Dehydrated Pad Thai Backpacking Meal Recipe

How does dehydrated backpacking food work?

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.