How does dehydrated backpacking food work?
Dehydrated Pad Thai Backpacking Meal Recipe
A2 English listening practice · American English · Picked for people who know a little
American hikers care a lot about weight, and dehydrating food at home is a cheap way to carry less. You dry cooked food overnight in a small machine (about $50) at low heat. The rice noodles, vegetables, and meat go crispy and light. On the trail, you pour hot water into a bag, wait ten minutes, and eat. Store brands like Mountain House charge about $12 a bag, but a homemade bag costs about a dollar.
In this Madison Clysdale clip, a $15 pad thai bag feeds her for a whole hike: tofu, peppers, mushrooms, rice noodles, and a small spice bag (peanut, ginger, chili). She shares a tip: “freeze tofu and thaw it for the right texture.” Hikers online have shared this trick for years.
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- ▸In backpacking food guides on Backpacker Magazine, Outside and REI Co-op Journal
- ▸In trail-recipe coverage by Section Hiker, Andrew Skurka and Backpacking Light
- ▸In thru-hiker community posts from the Pacific Crest Trail Association and Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- ▸In long-distance hiking podcasts like The Trail Show and Backpacker Radio on dehydrator tips