Best Freeze-Dried Beef and Chicken

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2023 @ 10:44 am.

The Best Freeze-Dried Beef & Chicken: Our Tips & Advice

Going camping? Living on a boat? Freeze-dried beef or chicken is a great way to take protein with you, without needed refrigeration.

If you are building an emergency food supply, these supplies would be an important component of your hurricane or earthquake supplies.

After interviewing several of our readers who’ve used these freeze-dried beef and chicken for camping, here are some tips:

• Consider slow cooking. This allows the meat to return to the consistency and texture folks expect. Quick cooking doesn’t allow the meat to properly absorb moisture.

• Follow the instructions regarding rehydration. Different brands require different mixes (1/2 cup water to 1 cup chicken, for example).

• Spices are a good idea. Most of these brands are unseasoned—expect to add your own to seasoning to taste.

Here are the winners from our taste tests, comparing several brands against each other in our freeze-dried cook off!

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

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We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

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