At North 40 Outfitters we want to make sure that we are giving you the best information for whatever adventure you are going on. A common question we are asked from hikers, campers, and hunters, is what is the best camp meal? Taste is entirely subjective, but we decided to do a blind taste-test of four of our most popular camping food brands so that we can answer this question once and for all!

For our blind taste test, we decided to choose a variety of meals from Heather’s Choice, Mountain House, OMEALS, and Peak Refuel. Before we get into the results of our taste-test, let’s go over what each of these brands have to offer and how they are all different and unique.

Heather’s Choice makes lightweight, packable, dehydrated meals and snacks that are made for adventure. They are committed to using natural food like organic fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get the most nutritious and delicious food while you’re out adventuring. They also offer meals that are perfect for those with dietary restrictions: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, and Paleo-Friendly meals. Heather’s Choice foods also aim to include at least 6-ounces of protein per meal to help with recovery, energy levels, and stamina. Besides their meals, they also offer their Packaroons: a coconut cookie that come in a variety of flavors for pocket-sized snacks. Heather’s Choice meals last about 1-2 years and don’t use any additives or preservatives.

Mountain House makes easy-to-pack, freeze-dried food that are sure to be welcoming to everyone who explores the great outdoors. They are proud to have the longest proven shelf life in the industry: a whopping 30 years!! Not only do these meals last a long time, but each meal is made to be consistently delicious. They use flavorful recipes and fresh ingredients before freeze-drying, a process that they’ve been perfecting since 1969. Mountain House also offers meals for those with dietary restrictions: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, and Vegetarian. 

OMEALS makes camp meals that are NEVER dehydrated or freeze-dried, allowing their meals to maintain their original freshness. Not only that, but OMEALS takes all the hassle of cooking out of the equation. Their unique packaging includes a heating pad that will heat up your food in minutes. The only thing you need to worry about finding is water. (You don’t even need fresh water. Any water will do!) This way you can enjoy a hot meal no matter where you are! OMEALS uses the highest quality ingredients to create delicious meals that are inspired by home like Southwest Style Chicken with Rice, Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal, or Vegetarian Chili. OMEALS last about 3-5 years and don’t use any preservatives. 

Peak Refuel meals are made for campers that need meals PACKED with protein. The average Peak Refuel meal has 37 grams of protein. Peak Refuel meals are freeze-dried, which means that they are extremely lightweight. Each ingredient that they use goes through an extensive screening process before they use them. This ensures that you get the highest-quality, non-GMO ingredients when you eat a Peak Refuel meal. They do offer some Dairy-Free and Vegetarian meal options, if you have any dietary restrictions. Peak Refuel meals have a shelf life of 5 years. 

The brands that we tested all use different methods of preserving their meals to make it quick and easy to reheat while on the trail. Some brands prefer to freeze-dry, so make sure that the adventurers are not having to carry any extra weight. Others insist that self-heating meals are the best way to go. But what goes into these different methods of making the meals? What are the pros and cons of each?

Freeze drying is when water is removed to preserve perishable materials. First, the meal is frozen. Then the pressure is reduced, and heat is added back in to allow the frozen water in the meal to turn into a vapor. Fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, and foods that are high in protein can be freeze-dried easily. However, foods that are high in fat, sugar, or baked goods do not freeze-dry well. Studies show that, compared to other drying methods, freeze-drying is the most effective at retaining antioxidants (Source: National Library of Medicine). However, the process of freeze-drying does not kill any illness-causing microorganisms, rather preserving them until they are later exposed to water. 

If you're interesting in making your own camp meals, check out our selection of Harvest Right Freeze Dryers!

Dehydrating food is when moisture is removed from the meal without cooking it. Air is circulated at very low temperatures to pull the moisture out of the food. This prevents the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold. Drying food helps to preserve the natural nutrients from the food, keeping the healthy vitamins and enzymes inside the food. However, foods that are high in fat and oil should not be dehydrated, since there is no guarantee that these foods cannot go rancid on the shelf. Additionally, foods like eggs, chicken, beef, or any other foods that could get salmonella should not be dehydrated because these foods will not stay at a safe 165 degrees. 

