(like rice or mash) some of them have a two too three year shelf life and are cheaper than the ones you buy on line mixed the spam 
or other tined food could make an interesting meal. Quick note if you are buying tins try to get the ones that still need a tin opener as they will last longer than the pull tab ones 
or other tined food could make an interesting meal. Quick note if you are buying tins try to get the ones that still need a tin opener as they will last longer than the pull tab ones AREA's 5-6 and 4
Feet the original All Terrain Vehicle
Feet the original All Terrain Vehicle
Re: freeze dried foods
I didn't know that, thanks for the tip, I'll be doing comparisons now.junmist wrote:Look at the shelf life of supermarket dried food(like rice or mash) some of them have a two too three year shelf life and are cheaper than the ones you buy on line mixed the spam
Re: freeze dried foods
any dries packet foods have a long shelf life . pasta , mash even soups last a lot longer than the date on them .
YES i walked away mid sentence , you were boring me to death and my survival instincts kick in .
Re: freeze dried foods
I have bought a few mountain house cans with 25ys life on them, the main reason being I live in a very small house and find they pack away and take up less space also where I store the food is not very easy to get to so there handy to store and forget, but I do agree you pay a premium for them and it is unlikely I will actually eat them its more insurance. If I had the space I would rotate canned food but as I dont freeze dried tins with long dates work well albeit expensive, I think they are a good compliment to any food store/backup
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Hamradioop
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Re: freeze dried foods
Jon Rambo please post an introduction in new members start here as requested in the forum rules
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"Remember Politicians are like babies diapers they both need changing often for the very same reason" - Mark Twain
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
Re: freeze dried foods
Are Mountain House meals available in the UK? These are my favorite meals for backpacking. The are freeze dried in a pouch. Remove the dessicant, add boiling water, and they're ready in 5 minutes.
The are a bit pricy $7 US per meal with each meal being about 600 calories. They do keep for ages, are very light weight, and are tasty to boot.
The are a bit pricy $7 US per meal with each meal being about 600 calories. They do keep for ages, are very light weight, and are tasty to boot.
Re: freeze dried foods
Yep http://www.facewest.co.uk/Mountain-House.htmlJaeger48 wrote:Are Mountain House meals available in the UK?
As you say, pricey. £5.50 ($8.50 USD) for the small packs
Bulk packs and cans available here: http://www.emergencyfoodstorage.co.uk/c ... ried-Food/
Easy way to blow the entire food budget