Boil in bag food, travelling light

Boil in bag food, travelling light

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Discussion

Gad-Westy

Original Poster:

14,563 posts

213 months

Thursday 26th October 2017
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Not sure if this is the right section for this but here goes.

I wonder if anyone has any recommendations for boil in the bag type meals for wild camping? The priority is to be able to pack as light as possible (in terms of cookware and gas) and to not have to faff around cleaning pans afterwards. So I like the idea of just boiling up a pan of water and pouring it into a packet and voila, 5 star dining (erm maybe).

I know go outdoors etc do loads of these type of things but ~£5 a pop is quite steep. Has anybody found any hidden gems along this line in Aldi, Lidl, or ethnic supermarkets or maybe mainstream supermarkets...?

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

253 months

Thursday 26th October 2017
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Not quite as easy as that, but Aldi packet risotto are superb, but you'll need a pan to cook it in.

Pretty easy, if you're boiling water in a pan anyway. Just give it a wipe down afterwards.


Bikesalot

1,834 posts

158 months

Thursday 26th October 2017
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i've found easy roast oven bags to be good in the past.

But that was me cooking up some chilli before hand and just boiling it (in the bag) to heat it up and eat it.

Maybe not what you're after if you're away for a few nights

chopper602

2,178 posts

223 months

Thursday 26th October 2017
quotequote all
Take a look at Army MREs on eBay, they often have a couple of main meals that are designed to be eaten from the bag, not sure on the cost, but they have everything included, apart from the water!

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 26th October 2017
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Try looking in the potnoodle section of any major supermarket, there are so may different brands and varieties of instant noodles and pasta. I cant remember the brand, but had a nice beef teryaki one for lunch recently

joshleb

1,544 posts

144 months

Thursday 26th October 2017
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The only problem with pot noodle type products is that htey take up so much space compared to the camping stuff you can get.

I vote for ex-army rations, even if they're out of date, I'm sure they will still be fine...

Gad-Westy

Original Poster:

14,563 posts

213 months

Thursday 26th October 2017
quotequote all
Cheers folks. A few to look into already there thanks. There are actually a few of us on next trip so although there are plenty of people to do washing up, there is also either a few pans required or we'll need to keep washing between servings. Done a few of these trips before and the washing up bit is always a bit of a pain. Hence thinking of splashing out on something a little 'cleaner'. It's only really one/two nights of slumming it so gourmet is not essential.

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

253 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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Gad-Westy said:
Cheers folks. A few to look into already there thanks. There are actually a few of us on next trip so although there are plenty of people to do washing up, there is also either a few pans required or we'll need to keep washing between servings. Done a few of these trips before and the washing up bit is always a bit of a pain. Hence thinking of splashing out on something a little 'cleaner'. It's only really one/two nights of slumming it so gourmet is not essential.
Aldi Risotto. Honestly. Light, compact, filling, simple, delicious. Bung extra cheese and chorizo in for more flavour and calories.

Can you tell I'm a fan?

tenohfive

6,276 posts

182 months

Saturday 28th October 2017
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Weight for weight cous-cous packets are the way ahead. I actually sat and worked out calories per gram for a number of packet meals; the Ainsley Harriot style came out top. Boiling water and something to eat out of (in my case a kids plastic bowl) is all you need.

You'll want something to go with mind; I tend to mix up a bag of cooked meats and chuck them in. They're fine for a couple of days.

mattwh

139 posts

83 months

Sunday 29th October 2017
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Dehydrated meals are the way to go.... cook your usual meal then put it in the oven at 50°C on baking paper and hey presto - dried meal, tasty and light. The rehydration takes 30 minutes and you have a great meal

anonymous-user

54 months

Tuesday 31st October 2017
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chopper602 said:
Take a look at Army MREs on eBay
If you really do mean MREs they're the US version of British 24hr ration packs.
"Meals, Ready to Eat" aren't referred to as Meals Rejected by Ethiopians or Meals, Rarely Edible without good reason. They are cack. Horrible salty cack that's either bland beyond words or so spicey you'll need chilled bog roll.
The Brit 24hr rat packs are better. Not as good as they used to be but still better. Thing is, because they're not dried they can be very heavy for what they are.

