Firstly a few FAQ’s
What is BBC Freeze-Dried Food?
Back Country Cuisine is easy to prepare and
great tastings because of the features of our Freeze Dri process, this combined
quick-to-hydrate, freeze-dried vegetables and meats with sauce mixes that have
been processed to retain their natural flavours. The result is delicious meals
that can be prepared in the pack in 10 minutes with the addition of boiling
water.
In the freeze drying process, crystals of
frozen ice in the food are sublimed (evaporated) to water vapour in a vacuum
chamber. The result is a completely dry product that does not shirk during the
drying process. When prepared for eating the water quickly gets into the pore
left by the ice crystals to give a juicy, tender food product.
After packing, the food is heat sealed in
foil pouches from which all the air has been removed and replaced with nitrogen
fas. This keeps the food sae and flavoursome for at least three years with the
need for preservatives.
Back Country Cuisine meals are formulated
to meet the high energy needs of outdoor activity. There is a careful balance
of carbohydrates and sugars for instant energy, protein to replenish exhausted muscles
and oils and fats to provide energy store (oils and fats are kept within the
recommended maximum of 30% of total energy)
Freese drying retains the natural vitamins
in the food because of the low temperature used in processing. Along with
naturally occurring minerals and the addition of salt, the meals provide
vitamins and minerals necessary to stay healthy.
How to Prepare
Simple tear open, add the required amount
of hot or cold water stated on the back of each meal pouch, stir and let stand
for 10 minutes. The result is a delicious hot meal wherever you maybe.
(Sourced from Back Country Cuisine )
Now for the review:..
Back Country Cuisine (BBC) is a
fairly well know product to most outdoors types. BCC has been providing high
quality, light weight sustenance foods to kayakers, hunters and general adventurers
since 1998.
BBC Freeze dries their food rather
than dehydrating
it which is a very different process (see FQA above for explanation)
BCC has a great variety of flavours
including several beef, chicken, lamb and vegetarian options to name a few.
They also provide an array of portion
sizes; single, double and family and several meal types: breakfast, lunch,
dinner and snacks.
BBC has made sure there is something for
everyone!
We’ve currently taste tested the majority
of the products stocked on our partner website Aussie
Prepper.
After said taste testing I do have to point
out that Freeze Dried food is never quite the same as “fresh” or MRE’s. You’re basically trading off some taste
and texture for a lighter weight product in your pack which depending on your
activity can be critical. I, personally, tend to be carrying around stupid
amounts of camera gear, solar kits and other general luxuries so the extra
weight reduction is generally welcome :)
I found
the variety of products a great quality and everything tasted great (in
comparison with other free dried products) on my most recent camping trip O trialled
the Cooked
Breakfast, Classic
Beef Curry, Instant
Mash and Strawberry
Ice Cream Bar.
My Cooked
Breakfast pack was surprisingly delicious (the thought of Freeze Dried breakfast didn’t seam too appealing at first!). The beef bacon,
scrambled egg and beans in tomato sauce with hash brown potato was much more
satisfying than my usually porridge or muesli I take away on trips. I had
absolutely no prep issues this one – the recommended water to add was just
right for my tastes and the texture was better than I had expected. I would
recommend some salt/pepper to your likely though for that extra kick of
flavour!
In between breakfast and lunch we snaked on
some Absolute Apple fruit pieces,
which don’t require any prep – just tear open and enjoy!
The Classic
Beef Curry was flavoursome and went well with the Instant
Mash (although be careful not to add to much water to the mash as the
700mls/3 cups left the mash a little too running for my liking however this
didn’t interfere with its deliciousness!).
The single serve was adequate potion size
for me however my camping buddy suggested the ‘double serving’ was probably
advisable for adult males or anybody with a hearty appetite :)
The Strawberry
Ice Cream Bar didn’t require any prep either and the one pack (2 bars in
each) was enough for the two of us. The bar tasted great and surprisingly like
strawberry ice cream (as opposed to simple tasting like strawberries) but it
was very chewy and you definitely need something to wash it down with!
Overall all the products we’ve trailed have
been great tastings and of high quality. I found them incredible easy to
prepare and no clean up required.
Back Country Cuisine has something for everyone and
is a definite MUST TRY for people having to carry a light load!
Where can I buy and how much?
You can purchase a
range of Back Country Cuisine at the Aussie
Prepper website
starting at $4.50 plus postage.
Hope for the Best, Prep for the Worst!
