In times of crisis, having a reliable source of emergency food is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of you and your loved ones. One option that frequently comes up in discussions about emergency preparedness is the Mountain House 14-Day Emergency Food Supply. Known for its long shelf life and convenience, Mountain House’s freeze-dried meals have earned a strong reputation in the survivalist, camping, and emergency preparedness communities. In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at the product, evaluating its features, taste, nutritional value, ease of preparation, packaging, and overall value.
Overview of Mountain House 14-Day Emergency Food Supply
Product Type: Freeze-dried emergency food
Servings: 84 servings (14 days for one person)
Calories: Approximately 1,800 to 2,000 calories per day for one person
Meals Included: 13 different meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner options
Shelf Life: 25+ years
Packaging: Resalable, Mylar pouches with oxygen absorbers
Weight: Around 8.4 pounds (3.8 kg)
Preparedness Focus: Designed for emergency, survival, and long-term storage
Mountain House’s 14-Day Emergency Food Supply offers a combination of ready-to-eat freeze-dried meals designed to provide nutrition and calories in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. The meals are intended for long-term storage, boasting a shelf life of over 25 years, and are ideal for situations where traditional food storage is not an option, such as power outages, evacuations, or outdoor survival scenarios.
Key Features and Benefits
1. Freeze-Dried Convenience
Mountain House is one of the leading brands in the freeze-dried food industry, and its 14-day emergency food supply is no exception. Freeze-drying is a preservation process that removes most of the moisture from the food while maintaining nutrients, flavor, and texture. This technology allows Mountain House meals to have a very long shelf life—25 years or more—without the need for refrigeration.
Freeze-dried food is lightweight, compact, and easy to prepare, making it ideal for emergency situations where time, space, and resources are limited. All you need is hot water, and the meal is ready to eat in just a few minutes.
2. Balanced Nutrition
When considering an emergency food supply, it’s important to ensure that the meals are not only calorie-dense but also nutritionally balanced. Mountain House’s 14-Day Emergency Food Supply is designed to provide approximately 1,800-2,000 calories per day, which is a standard target for one person in survival scenarios. The meals include a variety of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to keep you fueled and satisfied.
Each serving provides a good mix of essential vitamins and minerals, though it’s worth noting that this supply is not a perfect substitute for a full, balanced diet in non-emergency circumstances. While the meals provide enough nutrition for short-term survival, you may want to supplement with additional food or vitamins if you're planning for a longer-term situation.
3. Variety of Meals
This emergency food kit includes 13 different meals, offering a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The variety is one of the key selling points of this kit, as it helps to prevent meal fatigue—a common concern when relying on long-term emergency food storage. Some of the meals included in the Mountain House 14-Day Emergency Food Supply are:
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with bacon, granola with milk & blueberries, breakfast skillet
- Lunch/Dinner: Beef stew, chicken teriyaki, spaghetti with marinara, chili mac with beef, chicken and rice, pasta primavera
- Dessert: Ice cream sandwiches, brownies (occasionally included depending on packaging)
These meals are designed to be both flavorful and filling, with a range of textures and flavors to keep your morale up during difficult times. For instance, the beef stew and chicken teriyaki are hearty and satisfying, while the scrambled eggs with bacon offer a comforting, familiar breakfast choice.
4. Ease of Preparation
Mountain House meals are well-known for their simplicity in preparation. Each pouch contains freeze-dried food, and all you need to do is add boiling water (about 1-1.5 cups, depending on the meal), stir, and let it sit for a few minutes to rehydrate. No additional cooking equipment is necessary, making these meals ideal for situations where you don’t have access to a stove, oven, or extensive kitchen tools.
The packaging includes clear instructions on how to prepare each meal, making it easy even for beginners or those with limited survival skills to follow. Some users have noted that a camping stove or portable heating source may be needed if you don’t have access to a fully stocked kitchen or running water.
5. Long Shelf Life
One of the biggest selling points of Mountain House meals is their long shelf life. Properly stored in a cool, dry environment, these meals can last for up to 25 years or more. The Mylar pouches are equipped with oxygen absorbers, which help to extend the food’s shelf life by limiting exposure to air. This makes them perfect for long-term emergency preparedness, as you won’t have to worry about rotating your stock as often as you would with canned goods or fresh food.
6. Packaging and Portability
The Mountain House 14-Day Emergency Food Supply is packaged in resalable Mylar pouches, which provide an additional layer of protection against environmental factors like moisture, light, and air. The pouches are compact and stackable, making them easy to store in a closet, basement, or even a car trunk.
At around 8.4 pounds for the entire 84-serving kit, the pack is relatively light compared to equivalent amounts of canned goods or other emergency food options. This portability is an important factor for those who might need to evacuate quickly.
Taste and Flavor
While taste is subjective, Mountain House is consistently praised for the overall flavor and texture of its meals compared to other freeze-dried food brands. Freeze-dried food tends to have a reputation for being bland or unappetizing, but Mountain House has worked to improve the quality and taste of its offerings.
Meals like the Beef Stew and Chicken Teriyaki are often described as surprisingly flavorful, with generous portions of meat and vegetables. The scrambled eggs with bacon are often highlighted as a particularly satisfying breakfast, with the bacon bits offering a nice touch of flavor.
That said, some reviewers have noted that while the meals are tasty for freeze-dried food, they may not compare to freshly prepared meals. In extended emergency situations, you might grow tired of the repetitive meal options, but in an emergency situation, the comfort of familiar and flavorful foods can be a huge morale booster.
Considerations and Drawbacks
While Mountain House’s 14-Day Emergency Food Supply is an excellent choice for many, there are a few factors that may be worth considering:
Limited Dietary Variety: While the meals cover a wide range of flavors and ingredients, they may not be suitable for all dietary restrictions. There are no vegan or gluten-free options in the standard kit, so individuals with specific dietary needs may need to look for specialized emergency food supplies.
Taste Fatigue: With only 13 meal varieties, some users may experience “taste fatigue” if they are relying on this kit for a prolonged period. The meals are flavorful but repetitive, so if you plan to extend your food supply beyond 14 days, you may need to consider supplementing with other food sources.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
The Mountain House 14-Day Emergency Food Supply stands out as a top-tier option for anyone looking to prepare for emergencies or long-term survival scenarios. Its ease of preparation, long shelf life, and variety of tasty meals make it a solid choice for short-term emergencies, outdoor expeditions, or situations where refrigeration is not an option.
While the price point may be higher than some other options, the convenience, reliability, and quality of Mountain House meals make it an excellent investment for those who prioritize preparedness. Whether you’re building an emergency kit for your home or planning for a camping trip, the Mountain House 14-Day Emergency Food Supply offers a practical, dependable solution that can keep you nourished and ready for whatever challenges lie ahead.
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