On a hiking trip, eggs are an excellent source of protein and fat. They are a great trail food because of their high calorie-to-weight ratio. It’s important to know how to properly prepare and preserve eggs in your backpack so that they don’t lose their flavor or break open while you’re on the go.
Yes, you can take eggs on a backpacking trip. The best way to eat eggs on a hiking trip is to use a variety of methods. For many people, powdered or dried eggs are a convenient and long-lasting solution, but for others, the taste is just not appealing. It’s important to know how to properly store hard-boiled or raw eggs so that they don’t spill while on the road.
Here are our best methods for transporting and storing eggs while hiking.
Powdered / dehydrated eggs for backpacking
Dehydrating food is a favorite pastime among travelers. Dehydrated snacks for the trail have become increasingly common at outdoor shops and outlets over the years. Eggs of course are not an exemption.
If you’re looking for a way to pack a lot of calories into an easily transportable package, dehydrated (or powdered) eggs may be the answer. They are a “love or hate” form of hiking food for some people who feel the dehydration process loses much of the flavor.
Dehydrating eggs is a simple technique that simply removes water from the eggs, making them lighter and less likely to get rancid. A few weeks after opening, these powdered eggs can be stored in an airtight container for up to a few weeks.
How to pack powdered eggs into a backpack
The convenience of powdered eggs is one of the most appealing aspects of the product. You don’t have to worry about them breaking or squashing, and they can be simply placed into your food bag or bear box when trekking.
Zip-lock bags and sturdy plastic containers are the best options for storing them. It’s a good idea to remove most of the air before squashing the bag into your backpack, or otherwise it could explode!
Real vs Fake Powdered Eggs
Real egg powder is available from a wide range of prominent brands, with differing degrees of quality.
If taste and quality are more essential than price, search for manufacturers that dehydrate the eggs as soon as possible, rather than later in the process. So, if the company doesn’t include this information on the package or in a simple online search, it’s likely that they don’t dry their eggs extremely fresh, because they would make it easy for you.
Imitation powdered eggs may sound like the worst nightmare of your life. They are, nevertheless, a good vegan alternative for travelers who want to maintain their dietary ideals while on the route. After reading numerous reviews (and tasting one choice for myself), I would always recommend adding a little extra seasoning to your eggs rather than counting on them to taste wonderful out of the box.
Salt, pepper, and your favorite spices are essential if you are a traveler who likes to experiment with flavor.
Best brands for powdered eggs?
OvaEasy Whole Egg Crystals
A well-liked brand of powdered eggs, you can get these from REI or buy them online. For $10 for 12 powdered eggs, it is more expensive than buying real eggs at the grocery store, but the DIY dehydration process, which can take up to 12 hours, may be avoided.
Pros:
- No artificial ingredients.
- Cheaper option.
- Backpack-friendly packaging.
Cons:
- Other brands’ flavors and tastes are said to be superior.
- The shelf life isn’t as long as others.
Emergency Essentials Whole Egg Powder
It is well-known among “preppers” (survivalists) and hikers alike because Emergency Essentials is a well-known brand. Even better, they don’t use any artificial additives in their egg powder, which makes it an even greater value for the money.
Pros:
- Good value.
- No artificial ingredients.
- Trusted brand.
Cons:
- Tub too large for backpack.
- As soon as a tub is opened, the product’s 10-year shelf-life is reduced.
Mountain House Scrambled Eggs with Bacon
Aside from the fact that it’s a ready-meal rather than just eggs, this is unique. Despite the addition of a few more ingredients to solidify the combination and make it resemble scrambled eggs, user reviews are overwhelmingly positive about the taste and texture of the product!
Anyone who likes a simple, flavorful breakfast should try this recipe. In addition, they have vegetarian options!
Pros:
- Good taste.
- Recyclable packaging.
- Gluten-Free
Cons:
- Expensive compared to others
- Because of the added chemicals and stabilizers, not all people will enjoy the product.
How to dehydrate eggs for backpacking
In fact, dehydrated (powdered) eggs can be made in a matter of minutes! You’ll need a dehydrator to do this. It’s an excellent investment for regular hikers to get one of these.
Dehydrated foods are lighter and more durable than their fresh counterparts.
DIY Powdered Eggs:
- Add the eggs to a bowl. It’s best to start with 5, but you may need to adjust the number based on how many trays your dehydrator can fit.
