Vent: Changed my mind about freeze dried food after 5 years of stocking cans

Last week I cracked open a can of pinto beans from 2022 and they were mush. The seal was fine, but the texture was shot. Three years ago I swore by canned goods for my bunker stash. Then I watched a YouTube guy in Montana show how his 10 year old freeze dried meals still looked fresh. I tested a few pouches I bought last month and they actually held up. So now I'm slowly swapping my stockpile over. Has anyone else found a brand that doesn't crumble to dust when you rehydrate it?

2 comments

2 Comments

shaneb167d ago

Jumping in to gently correct something - the seal being fine doesn't always mean the food is safe, since cans can have tiny pinhole rust spots you can't see that let in air over time. Three years is actually pretty good for canned beans texture-wise, most home storage guides say to rotate canned goods within 2-3 years for best quality. Freeze dried stuff definitely has a longer shelf life (like 25-30 years for some brands) but Mountain House is solid, just avoid the ones with cheese sauces if you want better texture rehydration.

felix1479d ago

Yeah I hear you on the canned beans thing, same thing happened to my stash from 2021 and it was pretty disappointing. I've been hearing good things about Mountain House for the freeze dried stuff that actually stays solid after rehydrating.