Here at Mountain House, we’ve been an industry leader in providing freeze-dried meals and emergency foods to outdoorspeople, military personnel, and everyday households since our brand launched in 1969. And our roots in freeze-dried technology go back further: to the founding of our parent company in the early ‘60s, Oregon Freeze Dry.

From camping, hunting, and river-running trips to emergency preparedness, Mountain House meals come in handy in so many different settings. And they taste great—a reflection of the ingredients we select and the beauty of our freeze-drying process.

We list all of our ingredients right on the pouch and can, so you know exactly what’s in those meals you’re savoring. In this article, we’ll talk more about how we choose our ingredients, the process and benefits of freeze-drying, and our overall company standards when it comes to delivering high-quality, wholesome meals for our customers.

Overview of Mountain House Meal Ingredients

At Mountain House, we’re firmly committed to natural ingredients as the foundation of our recipes. We avoid using artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives whenever possible, with minor exceptions (such as natural ingredients like rennet or paprika that are deemed artificial since it adds color, but not flavor like in our Mac & Cheese).

Common Ingredients

We prepare our freeze-dried meals using real recipes and sourcing wholesome ingredients, just like you would in your own kitchen. From blueberries, green beans, sweet corn, apples, and bell peppers to beef and chicken, we rely upon high-quality food and natural flavors to produce our freeze-dried delicacies. The only difference is we make them on a larger scale so you can enjoy the same home-cooked taste wherever your adventures take you.

No Added MSG

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a sodium salt naturally found in many foods, tomatoes, and cheeses . Since the early 20th century, MSG has also been commercially produced for its flavoring effect, and today many products and food additives include it. Although the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes MSG as “generally recognized as safe,” some people claim to have reactions of various kinds to the compound. (The FDA hasn’t been able to confirm such sensitivities.)

The only MSG you’ll find in Mountain House products is that which is naturally occurring in the original ingredients. We don’t use MSG additives.

Why Choose Freeze-Dried Foods?

Freeze-dried meals and ingredients offer many advantages over other food preservation methods.

Nutritional Value & Freshness

The freeze-drying process, also known as lyophilization, involves flash-freezing a food product, placing it in a vacuum, and then applying low, gentle heat. This process causes the ice within the food—the frozen form of its inherent moisture—to sublimate, transforming directly into water vapor without first melting into liquid water.

As a result, the internal structure of the food, including its pore spacing, is preserved while approximately 99 percent of the moisture content is removed. Preserving the food’s foundational structure helps retain more of its original nutrition, flavor, and texture than many other preservation methods. 

Long Shelf Life

Food with a high moisture content is more susceptible to spoilage and microbial contamination. Removing as much moisture as possible is therefore at the core of many preservation methods.

Because freeze-drying removes such a large degree of moisture—again, as much as 99 percent of it, dramatically more than standard food dehydration does—it produces a product with an exceptional shelf life: ideal for camping, backpacking, and other outdoor activities as well as long-term storage for emergency preparedness at home and in disaster kits.

Thanks to our premium packaging and advanced freeze-drying process, Mountain House offers the longest shelf life in the industry. We’re confident in our quality and taste of our products, which is why we stand behind it with our 30-Year Taste Guarantee.

Easy Rehydration

By removing water through sublimation, freeze-drying not only extends the food’s shelf life but also produces a lightweight, portable product that's easy to pack for any journey. To reconstitute that food, all you need to do is add water.

Preparing a freeze-dried meal—which is already fully cooked and ready to go once the requisite amount of water is added—couldn’t be quicker or simpler. This convenience makes them ideal for backcountry treks, power outages, or those times when cooking feels like a chore after a long day.

In fact, while the directions on our Mountain House packages call for the addition of hot water, you can even rehydrate our meals with cold water—it’s just going to take a little longer.

The Magic of Mountain House’s Small-Batch Cooking Process

Unlike some other brands that simply mix together freeze-dried ingredients to package a meal, the Mountain House approach starts with cooking a delicious recipe. We cook our meals just like you do in your kitchen, in small batches. Then we freeze-dry our meals before packaging them using a proprietary technique. This makes for better-blended flavors and a genuine home-cooked experience in the final product.

In our opinion, no machine can replace our recipe-preparation process here at Mountain House. Couple that with how effectively freeze-drying in general locks in flavors, freshness, and nutrients, and it’s no surprise our meals are so tasty, hearty, and nourishing. 

“The way we cook here is just like you would cook at home, we just do it on a much larger scale. Instead of doing little tiny teaspoons and tablespoons, we measure things in pounds.” Adam Beskow, Manufacturing Supervisor

Our Standards

As we’ve emphasized, we focus on high-quality, nutritious ingredients across all of our meals, with the majority of our meals containing no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives (you can view a full list of ingredients for each product on our product pages). It’s all about delivering the fuel our customers need for their adventures or emergencies.

The thing about freeze-drying is this: The benefit of better nutrient preservation only matters when you start with nutritious ingredients. The same goes, unsurprisingly, in the flavor department. Higher-quality, fresher foods, and seasonings produce better freeze-dried meals, and we’re absolutely committed to that aim.

Part of that commitment means sourcing premium, non-GMO ingredients for the most part. Some meals in our Classic line do contain GMO products, so it’s important to understand that while we otherwise prioritize non-GMO components, we’re not officially certified as non-GMO.

Meeting Diverse Dietary Needs

At Mountain House, we’re here to serve all customers. We continuously strive to expand our product range to accommodate a wide variety of dietary needs and restrictions.

Vegetarian Options

Vegetarians will find a rich array of Mountain House meals they can enjoy, from Pasta Primavera and Macaroni & Cheese to our Granola with Milk and Blueberries and Veggie Chorizo Breakfast Scramble. We select our vegetarian-friendly ingredients for their quality, flavor, and variety to ensure great-tasting and diverse choices.

Dairy-Free Options

We’re proud to offer a wide variety of dairy-free meals that don’t compromise on flavor! Among them are Mountain House Beef Stew, Spaghetti with Beef Marinara, Korean Inspired Beef, Chili Mac, Chicken Fajita Bowl, Yellow Curry with Chicken & Rice, and Pad Thai.

Certified Gluten-Free Options

Our Mountain House gluten-free meals come certified by the non-profit Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) and are identified by the “Gluten-Free” logo on our packaging. Delicious options include our Chicken & Mashed Potatoes, Veggie Chorizo Breakfast Scramble, Cheesy Beef Enchilada Bowl, and Breakfast Skillet, among others.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Freeze-Dried Food Made Of?

Mountain House uses real, high-quality ingredients such as fresh vegetables and meats to make our freeze-dried meals.

Are Freeze-Dried Products Healthy?

So long as freeze-dried products are made from healthy ingredients, they’re quite healthy, given how much of the original nutrition is preserved and how little processing is involved.

Is Freeze-Dried Food Considered Processed?

Freeze-dried foods, as we prepare them here at Mountain House, are minimally processed: the focus is on preservation, not manipulation. We cook our meals in small batches, allowing the flavors to blend naturally.

Do Freeze-Dried Foods Need to Be Refrigerated?

Because so much of the moisture content is removed without degrading fundamental structure, freeze-dried foods boast outstanding shelf life and do not need to be refrigerated. This makes them ideal for long-term food storage as well as extended camping and backpacking trips.

Why Mountain Meals Stand Out

With many decades of experience, a rock-solid commitment to flavor, quality ingredients, and an unbeatable shelf life, Mountain House meals represent the pinnacle of freeze-dried goodness. Plus, all our products are made in the USA at our Albany, Oregon plant. Explore our entire collection here!