favorite instant food for hiking?

[savvyninja]

In the past, I've tried Mountain House and Backpacker's Pantry, but recently, I discovered instant meals by Wise. I found this deal for 56 servings at only $120. That's about $2.14 per meal! But how does it taste? What's your favorite?

[ponderosa]

I haven't been really impressed with any commercial backpacking food. They are usually way too salty for me, pasta is mushy, not enough veggies...
I much prefer to make my own. The last few days, I've dried hamburger, peas, carrots, and mushrooms for shepherds pie; pizza sauce, peppers, and olives for pizza; beans and chicken for burritos; and hummus for lunch. It takes some planning ahead, but it's worth it to me. It's a lot cheaper, tastes better, and I feel better if I'm eating similar to my usual meals.

That is a good price for the Wise stuff though; I hope you'll let us know how it compares to the better known brands after you've tried it.

[Lamebeaver]

Not quite instant, but Annies makes pasta and sauce dishes where you just add meat, usually tuna or chicken. These work nicely for short trips. They also don't have the MSG, preservatives and other crap that usually accompanies these types of food.

[campershell]

I have tried some instant noodles that come in packs. They are very easy to prepare but as the others said too salty, so I put a little more water than recommended...

[Michael]

Dave Centerbury likes Ramen noodles with chunks of beef jerky. (:

[ponderosa]

I have heard that Packit Gourmet is a lot tastier than the other brands, but I haven't tried it. I like that they have individual vegetables available, that could be added to homemade trail foods.
Packit Gourmet

[dinosaur]

I was out hiking today. I found grapes and russian olives. Delicious instant food.

[Grandpa]

Ponderosa !! One of the guys this summer had some packit gourmet. He was very happy with it.

After many years of Mt House, I can still enjoy their Chicken Polynesian and their Sweet and Sour Pork but the rest has become very blah to me. I'm counting on Sarbar's freezer bag meals to get me throught the next couple of years. I also have some concoctions of my own that are pretty good. Other than that, ramen and instant oatmeal have more appeal than chili mac or pasta primevera (sic) in my opinion. I've also been know to take a tbone steak and a potato for that first nights meal if I know we can have a fire to cook them. Frozen steak, already wrapped in the foil and also a potato, all ready punctured and wrapped in foil for the fire. Sure gets the hiking partners upset

[ponderosa]

I love Sarbar's freezer bag stuff for x-country ski lunches. I was so excited so discover such an easy, tasty way to have hot lunch in the winter. Dicentra's website also has some great ideas.

[Newanderthal]

Backpacker Gourmet

It's a cookbook for backpackers. Tons of great dishes you can make at home and then dehydrate. Step by step instructions on preparation, cooking, dehydrating, packing, and reconstituting with hot water.

Make your supper and then dry out the leftovers. Tastier than mountain house, way cheaper, and far less sodium.