Freeze dried food, not as crap as I thought?

[Mik235]

Alright, gonna be honest, always thought freeze dried food was a bit of a joke, like something for ultralight hikers or survival nutters. But I gave it a go on a recent ride, and… not gonna lie, kinda works.
Grabbed a couple pouches last minute, didn’t expect much, but when all you need is hot water and five minutes, and you're knackered from a long day in the saddle, having something warm and halfway tasty hits the spot. Way easier than messing with tins or half-squashed sandwiches.
Anyone else using this stuff regularly? Got any go-to meals or ones to avoid like the plague? I’ve had one that tasted like salty cardboard, but another that was surprisingly decent, can’t remember the name, typical.
Curious what the rest of you lot think, am I late to the party or just getting old and lazy? Let’s hear your freeze dried food tales, the good, the bad, and the gassy.

[Matthew]

Yo man welcome to the forum first of all! Second, give us specific brands with a rating of 1-10. Third, are you interested in hosting every member of the forum for a full meal of freeze dried backpacking food? Did I get the wrong idea here?

[JeffH]

As a backpacker I don't get freeze-dried meals because of the relatively low calorie count along with the high sodium. As a cheapskate I don't get freeze-dried meals because of the cost. When I'm out for a few days I mostly bring couscous and/or rice enhanced with vegetables and maybe foil packs of chicken. For day hikes it's always Snickers! And occasionally I'll make up some grilled cheese sammies for everyone.

[Mik235]

Haha yeah, I’ve got to admit, the convenience of freeze dried food really surprised me. It’s not exactly gourmet, but when you’re knackered, it does the job. I get the concerns about cost and salt, definitely not an everyday thing. But for a trip where you need something light and quick, it holds up. That couscous and chicken idea sounds pretty decent too. If anyone’s got good recommendations or brands to avoid, I’m all ears!

[Matthew]

Spam...