High Sierra Topix

Instant Hash Browns

http://www.hungryjackpotatoes.com/produ ... atoes.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

soak in warm water for 5 minutes in the carton, then fry for 5 or so minutes.

I'll do a test on my stove to see if this is viable in the backcountry (stick to pan issues, etc). It's dirt cheap compared to any of the big name freeze dried food sources, but the carton isn't very space efficient in a bear can. Still, to alternate your breakfast this may not be a bad deal. Pretty high calorie per ounce, even without the 2 tablespoons of oil to add.

Will report back once I make this. II'll first try the Jetboil Helios pot, which spreads the heat better than the titanium pots I have.

By "instant" I assume you mean the dried hash browns. These have been out for over 10 years. I quit using them because they are quite bulky and require rehydration and then frying to really taste like hash browns. Same with the dried au-gratin potoatoes. But they do provide a different texture and I take a box occassionaly on a shorter trip where I have plenty of room in the bear can. Potatoes are not as nutritious as cooked breakfast cereal and do not keep you feeling full as long. I get tired of "sweet" side of breakfast and find "greasy-salty" such as grits and cheese a nice relief. Instant grits pack better than hash browns.

the difference here is that they don't need extensive cooking like the old stuff. hot water and you can eat them (like the freeze dried stuff), but you can also fry them more to get that crispy flavor

Was at Smart and Final last night and as always, i am on the lookout for supermarket foods that translate into good backpacking foods.

I saw some products from Knorr that looked interesting. I have used their "Sides" and tossed in tuna packs or chicken packs and those have all worked pretty well for trail meals. In the mexican foods section they had large (1.5lb??) bags of instant refried beans and two kinds of rice, tomato and plain. All seemed to have a pretty good cal/oz ratio of 100+ and the beans were up there around 150 or so. The rice said to add boiling water and let sit 25 minutes. Beans seemed the same, but less sitting time. My only concern is hot farts in the sleeping bag at altitude, although a high altitude flatulence contest is always fun.

I certainly like the meals in a bag and they are easy and clean, but I am definitely looking for alternatives that use little stove fuel and I can get creative with. I wonder how a Veggie-Trout Panang curry over rice would turn out?? Maybe some chicken burritos with refrieds??

But I bet those Hungry Jacks would be awesome!!

Someone mentioned this place in another thread:

http://www.packitgourmet.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They certainly have a nice grocery store with all the dried ingredients.

Flux,
I had the same worries when I started buying refried beans a couple years ago. So far the only time it has been an issue is when someone brings along dehydrated hot peppers or extra spicy salsa but that is kind of another problem. In the past we would carry a block of cheese or even better some spicy cheese dip in the little containers to make burritos but I don't like the wieght. This year I got a couple of buddies to go in on a #10 of freeze dried chedder cheese and I plane to put it on just about everything.
I usually put 2cps of water on the stove and then add 1cp of hehydrated chicken or hamburger and bring to a boil. Once it comes to a boil I turn off the heat and let it sit for just a couple minutes before I add 1cp of dehydrated refies. I always carry extra refries or mashed potatoes in case I need to thicken it up. After it has has time to rehydrate we roll it up with cheese in a tortilla and enjoy. It is plenty for 2 people.

Well hey there Gary, looks like we are neighbors and both like to head North alot. you don't happen to work up at the wind farm do you??

How is the freeze dried cheese??

packitgourmet has several kinds and I am thinking of ordering up some samples from them and doing a little test.

Smart & Final also carries NIDO, the powdered whole milk which is real nice for calories and opens up that whole world of items that require milk.

Flux, I don't work at the wind farm but I do work for BAE at the Mojave Airport.

I have not even opened the can of cheese yet. It just came last week and I figure that I'll wait until I'm close to going somewhere before I do. Once it is rehydrated it is suppose to even melt like regular cheese, like it does in the MH dinners. I bought mine from Honeyville because they gave me a good price and I have been very happy with everything else that I have bought from them. They only charge $4.49 S&H for any order you place. I love there mint hot cocoa.
http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Since you live in the AV, if you have not already been there you must check out the bulk section at WINCO Foods. There refries are seasoned great with lots of garlic and other spices. They also have sundried tomatoes, a couple different kinds of dehydrated potatoes, a variety of dried fruit. I even by my beef and chicken stock out of there bulk section. There bulk section also has a large selection of granola along with just about anything else you might want to make your gorp with.

fishmonger wrote:Instant Hash Browns

http://www.hungryjackpotatoes.com/produ ... atoes.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

soak in warm water for 5 minutes in the carton, then fry for 5 or so minutes.

tested these on my hiking stove. heated up some water, soaked for 15 mins - that light little box gets heavy... olive oil into the pan, lowest setting on the Jetboil Helios. Gotta stir and flip a lot, scrape hard on the pan bottom to not have them stick as there is a hotspot even with this stove and pot. A good wood stick spatula need to be carved for this job, but it's well worth it. a total of 15 grams of fuel was used to make enough hash browns for three. Put some real bacon bits into the pot and it was perfect. Now I just need to find the best way to repackage them, since the carton they come in is full of air. All that for $0.99 plus the bacon bits and olive oil.