A cheaper alternative. BITB

[Onahi]

What do you think of this?
Is it worth doing ?

When I'm away Touring, I do take food with me. Mainly for an simplicity and independence when away from civilisation. I use a Jetboil, throw in a Boil in the bag "All Day Breakfast" and boil it up for 5 minutes and then use the water for coffee. Simples.
A boil In The Bag meal is anything between £7 - £15.
After my wife bought me some All day Breakfast in a tin, I was very surprised at the cost difference. And also, A tin is 400/450 grams, A Boil in the bag is 300 grams. I looked and found 100 Boil in the bag , pouches. for £20 and an all day Breakfast tin for £2. So, open the empty pouch, and pour the tin into it, Then boil as normal.
Is it worth it ? Someone may find this worth it ?

 

[JoeBiff]

I’m sorely tempted….
Just to get ready for this upcoming war our daft government are engineering us all towards.

 

[Udders]

I’d never thought about it before but if you like the contents of the canned meal then try it?
It’ll cost you about £22 to find out if it works for you.
If the bags seal well then you can do most tinned foods, potato’s, soups, beans etc….

You could make it more fun by NOT labelling the bags and having pot luck on the outcome.

I used to sneak into my mates cupboards when I visited and take all the labels off his tins.

 

[Onahi]

Id need to leave it in its orginal sealed tin, as im away for six weeks at a time. And once opened, in the heat, in the panniers......
The BITB are mire convenient and more packable than tins.
I do like the idea of pot luck though

 

[theoneandonly]

British army ration packs .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/137830819806?_skw=army+ration+packs&itmmeta=01M4KQ78CWK1MM7QKFEMC9PA04&hash=item20175b67de:g:C6EAAeSw2VhqbKdw&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0CHNgUiiE%2FjQhlDTaMiAde%2Fm%2FKxDI%2F42P%2BzdLhkhnpHL3eLscnU%2BwUWBaXGnSrZ0KGIn6oRHmbVff3hyueVAJpK4lvkjoUTmaks9cZBw2tcuK6sUdEDaGZ%2Bps946VswC0k3jyZFKFUOVAc9TgsAvZ%2FV3Y2bndGlxUlrgBFE1lADqqav7cxMIZ2wcZshkgCtcbWup6hZqprH1OGW%2B42LLWTo8lYxa%2FTmOGcecwjG1gksFppcLfAVjaM10Ga7oDxbOhIfebP4jEVah%2FRbotz%2BDuRQ%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-yGnfekaA

there is so much in these , you can't eat it all in 1 day .
good enough for the army , good enough for you.

if something is sold as an MRE , that is 1 meal , not 24 hrs pack. ( and the yank stuff ain't all that . )
French is supposed to be good but 2-3 times the price of English .
I've never paid more than £140 delivered for a box of 10 ( 24hr packs )

 

[Udders]

You mentioned that the ready meals aren’t cheap, correct. Some are particularly expensive. I’ve tried nearly all of them from the better known manufacturers but the absolute stand out favourite of mine is the Summit To Eat range.
Out of those, the best in my opinion, is their 217g Pasta Bolognaise. Followed by the Custard Apple Crunch. Both are surprisingly good.
I keep a little supply in my cupboard at all times.

 

[leadfarmer]

MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) from Amazon or surplus / survival shops

 

[Onahi]

British army ration packs .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/137830819806?_skw=army+ration+packs&itmmeta=01M4KQ78CWK1MM7QKFEMC9PA04&hash=item20175b67de:g:C6EAAeSw2VhqbKdw&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0CHNgUiiE%2FjQhlDTaMiAde%2Fm%2FKxDI%2F42P%2BzdLhkhnpHL3eLscnU%2BwUWBaXGnSrZ0KGIn6oRHmbVff3hyueVAJpK4lvkjoUTmaks9cZBw2tcuK6sUdEDaGZ%2Bps946VswC0k3jyZFKFUOVAc9TgsAvZ%2FV3Y2bndGlxUlrgBFE1lADqqav7cxMIZ2wcZshkgCtcbWup6hZqprH1OGW%2B42LLWTo8lYxa%2FTmOGcecwjG1gksFppcLfAVjaM10Ga7oDxbOhIfebP4jEVah%2FRbotz%2BDuRQ%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-yGnfekaA

there is so much in these , you can't eat it all in 1 day .
good enough for the army , good enough for you.

if something is sold as an MRE , that is 1 meal , not 24 hrs pack. ( and the yank stuff ain't all that . )
French is supposed to be good but 2-3 times the price of English .
I've never paid more than £140 delivered for a box of 10 ( 24hr packs )

I've been consuming British army, NATO rations since 1987. No thanks
Also, 99.9% of that bag is Superfluous. So a bit of a waste.
The point I was attempting to make in the post was the cost of a manufactured BITB over buying the bags separately and the cost of a heavier tin.
The best "outdoor " food by far are the Real Turmat Dehydrated meals. Bloody expensive, but great food. Especially when i add my super hot sauce. But thsts a completely seperate post.

