Tuesday, July 11th, 2006...2:30 am
Ultralight Backpacking Food: Chef 5 Minute Meals
My friend Sue recently handed me a coupon for a new line of foods called Chef 5 Minute Meals Beef Stew (Pack of 6). So far, I haven’t been able to find them in the supermarket, but am intrigued by the ad that says they need no refrigeration and have a salt-water activated “oven” in the box that heats the meal in five minutes to 140 degrees.
Each meal weighs 9 ounces. I visited the company website for Chef 5 Minute Meals, where they provide some information on the product, but no nutritional information. Among the features: each package comes complete with oven, utensils, napkins, salt and pepper. The advertising says there are no preservatives added, yet the meals have a five-year shelf life.
There are six different dinners and a dessert available: chicken cacciatore, chicken pasta Parmesan, beef strogonoff, spaghetti with meatballs, vegetable lasagna, beef chili with beans, beef stew and chocolate dessert.
A company representative told me they are available at Albertsons, Publix, ACME, Long’s Drugs, Kash ‘n Karry, Brooks, Eckerd and Amazon.com.
That’s all I can tell you about Chef 5 Minute Meals until I get my hands on some. If any of you have experience with this product, please share your thoughts with us. I find this product particularly interesting because you could actually take a trip and not carry a stove or any fuel (assuming you don’t need you’re daily fix of oatmeal, coffee or tea). Potentially good news for a light backpacker seeking ways to reduce pack weight.
Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
6 Comments
August 13th, 2006 at 10:00 am
[…] Ultralight food: Chef 5 Minute Meals […]
November 11th, 2006 at 11:18 am
Hi There,
I’m the web admin for chef5minutemeals.com. Thank you for the interest in Chef 5 Minute meals.
While checking my webstats I found your link. I’m currently rebuilding our site. I would like to let you know, I will be posting nutritional information soon. Along with a video on how the meals cook.
Please feel free to email with any questions you might have.
Lisa
November 13th, 2006 at 9:12 am
Lisa,
I will look forward to the nutritional information. Backpackers like to know what’s in their food, especially these days with all the concerns about trans fats.
Bruce
August 29th, 2007 at 6:54 am
I have tried these meals and they are delicious. The nutritional value on the box for the Chicken Cacciatore anyhow is quite acceptable. With no preservatives the flavour is very much like a home cooked meal but I did worry about salt (sodium) content which I found was well within what you would expect in a packaged meal at 25% (610mg) of your daily value. Protein content was good in my meal (19g) and the carbs came in at 30g (or 10% of your daily value). Total fat was very modest at just 7g with sat. fat only taking up 1.5 g of that. Cholesterol was 50mg. Total calorie count was 260 with 60 of that coming from fat and the serving size was 255g. Sorry for the metric measurements but I live in Canada!
I was so impressed with these meals that I have recommended them as disaster rations at my place of work. I have taken them on camping trips with me as well and, although they are a bit of weight in the pack, they are truly self contained meals. You will, of course, have the box and packaging to pack back out with you.
Overall an excellent product!
September 16th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Hi Tony,
I agree. They are good and acceptable nutritionally.
Bruce
August 19th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Hi Bruce, another option to check into. Not as lite but 1000+calorie complete meals in almost indestructable packaging - really easy to carry. They have only been available in Canada since 2006. Excellence in taste and balanced nutrition. The products are thermostabilized once they are sealed in the three layer retort pouch that is why they can be preservative free and be shelf stable for 5 years when they are fully hydrated. Nutritional info is on the site - if you get a chance to try them I think you’ll enjoy them. I live adjacent to the Bruce Trail and use them on day hikes. They’re great. Happy packing…….
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