Available Freeze Dried Food w/o TVP

[Federalist]

To date, my food storage has been canned and bulk items that I buy locally.

Now I'm interested in adding some freeze dried food for longer term storage, but would prefer to avoid TVP. I've been searching for the past few months or so, and most sellers are big time out of stock these days. (Yes, I should have made this decision a year ago, but I didn't.)

Who has freeze dried food w/o TVP (in one month or larger quantities) either in stock, or w/o a long delivery time?

If there are none, are there any sellers who you would expect to fill their orders faster than others (due to their relationships with the maunfacturers)?

Thanks.

[Rock6.3]

but would prefer to avoid TVP.

?What is TVP?

[puropuro]

Look for Mountain House foods.
TVP=textured vegetable protein.

[Maltese Falcon]

Look for Mountain House foods.
TVP=textured vegetable protein.

MH is SIX month backorder. No new orders are being accepted.

.

[puropuro]

MH is SIX month backorder. No new orders are being accepted.

.

K, then try Honeyville Farms.
They actually have MH in stock in the brick&mortar.

Here's a link to their online meats, house-branded.

http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/freezedriedmeatcans.aspx

[Viagrow]

Have you considered packing your own dry foods into mylar bags with O2 absorbers? When done properly you can expect a +20 year life. There are tons of videos out there showing you how to do it yourself.

I have recently began packing my own food into mylar for long term storage. I feel this is a cost effective alternative to supplement the other long term food storage options I currently use.

[ccsun0201]

I recently noticed my local Costco has Mountain House food in 10 packets for 39.99, it comes down to less than 4 bucks each. Costco doesn't charge sales tax for these. Outdoor stores sell them regularly for $6.50-7 bucks each packet. The expiration date is Jan 2018. They are 2 servings per pack. Product number is 525043.

(3) Chicken Teriyaki
(2) Beef Stew
(3) Beef Stroganoff
(2) Lasagna with Meat Sauce

[GrizzlyGuy]

To give you an idea of the backlogs, UPS just dropped off a case of #10 cans from an order I placed with Emergency Essentials way back on Feb 24th, in the ancient days before the Japanese quake. It was all Provident Pantry products and pretty basic stuff that I didn't think would be backordered for that long (fortified milk, carrot dices, broccoli). They still haven't shipped my green beans, celery and a few other things.

If you really want the food, you need to place your order now and wait. Emergency Essentials and most other places fill their backorders on a first come, first served basis. Due to the sudden prep-panic by the sheeple, it may be many months before you start seeing things that are actually in stock. If you are looking specifically for Mountain House brand in #10 cans, then be sure to order from one of these dealers (see their E-mail to me in that post).

[xrMike]

Just curious, what's wrong with TVP? Or is it just a personal preference or taste thing?

[marksmandowntown]

Just curious, what's wrong with TVP? Or is it just a personal preference or taste thing?

Yes, it's a taste thing.

[IEShooter]

TVP

Yes, it's a taste thing.

What's it taste like? I bought a few #10 cans of chicken flavored TVP figuring I'd use them in soups if the need ever arose.

My thinking is that by the time I got around to opening these cans, I'm pretty much not going to care what it tastes like.

Personally, I subscribe to the notion of store exactly the same foods you eat. So, I store lots of canned tomatoes, chicken broth, beans, rice, wheat (for making flour), soups, etc. If there's a disaster of some sort and the stores are not open or cleaned out, I can live off these stores for a couple of months and be eating pretty much the same stuff I always eat.

After that, I'd need to break open the freeze dried stores of food, including the TVP. That'll last me another 3-4 months.

Obvious flaw in my plan is if for some reason I need to leave my home. Canned goods are darn heavy, even if I pack them in my travel trailer. I'll need to reserve the weight capacity for water. That's where freeze dried foods really shine.

So, we're back to the same question. What's it taste like? I may need to buy a small package or two and make a stew with it to find out. I figure it can't taste all that bad in a soup or stew. I never thought it would be yummy enough to reconstitute and just toss on a plate sort of like a grilled chicken breast. I sort of figured it'd need some "help".

[Federalist]

Nothing against TVP. I can eat it, and will again if I have to.

First, it has less protein than real meat. So (if I can) I want to store freeze dried food that has a higher protein content.

Second, to me, it tastes a bit bland and not like real meat. It does not taste bad. YMMV

You should tear open a couple of pouches. Eat one alone (not in a stew). Start without seasoning, and then gradually add seasoning at the table to your liking. Next, try one in a stew. Then you will know what you have.

[Federalist]

Thank all of you for the posts and the leads.

[GrizzlyGuy]

FYI, more on the backlogs from SurvivalAcres:

04/07/2011 - Current Cannery to Ship Time Estimates

This page is REQUIRED READING prior to placing any orders (all customers) -- we want you to be fully aware of the current cannery shipping times. Our published ship times are estimates, as accurate and as truthful as we can make them. Estimates are NOT guarantees.

Food Rush / Website Notice new - Important article on food demand, ordering and customers. There has been a GIGANTIC spike in food demand! All customers are reminded to be patient -- we can only go so fast on order fulfillment!

(Each product description contains the cannery abbreviation, RD = Rainy Day, MH = Mountain House, AA = Alpine Aire, RM = Richmoor)
(Each product description contains the cannery abbreviation, RD = Rainy Day, MH = Mountain House, AA = Alpine Aire, RM = Richmoor)

RD - Rainy Day shipments: 6 - 8 weeks . ** - Important, See Rainy Day Update Below!! Buckets can take the longest, cans are faster!

RD - Freight Shipments: 8 - 10 weeks

MH - Mountain House pouches: 3 weeks (many have been discontinued, website is considered current)

MH - Mountain House cans: DISCONTINUED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE (Must see notice below)

RM - Richmoor pouches: 4 weeks

AA - Alpine Aire pouches: 4 weeks

AA - Alpine Aire cans (any size cans): 6 - 8 weeks

AA - Alpine Aire Systems: 7 - 10 weeks or more. Systems are the Alpine Aire "units". Units may ship residential Freight.

CL - Country Living Grinders: 2 weeks (you will NEED a grinder!), Country Living makes the best.

SS - SuperSpectrim: still super fast, 3 - 5 days!

The gloom-and-doom discussed further down that page is a fun read: total collapse of the financial system, catastrophic oil shortages, food shortages...

[OHOD]

I eat TVP all the time.
Love it.
It's just tofu.