Yipper

5,964 posts

90 months

Tuesday 31st October 2017
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Packet couscous and Peparami.

Gad-Westy

Original Poster:

14,563 posts

213 months

Wednesday 1st November 2017
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Yipper said:
Packet couscous and Peparami.
Pretty much exactly what I've gone for in the end. Aldi couscous, total bargain.

Dog Star

16,131 posts

168 months

Tuesday 7th November 2017
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Crossflow Kid said:
If you really do mean MREs they're the US version of British 24hr ration packs.
"Meals, Ready to Eat" aren't referred to as Meals Rejected by Ethiopians or Meals, Rarely Edible without good reason. They are cack. Horrible salty cack that's either bland beyond words or so spicey you'll need chilled bog roll.
The Brit 24hr rat packs are better. Not as good as they used to be but still better. Thing is, because they're not dried they can be very heavy for what they are.
I'm quite interested in these - just the job for bike rallies, especially with the heat packs. Do you happen to know the best/cheapest supplier - there is an astonishing number of ebay sellers.

tenohfive

6,276 posts

182 months

Tuesday 7th November 2017
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
Crossflow Kid said:
If you really do mean MREs they're the US version of British 24hr ration packs.
"Meals, Ready to Eat" aren't referred to as Meals Rejected by Ethiopians or Meals, Rarely Edible without good reason. They are cack. Horrible salty cack that's either bland beyond words or so spicey you'll need chilled bog roll.
The Brit 24hr rat packs are better. Not as good as they used to be but still better. Thing is, because they're not dried they can be very heavy for what they are.
I'm quite interested in these - just the job for bike rallies, especially with the heat packs. Do you happen to know the best/cheapest supplier - there is an astonishing number of ebay sellers.
Not having a pop here, just curious: which part of that very critical post did you read that made you think, "mmm, sounds like just the job"?

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 8th November 2017
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Dog Star said:
Crossflow Kid said:
If you really do mean MREs they're the US version of British 24hr ration packs.
"Meals, Ready to Eat" aren't referred to as Meals Rejected by Ethiopians or Meals, Rarely Edible without good reason. They are cack. Horrible salty cack that's either bland beyond words or so spicey you'll need chilled bog roll.
The Brit 24hr rat packs are better. Not as good as they used to be but still better. Thing is, because they're not dried they can be very heavy for what they are.
I'm quite interested in these - just the job for bike rallies, especially with the heat packs. Do you happen to know the best/cheapest supplier - there is an astonishing number of ebay sellers.
Why not just type in "24hr ration pack" and then click on "Sort > Lowest Price"?

Dog Star

16,131 posts

168 months

Thursday 9th November 2017
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Crossflow Kid said:
Why not just type in "24hr ration pack" and then click on "Sort > Lowest Price"?
That's obvious - I'm talking suppliers or any particular manufacturer better than another?

gregs656

10,876 posts

181 months

Saturday 11th November 2017
quotequote all
British issue ration packs are heavy with a ton of stuff you won't want. If you can I'd be looking for the individual packet meals, maybe from a surplus store or something.

There is a range of meals called Look What We Found which are apparently quite good.

I tend to take cous cous or similar and add chroizo etc as mentioned above though.


Celtic Dragon

3,169 posts

235 months

Wednesday 15th November 2017
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I use the ones Alpkit sell. I have to admit they weren't bad, with the Shepards pie one being the best! They also do desserts too smile

Dog Star

16,131 posts

168 months

Monday 20th November 2017
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gregs656 said:
British issue ration packs are heavy with a ton of stuff you won't want. If you can I'd be looking for the individual packet meals, maybe from a surplus store or something.

There is a range of meals called Look What We Found which are apparently quite good.

I tend to take cous cous or similar and add chroizo etc as mentioned above though.
I've just had one of these arrive courtesy of a friend....



All looks quite good!

It's a hell of a lot of food - and as you say heavy - for 24 hours, but I guess that's normal due to what someone in the field would be doing activity-wise.