I was going to pose this to the camping recipe group but I figured they would be offended that we are using freeze dried food.

My question though, we are increasing our group size and the Mountain house #10 cans are now a good option for our group. My question about them is in regards to the logistics of it. Right now we use the pouches and we love them because it makes dinner quick, painless and cleanup is very minimal.

If we go the can route I'm just not sure how it will be to pack in 8 of these big cans, and then how to cook them up there at a camp. Do we bring a big dutch oven? Can you cook in the can? Is there any product out there like a reusable pouch we could bring and cookin there?

We may end up going the pouch route but I Was wondering if anyone had any tips for using the cans vs the pouches.

Thank you and Paddle on, spring is in the air!

Cans are illegal in the BWCA and Quetico. Suggest repacking in gallon zip bags or vacuum sealing. Instructions can be copied and put in bag.

Doh! Okay well that answers that.

+1 on using ziplock bags, but make sure you get the freezer bags so they are strong enough for when you dump in the boiling water. On my first solo trip I bought a couple 2 serving size mountain house meals and divided them up into 4 quart size freezer zip lock bags. Boiled water, dumped into the ziplock, ate right out of the bag, and then put the bag into a gallon ziplock which was my garbage bag. Super easy, convenient, and no mess to clean up.

I would either vac seal or just place in large ziplock bags prior to going. Then just cook in a large pot in camp if you are using a whole can per meal. Otherwise divide the meal up into smaller servings. Doing that though be careful as some of the ingredients settle out from the others. Especially the powdered parts.

Like someone said, you have a problem with the can itself and then you have a problem with portioning because of what happens in the bag with these products.

You just have to repackage to serving/meal size and measure out the powder for lack of a better term, or you're going to lose consistency on a meal that is already less than home cooked.

I use mostly #10 cans. Vacuum sealed. I shake the can upside down a bit then divide into serving sizes (usually 2 or 4). The remaining 'settlings' or powder is divided evenly. I I label each bag and the amount of water required. however; I cook in a pot or pan . No 'cooking' in the bag here.

Related question, last year I bought a #10 can of Mountain House chicken in June. Between June and October I used about half the can. The other half has been stored in my basement freezer (technically not a deep freeze, as it's "frostless", but below 0F). Question is, should I throw out the other half, or is it still good for this summer? I don't let anything else go more than a year even in the freezer, but it seems unlikely that the MH chicken would be bad after a year in the freezer. Thoughts?

Should be fine Tom - I've eaten dehydrated meals over a year old (and some even older) not stored in the freezer with no ill effects. At sometime well over that time they may begin to lose a little "zip".

I should add that mine were individually packaged and unopened.

IF you are going to be using a whole can per meal then take along a pot large enough to hold the whole can plus water in it. The can it comes can't be used to cook in. Also if you decide to divide it up in camp dry. Make sure everyone gets all of the ingredients in each bag. As certain parts of the meals settle out from the rest of the ingredients.

FYI...Right now, Sierra Trading Post has a 10# of chili mac on sale for 20 bucks. That is a good deal on a pretty good product.