Self-heating meals use a heating pack and water to heat the food inside the food packet. The food will be surrounded by hot water for about 3-5 minutes until the food is heated. Since they are already cooked, these meals are also able to be eaten at room temperature, if you wish. Self-heating meals are not dehydrated or freeze-dried, so the consistency and taste of the food is not compromised by the preservative methods. 

When choosing a camp meal, it’s not a one-size-fits all situation. A variety of factors can influence which type of meal is going to be best for you and your trip. These include the length of your trip, the availability of clean water, dietary restrictions, and more. Make sure that you take these factors into consideration before you purchase your camp meals so that you are as satisfied as possible. 

If you are going on a long trip where you need to be conscientious about how much you are packing or how much weight you are carrying, you will want some meals that are lightweight so that you aren’t having to lug around more weight than you need to. For this reason, freeze dried meals from brands like Mountain House are going to be the best option for your trip. You will just need to make sure that you have a supply of clean water to re-hydrate your food before you eat. Heather’s Choice meals average weight is also incredibly low, at a shocking average of 4oz per pouch!

When you’re going on an adventure where you’re not going to have access to fresh water (besides the water you bring with you) or a fire, self-heating meals may be the best choice for you. Self-heating meals do not require fresh water to be safely used. Any kind of non-flammable liquid can be used for brands like OMEALS to heat up a delicious meal. These meals are also great if you need something quick. The meals are already cooked and just need to be heated up, so the time it takes from the thought “I’m hungry” to enjoying a hot meal is about 5 minutes. No need to boil water, no need to wait. 

It is important to choose meals that are going to be safe for you to eat, so make sure that you choose a brand that offers meals for your dietary restrictions. If you prefer to eat vegetarian meals, make sure to try Heather’s Choice, Peak Refuel, Mountain House, and OMEALS selection of vegetarian choices. OMEALS also has a couple of vegan options as well. If you require gluten-free meals, we recommend Heather’s Choice, Mountain House, or OMEALS. Peak Refuel also has some gluten-free meals, however they are not certified gluten-free, so we wouldn’t recommend them for anyone with celiac disease. Heather’s Choice, Mountain House, OMEALS, and Peak Refuel also offer some dairy-free meals for those that are lactose-intolerant. 

Please see the list below for camp meal brands that are safe for your dietary restriction:

For our blind taste-test, we grabbed nine North 40 employees to rank some meals based on appearance, taste, and texture. The meals that we had them try were:

• Heather’s Choice Buckwheat Breakfast
• Heather’s Choice Bison Chili
• Mountain House Beef Stew
• Mountain House Pasta Primavera
• OMEALS Pepperoni Pizza
• OMEALS Vegetable Stew with Beef
• Peak Chicken Coconut Curry
• Peak Sweet Pork and Rice

The number one meal across the board was Mountain House Pasta Primavera! Our participants loved the creamy texture and the homey taste. 

1. 

   Peak Refuel Sweet Pork & Rice

   $13.99
2. 

   Peak Refuel Thai Coconut Curry

   $14.99
3. 

   Omeals Vegetable Stew with Beef Homestyle Meal

   $9.99
4. 

   Mountain House® Adventure Meals Freeze Dried Beef Stew

   $11.99
5. 

   Mountain House® Adventure Meals Freeze Dried Pasta Primavera

   $11.99

The complete results from the blind taste-test are ranked above from best to worst.

It is important to stress at the end of this that taste is completely subjective! We had one participant that was so shocked at the results of this blind taste-test because his number one favorite meal is the Heather’s Choice Buckwheat Breakfast.

No matter what kind of adventure you are embarking on, it’s important to keep your body energized and your mind alert. Stop into your local North 40 Outfitters for a wide selection of camping meals. You are sure to find the food that is right for you. If you have any questions, our store associates can recommend their favorite meals.