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Freeze-dried meals are just what you need. Do you know what a freeze-dried meal is? Do you have any idea what it can do for you, and where you can find it? This article will give you more details on what freeze-dried meals are right for you. Find out all about freeze-dried meals and their benefits for people involved in outdoor activities (trekking, bikepacking, mountaineering...)!

What do you need to know about freeze-dried meals?

A freeze-dried dish is one that contains food that has been frozen at between -40 and -60°C. They are then dehydrated in a vacuum machine, where the temperature is raised to 0°C. The water in the food is gradually dehydrated, resulting in a hard, water-free food with a long shelf life.

This technique offers a number of significant advantages. When the water in the food is extracted, the volume of the food decreases. This makes it easy to transport, as it is placed in a freeze-dried bag. What's more, when you freeze-dry a food, it retains its nutritional values and organic qualities, unlike other food preservation operations where food loses its value.

Who can eat freeze-dried food?

Anyone can eat freeze-dried food. In fact, unlike some food preservation processes, freeze-dried meals can be eaten by everyone.

This is because freeze-drying doesn't kill any of the food's nutritional compounds. As such, it does not create any nutritional deficiencies that could be considered dangerous. This is not necessarily the case with a dehydrated dish which, while easier to make yourself, will not retain as many nutritional values (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids...).

That's why there are no age restrictions, or why people suffering from a particular medical condition are not allowed to eat freeze-dried meals. So, enjoy freeze-dried meals with complete peace of mind.

Brands now also offer freeze-dried meals for children, with portions adapted to their morphology.

Some of the freeze-dried recipes we sell

There are several types of freeze-dried dishes, already prepared and packaged in a freeze-dried sachet that you can buy directly. Among the best recipes, here are a few breakfasts and meals we've selected for you:

→ chocolate muesli;

→ oatmeal with raspberry;

→ pulled pork and rice;

→ Savoyard tartiflette;

→ gratin dauphinois with three cheeses;

→ scrambled eggs (with cheese, ham, onions or Mexican-style).

In addition to these recipes, there are plenty of others that are highly nutritious and that you might enjoy, such as pork and beans, pasta Bolognese, Moroccan couscous. If any of these recipes appeal to you, treat yourself during your outdoor outings!

Lyophilise & Co boasts a wide range of brands, including Real, MX3 Nutrition and Voyager Nutrition.

How much does a freeze-dried meal cost?

The price of a freeze-dried meal varies according to its content. For a good breakfast, you'll need between 3 and 10 euros. For starters and soups, you'll need to budget between 3 and 8 euros. A main course will cost you between 6 and 10 euros, and a dessert between 3 and 8 euros.

These prices are market standards and may vary according to brand (Mx3, Real Turmat, Voyager...). What's more, when you're looking for a more elaborate dish (100% natural or noble ingredients), the price may be slightly higher. But generally speaking, freeze-dried dishes are not expensive.

Why is it not advisable to prepare a freeze-dried dish yourself?

Preparing a freeze-dried dish requires a freeze-dryer, which is a very expensive piece of equipment. For the more adventurous, the first step is to select the dish to be prepared. Next, you need to gather the ingredients required to prepare it.

Once all the ingredients are ready, it's time to prepare the meal in the correct doses. A lot of people don't keep to the correct doses, which is not good for the meal to be preserved. What's more, when it's time to store it in the fridge for a while, many people don't know how long it should be kept before it's bagged. Sometimes, this means that homemade freeze-drying can be toxic.

That's why it's advisable to consume meals from reputable brands such as Real Turmat or Lyo Food to avoid poor freeze-drying, as poor freeze-drying can make you ill after eating the dish.

Why are they suitable for outdoor enthusiasts?

Outdoor enthusiasts are the main consumers of freeze-dried meals. This is because they're often on the move and not stable. Also, the environments in which they practice their activities don't allow them to prepare real meals.

For example, if you're going on a trip, hiking, trekking or mountaineering trip for a while, you won't be able to prepare food because you don't have the time, and because carrying fresh food is heavy and difficult to preserve in hot weather. What's more, you may have difficulty finding food close to you. And even if you do, it may not be to your liking, depending on the country you're traveling to?

So keeping freeze-dried food is the best option for you in these cases. This solution will give you food autonomy and allow you to skipper your dietary desires. From that point on, freeze-dried meals meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts.

Last but not least, the main advantage of freeze-dried meals is that they are lighter than conventional meals. They're also quick and easy to prepare.

Get your freeze-dried meals from Lyophilise.fr

The online store www.lyophilise.fr offers a wide range of dishes to suit all your needs. These dishes are prepared by freeze-drying experts and offered at very attractive prices.

Visit the site and take a look at the dishes available. You can also choose to pay in packs, which will save you money. When you're traveling or out and about in the great outdoors, choose Lyophilise & Co to quickly find the dish that suits you best. We have the widest selection in Europe. Choose the products you want, pay with your favorite payment method and have them delivered quickly to your door.

How do I eat a freeze-dried meal?

To eat your freeze-dried meal, you first need to hydrate it. Hydration heats up the meal, making it as hot as freshly prepared. To hydrate your meal, you can use hot water. Heat the water, add it to the meal, stir and wait a while before eating. Some meals can also be rehydrated with cold water. All instructions are indicated on the sachets: preparation time, amount of water to bring, shelf life...

In case you're hiking or trekking in an area where you can't heat the water, here's a tip for you. Put water in a container and cover it with hot sand. The sand will heat the water so you can rehydrate your meal. It's easy to eat a freeze-dried meal in any environment.