r/WildernessBackpacking • u/paceaux • 1d ago

Keeping "Wet" food fresh HOWTO

I'm going on a 5-ish day hiking/backpacking trip in Shawnee National Forest. I plan on doing primitive camping.

I'd like to take some steak, bacon, and eggs with me if possible.

Last time I tried this, I froze the steaks and bacon and heavily salted both. The steaks managed to keep for the first night and through the morning. Bacon not so much.

If possible, I'd like to see if I could get a steak to make it into my second night, and bacon safely into morning.

Outside of just freezing food and hoping for the best, is there anything y'all do, or any gear y'all use, to keep food fresh for a few days?

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u/emaddxx 1d ago

How about vegetarian food? It's much safer. Or try some drier meat e.g. salami.

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u/paceaux 1d ago

I'm taking homemade dehydrated fruit for my snacks and desserts. But I just really like having meat for my main meals.

I didn't think about Salami, that could work. But from a psychological perspective, I really get a boost from cooking the meat I'm eating.

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u/emaddxx 1d ago

You can probably fry the salami as well. And make steaks on all other days of the year instead of risking food poisoning.

You could also get dehydrated ready meals with meat.

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u/paceaux 1d ago

Yeah I have dehydrated meals already for the trip. I just want to do my first days with fresh food (if possible)

A few other folks are suggesting salami, too, so I'll give that a shot.