Month: July 2020

I’ve had a dehydrator for a while now, but haven’t used it too much. In anticipation of potentially getting out on some trips this summer, I did some experimentation with how well different foods dehydrate/rehydrate.

And the verdicts…

Korean Beef Bowl

1/3 cup (30g) minute rice - 110 cal
1/4 lb (55g dry) lean ground beef - 375 cal
Seasoning

Dry Weight: 85g
Calories: 485
Calories/gram: 5.7

Verdict: great, spicy, beef is a bit chewy (try adding breadcrumbs)

Shepherd’s Pie

1/4 lb (55g dry) lean ground beef - 375 cal
1/4 cup corn - 35 cal
1/4 cup peas - 25 cal
1/4 cup instant potatoes - 100 cal
Seasoning

Dry Weight: 90g
Calories: 535
Calories/gram: 5.9

Verdict: good potential, potatoes rehydrate much faster, would probably be better to rehydrate them separately

Pasta & Meat Sauce

1/4 cup pasta - 100 cal
1/4 lb (55g dry) lean ground beef - 375 cal
Tomato sauce

Dry Weight: 70g
Calories: 475
Calories/gram: 6.8

Verdict: good potential, need to add less water (got a bit soupy)

Jambalaya

1/3 cup (30g) minute rice - 110 cal
30g sausage - 144 cal
Seasoning
> Assembled dry (rather than dehydrating)

Dry Weight: 75g
Calories: 255
Calories/gram: 3.4

Verdict: worked great, seasoning levels are tough to estimate dry

Tuna & Couscous

15g (dry) tuna - 60 cal
30g couscous - 150 cal

Dry Weight: 55g
Calories: 210
Calories/gram: 3.8

Verdict: great, couscous rehydrates instantly - probably best to rehydrate separately

Mung Bean Coconut Curry

1/3 cup (30g) minute rice - 110 cal
55g mung bean - 180 cal
1.5 tbsp coconut milk powder - 100 cal
Seasoning

Dry Weight: 85g
Calories: 390
Calories/gram: 4.5 (5 without the rice)

Verdict: good, needs more beans to less rice ratio

Tuna Pasta

15g (dry) tuna - 60 cal
31g pasta mix - 120 cal

Dry Weight: 46g
Calories: 120
Calories/gram: 3.9

Verdict: pasta got wet/mushy, regular pasta works much better

Lentil & Spinach

1/3 cup (30g) minute rice - 110 cal
44g lentil - 170 cal
Spinach
Seasoning

Dry Weight: 85g
Calories: 280
Calories/gram: 3.3

Verdict: great, lentils are a bit crunchy but fine

Chicken Fried Rice

1/2 cup pre-prepared - about 100 calories

Dry Weight: 37g (down from 115g wet)
Calories: 100
Calories/gram: 2.7

Verdict: didn't rehydrate as well as minute rice

Chili

1/4 cup navy beans - 175 cal
1/4 lb (55g dry) lean ground beef - 375 cal
Tomato sauce
Seasoning

Dry Weight: 120g
Calories: 550
Calories/gram: 4.6

Verdict: good, takes a while to rehydrate