Frequently Asked Questions | Back Country Cuisine

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best back country meals?

Top 5 Back Country Cuisine freeze dried meals: 1. Roast Lamb and Vegetables, 2. Honey Soy Chicken, 3. Cooked Breakfast, 4. Spaghetti Bolognaise, 5. Roast Chicken. For these meals and the rest of the range check out OUR PRODUCTS.

Where can I buy backcountry food?

If you are after Back Country Cuisine and a wide range of outdoor gear and the right advice on how to use it, check out our stockists. However, if you would like to buy it online directly from us, you can in New Zealand and Australia.

How long does back country cuisine last?

Back Country Cuisine meals are produced with a best before date of 4 years to maximise your dining experience. From our advanced shelf-life testing the meals flavour gets weaker after 5 years, but the meals are still safe to eat.

How do you cook back country food?

To make your Back Country Cuisine freeze dried meal simply follow the instructions on the pouch, adding the required amount of hot or cold water stated on the back of each meal pouch, stir and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir again, add more water if desired and eat straight from the pouch.

What is the most popular freeze dried food?

Top 5 freeze-dried food: 1. Back Country Cuisine Roast Lamb and Vegetable meal, 2. Back County Cuisine Berry Smoothie, 3. Back Country Cuisine Honey Soy Chicken meal, 4. Back Country Cuisine Cooked Breakfast, 5. Back Country Cuisine Spaghetti Bolognaise. For these meals and the rest of the range check out OUR PRODUCTS.

What are the healthiest backpacking meals?

The healthiest Back Country Cuisine meals based on the Health Star Rating are: 1. Pasta Vegetariano, 2. Mexican Chicken, 3. Roast Lamb and Vegetables. For these meals and the rest of the range check out OUR PRODUCTS.

Do you sell your freeze dried meals directly to the public?

Yes, online in New Zealand and Australia. However, if you are after Back Country Cuisine and a wide range of outdoor gear and the right advice on how to use it, check out our STOCKISTS.

Do you have a factory shop?

We would love to have a factory shop, but unfortunately we don't have the space for one currently.

Why is the meat in your freeze dried meals rectangular?

After we’ve cooked the meat we dice it into this shape to allow it to rehydrate quickly (no one likes crunchy meat) and provide a similar amount of meat as if you were eating a meal at home i.e. a good fork full.

Are your freeze dried meals gluten free?

We have a large number of gluten free products in our range, which you can see on SHOP page by selecting the gluten free filter.

Are the freeze dried meals safe to eat after their best before date?

We know from our advanced shelf life testing that our meals are safe to eat well beyond four years as long as the bag hasn’t been opened or damaged.

Where are your freeze dried meals made?

We produce our meals in Invercargill, one of the southernmost cities in the world at the bottom of New Zealand.

Do you make freeze dried vegetarian meals?

Yes, we have a range of vegetarian meals, which you can see on OUR PRODUCTS page by selecting the vegetarian filter.

Do you use peanuts in your freeze dried meals?

No we don’t use any peanuts in our meals. We do use almonds and cashew nuts in some of our meals.

Is there an oxygen absorber to remove from the bag?

No, we don’t use an oxygen absorber sachet as it isn't environmentally friendly. We remove oxygen from the bag by vac-packing them and flushing it out with nitrogen gas before sealing the bag.

How quickly do I need to rehydrate the freeze dried meal after the bag is opened?

Our advice is that you should rehydrate the meal within three days of opening the bag, even if you’ve resealed it using the built in zip-lock.

Can I make up your freeze dried meals with cold water?

Yes, the meal will take at least three times longer to rehydrate. While it may not be quite as appetising, you will still get the same nutrition as using boiling water.

Is the nutritional information on your freeze dried meals based on the dry ingredients or after the meal has been re-hydrated/re-constituted?

Our nutritional information is based on the re-hydrated/re-constituted meal.