Comparing Freeze-Dried Food Brands: Why Mountain House Stands Out

Shakorah WennerstenSeptember 9, 2024

5 minutes read

If you’re a dedicated camper and adventurer like my family, finding reliable and tasty freeze-dried food is a game-changer. With a family of six who camps frequently while juggling work and homeschooling, we’ve learned a lot about the benefits of freeze-dried meals. In this blog, we’ll delve into the world of freeze-dried food, comparing various brands with a spotlight on Mountain House, which has become our go-to choice. We’ll also touch on the importance of nutrition for active kids and the practical aspects of meal prep and storage while camping.

Why Freeze-Dried Food?

Before diving into the comparisons, let’s highlight why freeze-dried food is an excellent option for campers. Freeze-drying preserves the food while maintaining its nutritional value and flavor, and it’s incredibly lightweight—perfect for carrying during outdoor adventures. It also simplifies meal prep and reduces the need for ice and bulky storage solutions, which is crucial when you’re camping in a tent/camper and working with limited space.

Mountain House: The Front-Runner

When it comes to freeze-dried food, Mountain House consistently leads the pack in both flavor and practicality. Here’s why Mountain House stands ou in my opinon :

Flavor Variety and Quality: Mountain House offers an extensive range of meals, from classic beef stroganoff to vegetarian options like chili mac. We’ve found that their meals are consistently flavorful and satisfying, which is essential when you’re active and need to refuel.
Nutritional Value: For a family with active children, it’s crucial to choose meals that are high in protein and essential nutrients. Mountain House meals typically contain around 10-20 grams of protein per serving, along with a balanced mix of carbohydrates and fats. This nutrient profile supports the energy needs of kids who are climbing mountains, running miles on the beach, and paddleboarding with dolphins.
Cost Efficiency: Although the initial cost of Mountain House meals might seem higher than some other brands, the value they provide is worth it. Their meals are generally well-priced considering their high-quality ingredients and the convenience they offer. Additionally, the cost per serving can be more economical in the long run compared to buying fresh ingredients and dealing with ice and extensive storage.

Comparing Other Brands

While Mountain House is our preferred brand, we’ve explored other options as well:

Backpacker’s Pantry: Known for their gourmet options, Backpacker’s Pantry is a great choice for dessert. We use their meals sparingly due to their higher price, but their flavors and unique offerings make them a nice treat after a day of adventure.
Adventure Meals: Another brand worth mentioning is Adventure Meals. They offer competitive prices and decent flavor, but the protein content can be lower than Mountain House, which is a consideration for us.

Wise Company: Wise offers budget-friendly options, but we’ve found their meals to be less flavorful and with a less diverse menu compared to Mountain House. Their lower price point is tempting, but the trade-off in flavor and nutrition makes it a less favorable option for our family.

Nutritional Needs for Active Kids

Our active lifestyle demands that we pay close attention to the nutritional content of our meals. Active children need meals that are rich in protein and other nutrients to support their physical activities. Here’s a quick look at the typical nutritional values in Mountain House meals:

Protein: 10-20 grams per serving

Calories: 200-400 per serving, depending on the meal
Carbohydrates: 30-60 grams per serving
Fats: 5-20 grams per serving

These values help ensure that our children have the energy they need for their daily adventures, from mountain climbs to beach runs.

Practical Considerations for Camping

When camping with a tent camper and limited space, flexibility is key. Here’s how we manage:

Meal Prep: Preparing freeze-dried meals in advance reduces the amount of time spent cooking while camping. It also cuts down on the need for ice and bulky food storage, which is a huge plus for tent camping.

Storage: We reserve specific spaces in our camper for clothes and food to keep things organized. Freeze-dried meals are compact and easy to store, making it easier to manage our limited space.
Flexibility: We always bring a few extra options in case plans change. Having a variety of meals ensures that we’re prepared for different situations and preferences.

Cost Analysis of Leading Freeze-Dried Camping Meal Brands

When choosing freeze-dried meals for camping, cost is an essential factor, especially if you’re feeding a large family or planning extended trips. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve analyzed the cost of meals from some of the top freeze-dried food brands on the market: Mountain House, Backpacker’s Pantry, Wise Company, and Adventure Meals. We’ll look at the cost per serving and provide a comparison to see how they stack up.

1. Mountain House

Average Cost per Meal: $7-$12
Average Serving Size: 2 servings per meal pouch
Cost per Serving: $3.50-$6.00

Example: Mountain House’s Beef Stroganoff (2-serving pouch) typically costs around $10.00. This breaks down to $5.00 per serving.

Pros:

High-quality ingredients and flavor

Consistent nutritional content
Reliable and well-known brand

Cons:

Slightly higher price point compared to some competitors

2. Backpacker’s Pantry

Average Cost per Meal: $8-$14
Average Serving Size: 2 servings per meal pouch

Cost per Serving: $4.00-$7.00

Example: Backpacker’s Pantry’s Pad Thai (2-serving pouch) costs around $12.00, equating to $6.00 per serving.

Pros:

Gourmet options and diverse flavors
High-quality ingredients

Cons:

Generally more expensive than other brands
Higher cost per serving

3. Wise Company

Average Cost per Meal: $5-$9

Average Serving Size: 1.5-2 servings per meal pouch
Cost per Serving: $3.00-$6.00

Example: Wise Company’s Chili (2-serving pouch) costs about $7.00, which is $3.50 per serving.

Pros:

Lower price point
Variety of meal options

Cons:

Flavor and texture may be less consistent compared to Mountain House
Lower protein content in some meals

4. Adventure Meals

Average Cost per Meal: $6-$11
Average Serving Size: 2 servings per meal pouch
Cost per Serving: $3.00-$5.50

Example: Adventure Meals’ Beef Stew (2-serving pouch) costs around $8.00, breaking down to $4.00 per serving.

Pros:

Reasonably priced

Decent flavor and variety

Cons:

Less well-known, so quality and consistency can vary

Less protein content compared to some competitors

Cost Comparison Summary

Mountain House: $3.50-$6.00 per serving
Backpacker’s Pantry: $4.00-$7.00 per serving

Wise Company: $3.00-$6.00 per serving
Adventure Meals: $3.00-$5.50 per serving

Conclusion

When evaluating freeze-dried meals, the cost per serving is an important consideration, especially for families or extended trips. Here’s a quick summary of what you get for your money:

Mountain House: Offers a balance of flavor, nutrition, and cost. Slightly higher in price, but the quality and consistency are top-notch.
Backpacker’s Pantry: Higher cost per serving but provides gourmet options with high-quality ingredients.
Wise Company: More budget-friendly with a good variety, though flavor and nutrition may vary.

Adventure Meals: Offers a good balance of price and quality, though less consistent compared to Mountain House.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs, including budget, nutritional requirements, and flavor preferences. For our family, the higher cost of Mountain House is justified by the superior flavor and consistent quality, making it worth the investment for our frequent camping trips and active lifestyle.

Conclusion

For families who spend a lot of time camping and adventuring, Mountain House stands out as the top choice for freeze-dried food. Their meals offer a perfect balance of flavor, nutrition, and cost-effectiveness. While other brands have their merits, Mountain House’s quality and consistency make it our go-to option. The convenience of freeze-dried meals also means we spend less time on meal prep and more time enjoying our adventures. So whether you’re climbing mountains, running on the beach, or paddleboarding with dolphins, Mountain House has you covered.