As an avid backpacker and emergency prepper who‘s tested countless trail meals and freeze-dried kits over the past decade, Mountain House earns high marks across the board for convenience and quality. Read on for my in-depth thoughts after personally using dozens of their meals in the backcountry!
About Mountain House Freeze-Dried Foods
First, for anyone unfamiliar with the brand, Mountain House is the gold standard when it comes to portable, long-lasting meals to fuel all your wilderness endeavors. They‘ve perfected the process of removing water from cooked foods via freeze drying technology to create packages that stay fresh for up to 30 years!
This allows you to stash single-serving pouches in your pack or stack cans in your bunker that reconstitute with hot water in just 10-15 minutes anytime. It‘s some welcome magic at mealtime when deep in the sticks.
My 10 Favorite Mountain House Meals, Ranked
After nearly a decade of putting Mountain House meals to the test on trails everywhere from the Appalachians to the Andes, I‘ve logged a lot of favorites (and a few flops too). Here‘s my personal top 10 list along with in-depth tasting notes.
| Meal | Calories/Serving | Protein | Overall Taste | Ease of Prep | Top Reasons to Love |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lasagna with Meat Sauce | 500 | 15g | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Tender noodles, rich sauce |
| 2. Chili Mac with Beef | 500 | 20g | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Zesty flavor, nicely spiced |
| 3. Chicken Teriyaki Rice | 450 | 18g | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Sweet glaze, soft veggies |
| 4. Beef Stroganoff | 500 | 20g | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Tender meat chunks |
| 5. Granola with Milk and Blueberries | 300 | 8g | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Creamy, fruity comfort food |
| 6. Chicken and Noodles | 350 | 15g | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Homestyle feel |
| 7. Spaghetti Sauce with Meat | 500 | 15g | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Rich umami tomato flavor |
| 8. Sweet and Sour Pork | 440 | 19g | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Tropical twist |
| 9. Breakfast Skillet | 450 | 18g | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fluffy eggs, crispy potatoes |
| 10. Ice Cream Sandwich | 130 | 3g | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Cool, creamy, cake-y…need I say more? |
Let‘s explore my top 4 with all the delicious details…
1. Lasagna with Meat Sauce
- 500 calories, 15g protein per pouch
- Total taste rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of prep rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This satisfying lasagna impresses every time with al dente noodles layered in a rich, meaty tomato sauce. I love that you get a nice helping of spinach blended in too for some veggie goodness. It really transports me right back to my Italian grandmother‘s kitchen table!
The cheese also rehydrates perfectly for an extra creamy bite in every forkful. Out of 50+ backpacking meals I‘ve tried, none satisfy a comfort food craving quite like this top-notch lasagna.
2. Chili Mac with Beef
- 500 calories, 20g protein per pouch
- Total taste rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of prep rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
When you want something extra hearty that warms you from the inside out on colder treks, this Chili Mac delivers big time. I like to stir in some cheddar or crumbled corn chips for added heartiness too.
The generous hunks of beef rehydrate faster than chicken so you get tender bites throughout while the pasta stays perfectly al dente after reconstituting.
My only nitpick is it errs heavily on the salty side. So be sure to balance it out with electrolyte-loaded water and perhaps a fresh snack like an apple or trail mix on the side if possible for your next day‘s hike.
3. Chicken Teriyaki Rice
- 450 calories, 18g protein per pouch
- Total taste rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of prep rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Who doesn‘t crave a solid chicken teriyaki now and then? This Mountain House meal captures that sweet-salty glaze over tender chicken and soft veggies like a champ. I like mixing in an extra splash of soy sauce myself.
The rice makes it perfect for evenings when you need not only protein for worn out muscles but steady carbs to replenish depleted energy stores too after a tough day on the trails.
Plus, you can‘t beat a hot, steaming teriyaki bowl after battling rain and cold all day! It really does feel like a hug from the inside.
4. Beef Stroganoff
- 500 calories, 20g protein per pouch
- Total taste rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of prep rating: ⭐⭐⭐
What can I say, I‘m a sucker for a good beef stroganoff! This hearty packet does the trick when only some tender beef chunks and buttery egg noodles will cut it.
I do find the sauce errs slightly salty so adding an extra 1/4 cup of water when reconstituting helps mellow that out. The noodles also seem to clump more than other Mountain House pastas.
But overall, for a hot blast of protein plus soothing carbohydrates in the middle of nowhere, this stroganoff fills the bill on multiple levels. Just be sure to give it a good stir halfway through rehydrating.
Want to discover more of my top meal recommendations? Keep scrolling for additional winners I plan future treks around having handy…
More Crave-worthy Favorites
Beyond those top 4 dishes, here are 6 more must-try Mountain House meals with my personal ratings:
| Meal | Total Taste | Ease of Prep | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken and Noodles with Vegetables | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Tasty broth though veggies mushy |
| Spaghetti with Meat Sauce | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Quality tomatoey flavor but salty |
| Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Unique combo; pork can be tough |
| Breakfast Skillet | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fluffy eggs + crispy potatoes = yes! |
| Granola with Milk and Blueberries | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Lower protein but nice treat |
| Ice Cream Sandwich | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Because who doesn‘t want dessert? |
For even more mouthwatering Mountain House meal inspiration, reference their site to discover additional dishes to fuel future escapades.
Just be sure to mind sodium content in heavier proteins like beef and broth-based bowls by balancing with water intake and fresh snacks when possible for balanced nutrition.
Key Mountain House Meal Prep Tips
After years of whipping up these instant meals trackside, I‘ve uncovered some pointers for getting peak flavor and performance out of them.
Here are my top prep tips:
- Give pouches a good shake or massage once water‘s added before sealing to prevent clumping
- Use a coil or jetboil for hotter, faster water for better rehydrating
- Add a splash more water if too salty or dry upon cooking
- Stir periodically while sitting to evenly disperse moisture
- Insulate inside a cozy after prepping to let steam finish cooking
- Pair with fresh snacks like fruit, bread or bars for more balanced meals
Follow those guidelines and you‘ll be feasting like royalty, even miles into the wilderness!
Comparing Mountain House to Other Brands
So how does Mountain House stack up to competitors in the trail-friendly food space? Here‘s a look:
| Mountain House | Backpacker‘s Pantry | Good To-Go | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taste | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Convenience | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Nutrition | Protein-packed; high sodium | More whole food ingredients | Gluten/dairy-free options |
| Affordability | $ | $$ | $$$ |
| Shelf life | Up to 30 years | 2 years | 1-2 years |
So while Mountain House could use some better balancing of salt, the extreme convenience combined with ample calories and protein makes them my go-to for seamless outdoor eating.
Plus, their exceptionally long shelf life provides peace of mind that these tasty meals will be there whenever and wherever you may need them.
My Overall Verdict After 10+ Years of Enjoying
At the end of the day, Mountain House continues to deliver high quality, crave-worthy fuel for even the most remote adventures – decade after decade.
Their dedication to convenience without compromising too much taste or nutrition keeps me loyally coming back. I also appreciate their initiatives like sustainably packaging and giving back to food insecure communities.
No matter what exciting excursions or emergency situations you find yourself in, Mountain House has a meal handy to warm your soul and power your pursuits. They‘ve certainly fueled many of my own wild wanderings spanning mountains, forests and oceans alike.
Here‘s to carrying on faithfully whipping up another delicious lasagna, chili or teriyaki tonight and beyond even in the furthest reaches of the frontier!
