Dehydrated foods are fruits, meats, and other products that have had their water content removed through the process of drying. You can dry out food in an oven, a food dehydrator, and, more historically, with the power of the sun. Dehydrating foods preserves them, extending their shelf life while concentrating their flavor. Depending on which method you use and how much moisture you remove, the texture of dried foods can range from chewy to crispy. For example, dehydrated fruit is chewy, while dehydrated vegetables are crispy.
Dried foods last between four and twelve months, depending on the environment where you store the food. Always store dried foods in an airtight container away from sunlight, heat, and excess moisture. You can store your dried foods at room temperature, but the lower the storage temperature, the longer the storage time. Keep them in a cold and dark place like a closet or pantry, or opt for a colder location like a cellar or refrigerator.
Proper food preservation is the first step to preventing spoilage, but how you store your dehydrated or freeze-dried foods also helps preserve their freshness. Follow these tips to store your dehydrated fruit, freeze-dried meals, and other emergency foods for your backpacking or camping trips:

1. __Store dehydrated foods in dry areas__. Store your freeze-dried backpacking meals and dehydrated foods in areas with low moisture levels. When dehydrated foods come into contact with water, they will start to go rancid. 
2. __Keep dried foods in shaded areas__. Store your dehydrated foods in cool, dark areas; sunlight can accelerate the process of breaking down the dried foods. 
3. __Seal your dehydrated food in airtight containers__. Exposing dehydrated foods to air begins the oxidation process. Prevent premature oxidation by keeping your food in airtight storage containers like glass jars, plastic bags, or vacuum-sealed bags. Opt for [canning](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-canning-step-by-step-canning-for-beginners-plus-home-canning-methods) jars to create an airtight seal, or if you choose plastic bags, look for freezer bags with a secure zip, or invest in a vacuum sealer to keep your food safe while also saving space in your backpack or pantry. You can add oxygen absorbers to your containers to help preserve your dried foods for a longer period. 
4. __Store your dried foods in a cool place__. Store your dried goods in the coldest area possible to keep them fresh for the longest time. Opt for basement storage or a dark, cool place like a cellar over a warmer attic or a pantry with higher temperatures, or keep them in the refrigerator for long-term food storage.
Hikers opt for freeze-dried or dehydrated food items over canned foods because they are lighter to carry on backpacking trips. You can find camping foods at outdoor recreation stores, but there are many types of foods you can take on camping trips that you can find at your local grocery store. Some common dehydrated foods include:

1. __Cereal or granola with dehydrated fruit__: Cereals or granola with dehydrated fruits like apricots, [strawberries](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dehydrated-strawberries-recipe), or blueberries are a great option for snacking while on the trail. Another way to get the nutritional value of fruit while camping is to eat fruit leather. 
2. __Dehydrated meals__: You can purchase single-serving meal kits you can rehydrate on the trail with boiling water, or if you have a food dehydrator, you can prepare your own backpacking meals without additives. With a food dehydrator, you can prep [camping meals](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/camping-meals-guide) at home, from pad thai and beef stroganoff to lasagna or risotto. For vegetarian-friendly dehydrated meals, opt for noodle dishes without meat sauce, like pasta primavera, or try a hearty dish made with black beans, lentils, and quinoa. With your camping cookware and a bit of hot water, you can enjoy homestyle meals while hiking in the backcountry.
3. __Jerky__: Meat jerky is a great backpacking food that many hikers bring on camping trips for an extra bit of protein while on the trail. Jerky lasts for a long time and can be an easy-to-grab snack on the go if you keep it in a pouch or pocket on your backpack.
4. __Trail mix with dried fruit__: You can make a simple trail mix with nuts and dried fruits like raisins, pineapple chunks, or dehydrated banana slices. Add chocolate chips for added sweetness.
Certain outdoor activities carry an elevated risk of serious injury. Wilderness scenarios require extensive survival gear, including but not limited to food, water, maps, protective clothing, and first aid, along with mental and physical fortitude. This article is for educational and informational purposes, and is not a substitute for hard skills and expertise.
Prepare for any outdoor journey by grabbing a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and committing Jessie Krebs’s wilderness survival course to memory. As a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape instructor, Jessie can teach you everything you need to know about packing for a trip (neon is the new black), purifying water, foraging (crickets: the other white meat), starting a fire, and signaling for help (forget SOS).   
Learn how long dehydrated foods last, and discover tips for storing foods to help extend their shelf life.

Learn how long dehydrated foods last, and discover tips for storing foods to help extend their shelf life.

How Long Does Dehydrated Food Last? 4 Storage Tips

Dehydrated foods are fruits, meats, and other products that have had their water content removed through the process of drying. You can dry out food in an oven, a food dehydrator, and, more historically, with the power of the sun. Dehydrating foods preserves them, extending their shelf life while concentrating their flavor. Depending on which method you use and how much moisture you remove, the texture of dried foods can range from chewy to crispy. For example, dehydrated fruit is chewy, while dehydrated vegetables are crispy.

