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