Tuesday 13 August 2013

Review: Back Country Cuisine Freeze Dri Packs


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! 

 

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