What Is Dehydrated Food?

Dried foods last between four and twelve months, depending on the environment where you store the food. Always store dried foods in an airtight container away from sunlight, heat, and excess moisture. You can store your dried foods at room temperature, but the lower the storage temperature, the longer the storage time. Keep them in a cold and dark place like a closet or pantry, or opt for a colder location like a cellar or refrigerator.

How Long Does Dehydrated Food Last?

Proper food preservation is the first step to preventing spoilage, but how you store your dehydrated or freeze-dried foods also helps preserve their freshness. Follow these tips to store your dehydrated fruit, freeze-dried meals, and other emergency foods for your backpacking or camping trips:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Store dehydrated foods in dry areas. Store your freeze-dried backpacking meals and dehydrated foods in areas with low moisture levels. When dehydrated foods come into contact with water, they will start to go rancid. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Keep dried foods in shaded areas. Store your dehydrated foods in cool, dark areas; sunlight can accelerate the process of breaking down the dried foods. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Seal your dehydrated food in airtight containers. Exposing dehydrated foods to air begins the oxidation process. Prevent premature oxidation by keeping your food in airtight storage containers like glass jars, plastic bags, or vacuum-sealed bags. Opt for <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-canning-step-by-step-canning-for-beginners-plus-home-canning-methods' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-canning-step-by-step-canning-for-beginners-plus-home-canning-methods","linkCopy":"canning","category":null}'>canning</a> jars to create an airtight seal, or if you choose plastic bags, look for freezer bags with a secure zip, or invest in a vacuum sealer to keep your food safe while also saving space in your backpack or pantry. You can add oxygen absorbers to your containers to help preserve your dried foods for a longer period. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Store your dried foods in a cool place. Store your dried goods in the coldest area possible to keep them fresh for the longest time. Opt for basement storage or a dark, cool place like a cellar over a warmer attic or a pantry with higher temperatures, or keep them in the refrigerator for long-term food storage. </li></ol>

4 Tips for Storing Dehydrated Food 

Hikers opt for freeze-dried or dehydrated food items over canned foods because they are lighter to carry on backpacking trips. You can find camping foods at outdoor recreation stores, but there are many types of foods you can take on camping trips that you can find at your local grocery store. Some common dehydrated foods include:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Cereal or granola with dehydrated fruit: Cereals or granola with dehydrated fruits like apricots, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dehydrated-strawberries-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dehydrated-strawberries-recipe","linkCopy":"strawberries","category":null}'>strawberries</a>, or blueberries are a great option for snacking while on the trail. Another way to get the nutritional value of fruit while camping is to eat fruit leather. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Dehydrated meals: You can purchase single-serving meal kits you can rehydrate on the trail with boiling water, or if you have a food dehydrator, you can prepare your own backpacking meals without additives. With a food dehydrator, you can prep <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/camping-meals-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/camping-meals-guide","linkCopy":"camping meals","category":null}'>camping meals</a> at home, from pad thai and beef stroganoff to lasagna or risotto. For vegetarian-friendly dehydrated meals, opt for noodle dishes without meat sauce, like pasta primavera, or try a hearty dish made with black beans, lentils, and quinoa. With your camping cookware and a bit of hot water, you can enjoy homestyle meals while hiking in the backcountry. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Jerky: Meat jerky is a great backpacking food that many hikers bring on camping trips for an extra bit of protein while on the trail. Jerky lasts for a long time and can be an easy-to-grab snack on the go if you keep it in a pouch or pocket on your backpack. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Trail mix with dried fruit: You can make a simple trail mix with nuts and dried fruits like raisins, pineapple chunks, or dehydrated banana slices. Add chocolate chips for added sweetness. </li></ol>

4 Dehydrated Foods for Camping and Backpacking

Certain outdoor activities carry an elevated risk of serious injury. Wilderness scenarios require extensive survival gear, including but not limited to food, water, maps, protective clothing, and first aid, along with mental and physical fortitude. This article is for educational and informational purposes, and is not a substitute for hard skills and expertise.

Preparing for Wilderness Expeditions

Prepare for any outdoor journey by grabbing a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and committing Jessie Krebs’s wilderness survival course to memory. As a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape instructor, Jessie can teach you everything you need to know about packing for a trip (neon is the new black), purifying water, foraging (crickets: the other white meat), starting a fire, and signaling for help (forget SOS).

Ready to Explore More of the Great Outdoors?

Learn how long dehydrated foods last, and discover tips for storing foods to help extend their shelf life.

Learn how long dehydrated foods last, and discover tips for storing foods to help extend their shelf life.
