Food can easily take up 25 percent of the bulk and weight of your pack when hiking for two or more days. That makes saving space essential for a successful backpacking trip. Being stingy with space does not mean you should be stingy with nutrition, however. Hiking is a strenuous activity that requires a balanced diet and plenty of food. One convenient and nutritious food, dehydrated milk, does not need refrigeration, will not spoil, and is lighter and easier to carry than regular milk. Avoiding heavy and bulky items is especially important if your backpacking trip will last longer than a day or two.
Step 1
Measure out exactly the amount of dehydrated milk you will need on your trip. Add a little extra in case of a spill. The more powder you carry, the more space you will need. The idea is to bring only what you need.
Step 2
Store the dehydrated milk in a resealable airtight container, double bag it in plastic, or leave it in its original packaging if it can be resealed. This will ensure the milk powder does not spill or become wet during your hike.
Step 3
Reconstitute the milk before using by mixing it with clean, cool water. Generally, you will add 1/3 cup of water to 3 tbsp. of powdered milk to equal 1/2 cup of liquid milk. Add 1 cup of water to 1/3 cup of powdered milk to equal 1 cup of liquid milk. Stir the milk until it is completely mixed.
Step 4
Add reconstituted milk to granola or cereal for a healthy breakfast. Add sliced fruit or raisins for an even more nutritious and tasty treat.
Step 5
Drink reconstituted milk in place of juice or other drinks when you become tired of drinking water on your hike. Reconstituted milk is also useful for making hot chocolate or adding to coffee if you are away from home during winter.
Step 6
Discard any dehydrated milk that is not refrigerated within one day if you are outside in cold weather. Discard it within a few hours in warmer weather.
Tips and Warnings
- It may take a long while before the dehydrated milk blends with the cool water. It helps to stir for a while and then leave the milk to sit for 20 minutes before stirring again.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring cup
- Resealable airtight container
- Clean water
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