Real Story: A Family's Freeze-Dried Hiking Staple

The Westbrook family — Don, Jessica, and their extended household — have owned a Harvest Right freeze dryer for nearly two years, and it's become part of daily life as much as it has their outdoor adventures.

An Everyday Kitchen Tool First

Jessica uses it for just about everything: scrambled eggs from their own backyard chickens, Thanksgiving leftovers, and the steady stream of produce that comes out of their large garden each season. "We love the dryer," she says — not as an occasional gadget, but as a regular part of how the household preserves food and builds its pantry.

Then a Trail Companion

The Westbrooks are an outdoor family, and that daily use extends naturally into hiking trips. Their son Jake spent six weeks hiking a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, eating nothing but freeze-dried meals he'd prepared at home beforehand. What mattered most to him: the food was genuinely lightweight, it was food he actually liked eating rather than generic trail rations, and it didn't come loaded with the heavy sodium and artificial preservatives common in a lot of commercial backpacking meals.

Their grandson Daegan has picked up the same habit, bringing freeze-dried snacks along on family hikes.

Worth the Investment

The family considers the freeze dryer already paid for itself, and they don't see that use slowing down — more garden harvests, more trail food, more everyday meals headed for the trays.

More on Freeze-Drying for the Trail

Keep that backpack light with freeze-dried food from home has more on why weight matters so much on a long hike. 8 ways to lighten your camping load covers the broader gear side of packing light.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is freeze-dried food a good option for a long hiking trip?
Yes — it's significantly lighter than fresh or canned food, which matters over many miles, and homemade freeze-dried meals can avoid the heavy sodium and preservatives common in many commercial backpacking meals.

Can a freeze dryer handle both everyday cooking and trail food?
Yes — this family uses theirs for daily meals, garden produce, and holiday leftovers just as often as they use it to prepare food for hiking trips.

How long does it take to prepare freeze-dried meals for a multi-week hike?
It depends on the volume needed, but many owners prepare meals for a trip over several freeze-drying batches in the weeks leading up to it, well ahead of departure.