 

[richh]

I used to put tins of beans and sausages on top of the van engine in winter. By the time I'd got to the next stop dinner was ready. Lol.

Stupid I know, but always thought there must be some way to warm food from the engine.

 

[Onahi]

I used to put tins of beans and sausages on top of the van engine in winter. By the time I'd got to the next stop dinner was ready. Lol.

Stupid I know, but always thought there must be some way to warm food from the engine.

You sound like an Ex squaddie !

 

[richh]

Maybe in a former life.

 

[Morety]

I try to carry as little food as possible, perhaps a couple of boil in the bag meals, or noodles with a little chorizo mixed in or similar. For breakfast, a few ready brek sachets or a handful of oats are way cheaper than a costly boil in the bag. Worth reading the small print on some of these ready meals as many are nowhere near as good for you as claimed. Other than that, a handful of energy bars carried in my waistbelt pocket. There's usually access to a walkable pub or shop en route or when between routes, so I tend to stock up or eat out as much as I can. Tins are too heavy, but fine if going for one evening. Other thing to do is pre prep a chilli con carne or similar, leave to cool before putting in freezer bags, and I remove a bag before leaving so it's usually defrosted by the evening and I can stick the bag into my pot in some water...way better than a ready meal.

 

[Onahi]

I try to carry as little food as possible, perhaps a couple of boil in the bag meals, or noodles with a little chorizo mixed in or similar. For breakfast, a few ready brek sachets or a handful of oats are way cheaper than a costly boil in the bag. Worth reading the small print on some of these ready meals as many are nowhere near as good for you as claimed. Other than that, a handful of energy bars carried in my waistbelt pocket. There's usually access to a walkable pub or shop en route or when between routes, so I tend to stock up or eat out as much as I can. Tins are too heavy, but fine if going for one evening. Other thing to do is pre prep a chilli con carne or similar, leave to cool before putting in freezer bags, and I remove a bag before leaving so it's usually defrosted by the evening and I can stick the bag into my pot in some water...way better than a ready meal.

I always carry food. When away, Normally months at a time, There is nothing better than finding a track off somewhere, and sleeping next to the bike. I also carry 2.5 liters of water in a can on the pannier for this reason. Its real freedom.

 

[Morety]

I always carry food. When away, Normally months at a time, There is nothing better than finding a track off somewhere, and sleeping next to the bike. I also carry 2.5 liters of water in a can on the pannier for this reason. Its real freedom.

I would if biking, but most of my camping is connected more with back packing/wild camping

 

[Barnoe]

has anyone tried making dehydrated dry food for this very reason?

Some Ninja multi cookers have a dehydrate option.
Do that and then add water at the camp?

 

[Onahi]

I would if biking, but most of my camping is connected more with back packing/wild camping

Im referring it to this Motorcycle forum

 

[Onahi]

has anyone tried making dehydrated dry food for this very reason?

Some Ninja multi cookers have a dehydrate option.
Do that and then add water at the camp?

I have seen this before. And would be a great option.
Ill research it

 

[Morety]

Im referring it to this Motorcycle forum

I get that but this sub forum is camping & outdoor/cooking and eating which covers all bases. Point is, there's good alternatives to expensive commercial dehyrated food packs, whether biking or backpacking

 

[Udders]

I normally cut up and cook 3 or 4 chicken breasts ( in various flavours ) and put them in air tight sandwich bags and have handfuls of each over the first 3 or 4 days away. I have whole grain packet rice rice from Tesco with it. You put the rice into a pan with some water and boil it up for about 5 mins. Chuck the chicken on top and job done.

 

[Onahi]

I normally cut up and cook 3 or 4 chicken breasts ( in various flavours ) and put them in air tight sandwich bags and have handfuls of each over the first 3 or 4 days away. I have whole grain packet rice rice from Tesco with it. You put the rice into a pan with some water and boil it up for about 5 mins. Chuck the chicken on top and job done.

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And you won't get better than that