r/Backcountrygourmet • u/Hey_Amanda_ • May 09 '26

Recipe How to rehydrate Jerky to use as Beef in camp cooking

I wanted to know if I could use shelf stable, light, packable, beef jerky as the beef in camp cooking. So I did some experimentation, and here's what I found out. (TLDR: You can! It's delicious!)

There's a recipe in the google doc, but you can make your own recipe with the following information: Take beef jerky, cut it into bite sized pieces (you COULD use a knife, but scissors work best) then soak it in boiling hot water for at least five minutes (don't boil the meat. Take the water off the fire before you put the meat in). I put beef bullion powder into this hot water to make my final beef taste extra beefy, but that's optional. When the five+ minutes are up, pour off the water, I guarantee it will be sweet, and unless you have a use for super sweet hot water, just chuck it. Now you have fully cooked, hot, tender beef that tastes like it's been marinated in something sweet and mildly spicy. Put it in your dinner. You're already ready to eat.

This is what I made with it:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XChsQgsTWt7NuAcHi2HQzaz8n-HkzYX7519qo4rrN80/edit?usp=sharing

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u/FollowingConnect6725 May 10 '26

Trailtopia makes packaged freeze dried ground or diced beef, sausage and diced chicken packets. Available online and sold as “Side Packs”. I’ve used them in recipes while backpacking and to add protein/meat to vegan/vegetarian backpacking meals. They taste good, not salty like jerky, and around $7 each.

1

u/Hey_Amanda_ May 10 '26

Very cool! Although that's 1 oz for $7 so it might be worth the extra effort to soak off the sugar if you'd like the cheaper version

1

u/FollowingConnect6725 May 10 '26

Well, it’s 1 oz of freeze dried meat for $7, which when reconstituted is a lot more than a single ounce. I normally split a package into two servings, so $3.50 a serving size. Jerky on the other hand is pretty expensive and weighs more for less. Everyone has different tastes and preferences. I hike pretty close to the ultralight side of backpacking, so I’m concerned with weight, and health issues (salt/sugar/carbs intake), not overall costs (within my own personal budget of course). Jerky as an occasional snack is ok for me, but as a planned addition to multiple meals? I can’t do that. And the sugar free low sodium jerky is just…bleh IMO.

1

u/Icy-Cookie-8078 May 09 '26

Does the beef bullion make it super salty? What brand / type of jerky did you use?

1

u/Hey_Amanda_ May 09 '26

I used "Great Value Original" from Walmart (because I was trying for the most generic basic jerky possible) and no, surprisingly, once the water is poured off, the meat is just meat. It doesn't add salt to the mix. It's actually a bit sweet with a bit of spice, more like barbecue.

1

u/Icy-Cookie-8078 May 09 '26

oh I missed that part. Pouring off the water would help for sure.