I've eaten HC dinners for years and have only had one pack with quality control issues. IMO, Gastro has great stuff, and Peak has some good things too, but kind of shocked at all the comments loving mountain house... nasty!
Heather's Choice
- Thread starter WIdave
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I have some very important information to share with you.
In Defense of Mountain House -- a Treatise
Remember like 20 years ago when there were basically two brands of freeze dried meals? Mountain House and Backpacker's Pantry. Mountain house was cheap, and you know what always tasted good? MH Beef Stroganoff and MH Lasagna. Guess what still tastes good...MH Beef Stroganoff and MH Lasagna...
www.hunttalk.com
perma
Well-known member
Now wait a minute!
Did my own instant oats and granola options for this years hunt breakfasts. Stuck with ramen and tons of snacks for lunch. I tried a ton of freeze dried dinners and my favorites continue to be peak. That said, mashers with a package of chicken and dehydrated green chile also hits the spot. Haven’t tried the bison ones but sounds like I should stay away.
I tried HC a few years back and was not impressed - especially the salmon chowder. Followed the instructions for reheating due to high elevation and got a gob of food. Put it down, but talk about a let down for a dinner on a backpack hunt in CO third season….
Bummer to hear they are in trouble.
I tried HC a few years back and was not impressed - especially the salmon chowder. Followed the instructions for reheating due to high elevation and got a gob of food. Put it down, but talk about a let down for a dinner on a backpack hunt in CO third season….
Bummer to hear they are in trouble.
longbow51
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Not my daughter's company, so won't break their privacy. Very simple product though, literally sewed on her kitchen table for a personal need.
nwihunter
Well-known member
I have tried some of her stuff and thought it was really good. It is definitely pricey compared to other brands but I do think that her meals are of a higher quality than the cheaper stuff. I’ve heard her on some different podcasts and she is definitely passionate about her product and an interesting person. Hopefully she can it turned around. And also she is pretty damn hot !!
I've only had the African Peanut Stew. I keep a notebook with backpacking meal ratings to keep track of what I've had. Out of 5 stars I gave it a 2.5-3 and called it "good." My notes indicated to use less H2o than the directions indicate.
Gellar
Well-known member
Anyone order from heathers choice lately? I ordered a bunch of packaroons in August, they warned 6-8 weeks until shipping. That’s cutting it close to departure. If you’ve ordered recently was it closer to 6 or 8 weeks?
Also, am I silly to think I could make macaroons and dehydrate them at home for a whole lot cheaper than $2.50 each?
Also, am I silly to think I could make macaroons and dehydrate them at home for a whole lot cheaper than $2.50 each?
Bambistew
Well-known member
I have made my own many times. Super easy, and you can make a couple dozen for like $6. I didn't dehydrate them, they're cooked like a cookie. I've used a few different recopies I found online, add a little extra to them. These are really good... https://www.alattefood.com/easy-orange-coconut-macaroons/ There are dozens of other recipes as well.
HC would be better if they were freeze dried vs dehydrated. The chili is pretty good, but I can take or leave the rest, especially at the price point. I can't wait to experiment with a freeze dryer this winter. Crazy how expensive freeze dried meals are now. Costco has freeze dryers on sale right now, BTW.
Lots of websites and Redit pages for trail/backpacking food. Most is really easy to make and way cheaper than the pre-packaged stuff.
Gellar
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I’m going to give the macaroons a try. Thanks!
mxracer317
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What is the break even point between the cost of the freeze dryer and the food versus just buying it from peak refuel or Mountain House? Sincere question.
Bambistew
Well-known member
We could go down a deep rabbit hole of things I own that don't pay for themselves.
We go through $3-500 in freeze dried meals a year, easily. My kids love freeze dried fruit and other things (skittles) that are spendy as well. My kids don't even eat freeze dried meals yet... It will pay for itself pretty quickly at my house, plus I can make big batches of stuff that I like, and make extra while cooking dinners. Plus I'm not limited to the 8 flavors at the store. I can't wait for hamburger patties, grilled chicken, salmon chowder, etc.
MH meal costs nearly 2x as much as they did 10 years ago, and you get a little more than half as much (shrink-flation). could eat two of them at dinner some days. PR meals are about equal to MH $/oz ratio.
The Freeze dryer will cost me $1600. I'd say I'd save $7/meal or more. At that rate it will pay for itself in about 4 years or less based on current consumption, and I'm sure we'll up the rate of FD food consumption with one. Lots of other things we can preserve in bulk as well.
Bigjay73
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Post in thread 'Heather's Choice' https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/heathers-choice.323056/post-3718602
Gellar
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I did lose my DL for a stint in high school.
Gellar
Well-known member
I’m excited to see this journey.We could go down a deep rabbit hole of things I own that don't pay for themselves.
We go through $3-500 in freeze dried meals a year, easily. My kids love freeze dried fruit and other things (skittles) that are spendy as well. My kids don't even eat freeze dried meals yet... It will pay for itself pretty quickly at my house, plus I can make big batches of stuff that I like, and make extra while cooking dinners. Plus I'm not limited to the 8 flavors at the store. I can't wait for hamburger patties, grilled chicken, salmon chowder, etc.
MH meal costs nearly 2x as much as they did 10 years ago, and you get a little more than half as much (shrink-flation). could eat two of them at dinner some days. PR meals are about equal to MH $/oz ratio.
The Freeze dryer will cost me $1600. I'd say I'd save $7/meal or more. At that rate it will pay for itself in about 4 years or less based on current consumption, and I'm sure we'll up the rate of FD food consumption with one. Lots of other things we can preserve in bulk as well.
longbow51
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Actually, since it's been sold now a couple of times, it was Sleeping Baby. My daughter is a Director now, and likely soon a VP. Amazing for someone who, in 18 years, couldn't figure out how to make her bed.
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