Freeze-dried food – Can it actually be good?

That question is probably justified if you’ve never tried the contents of the various bags that claim to contain Balkan Risotto and Cod Stew. We therefore let a group where the majority were in their late teens test 12 different freeze-dried meals from various manufacturers. You can see the results below, and we hope it can be helpful for upcoming outdoor trips.

The selection included meals from Blå Band, Real Turmat, and TrekN´Eat. A meal from Mountain House was also in the starting lineup, but due to a technical mishap during preparation, testing of their potato and salmon in dill sauce was impossible. Something the undersigned regrets, as it’s suspected to be a winner.

In total, 14 of us tasted the 12 portions, and each of us gave a rating of 1-5 based primarily on taste but also consistency and appearance. In this context, we do not consider energy content (which is high for all varieties) but instead refer to the respective manufacturer or nearest outdoor store for further information. The entire test began with four chicken dishes, followed by meat dishes, and concluded with three fish dishes.

The test results were varied to say the least, with average scores ranging from 1.9 to 4.4 points. The test’s loser was Blå Band’s Spicy Vegetables, which with its 1.9 points received more ones than threes (the highest grade given). Real Turmat’s Oriental Stew and Blå Band’s Oriental Chicken also didn’t appeal to the test panel.

After that, it was a fairly even race up to the three podium spots, which were all claimed by Real Turmat. In third place came their Chicken with rice and sweet and sour sauce. For the undersigned, this is a classic in this context, while second place was as unexpected (you know the combination of fish and teenagers doesn’t always go down well) as it was delicious. The Lumpfish Stew received a high 4.1 average and, with the exception of some comments about the consistency, was very much appreciated. Given the target audience, the test winner was just as expected as the runner-up was unexpected.

The winner was Pasta Bolognese from Real Turmat. 4.4 was the average score, and the bag was highly sought after when the leftovers were being eaten after the test.

Enjoy your meal!

Meals and scores in tasting order:

• Real Turmat Chicken Sweet & Sour: 3.8 pts
• Blå Band Oriental Chicken: 2.1 pts
• Blå Band Mediterranean Pasta with Chicken: 2.9 pts
• Real Turmat Oriental Stew (with chicken): 2.1 pts
• Blå Band Spicy Vegetables with Beef: 1.8 pts
• Real Turmat Game Stew (reindeer): 3.1 pts
• TrekN´Eat Balkan Risotto (beef): 3.4 pts
• Real Turmat Lamb Stew: 3.1 pts
• Real Turmat Pasta Bolognese (beef): 4.4 pts
• Real Turmat Lumpfish Stew: 4.1 pts
• TrekN´Eat Noodles with Salmon and Herb Sauce: 3.4 pts
• TrekN´Eat Cod Stew: 2.6 pts