- Make sure the egg mixture is well-whipped until it begins to foam slightly.
- Fill your dehydrator trays with the egg mixture.
- Dehydrate for 8 to 10 hours at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. They should be flaky and oily so that they can be readily removed off the dish. If they’re still a little sticky, dehydrate them a little more.
- Freeze the egg flakes for up to an hour in a zip-lock bag.
- After taking them out of the freezer, mix them until they are finely powdered. You may need to dehydrate them more if they stick to the sides of the blender.
- Place in the freezer until your hiking trip and store in your zip-lock bag!
To rehydrate:
- Fill your zip-lock bag with 1 tablespoon of cold water per egg.
- Allow it to rest for 5 minutes. Add a teaspoon at a time if the texture isn’t to your preference.
- Enjoy your eggy breakfast with a little salt and pepper or any other seasonings you prefer!
Hard-boiled eggs
While traveling, hard-boiled eggs can be a convenient and nutritious option. If you don’t plan on keeping them chilled in your backpack, you should consume them on the first day of your trip.
How to prepare hard-boiled eggs
Hard-boiling eggs is a simple process.
- Using caution, carefully place your eggs in a saucepan and cover them with water.
- To prevent an egg from running if it breaks, add a teaspoon of vinegar to the boiling water.
- Turn off the heat and cover the pan with a lid for 10 to 12 minutes after it has started boiling.
How to pack hard-boiled eggs in your backpack
It is far simpler to pack hard-boiled eggs than raw eggs. Fill the empty space with uncooked rice or salt water and put them in a hard plastic water bottle or container with a wide opening, like a Nalgene. In order to avoid drawing salts out of the egg, it is vital to use salt water.
This will cushion your backpack and apply pressure on the eggs. A hard-boiled egg splits, but it will still be edible and the insides will not ooze out everywhere if you use this approach.
Do hard-boiled eggs spoil?
If hard-boiled eggs are not refrigerated, the FDA recommends eating them within two hours following boiling. Cooling them can extend their lives for up to a week, although this might be difficult on a hiking trip.
I wouldn’t recommend hard-boiled eggs for backpacking because of this, but they’d be great for day treks only. As long as you’re trekking in an area where temperatures aren’t too high, you can eat them for breakfast on your second day.
Backpacking with raw eggs
Farm-fresh eggs, of course, are the best option for a hiking trip because they’re the most flavorful. Unfortunately, they are the most cumbersome alternative on our list, and may out to be a waste of time and money.
Carrying raw eggs for more than a two-day vacation may be an unnecessary hassle and may become a real nuisance if you’re not careful. On a lengthy backpacking journey, your stamina and patience may start to wane. The last thing you need is to open your backpack to find a mush of shattered eggs.
The benefits of fresh eggs
Fresh eggs are those that are as near to being plucked from the chicken as possible. Because most eggs in a grocery store are refrigerated, they must be kept refrigerated at all times, or they will begin to “sweat” and promote the growth of bacteria once removed from the refrigerator.
If you insist on bringing raw eggs on your trip, it’s best to buy them locally from a farm instead of trying to chill them while you’re on the road. Make sure the eggs aren’t washed as that will remove their protective coating making them spoil faster.
How to prepare and carry fresh eggs on a backpacking trip
Raw eggs can also be stored in a hard plastic water bottle/container like the one mentioned above. The fragility of raw eggs makes them a far more challenging food to transport. In the event of a crack, at least you won’t have to clean up raw egg goop all over your backpack!
Egg carriers are available from some manufacturers. In addition to being made of strong plastic, these containers are designed to keep each egg safe and sound. The results have been good, but nothing can be guaranteed. It may be challenging to put farm fresh eggs into these containers because they are typically not consistent in size.
Most stores carry this Coghlan’s 12 Egg Carrier, which is a popular option. Egg carriers should be bagged in a zip-lock or plastic wrap for further protection!
How long do raw eggs last?
In this case, it all depends on where you purchased them. Assuming you bought them refrigerated in the United States, they may barely last a few hours after they’re out of the refrigerator. This makes them a poor choice for a backpacking trip.
It is possible to keep eggs for up to one month at room temperature, however, if you buy them fresh and unwashed. For a backpacking trip, this is a far better bet. A little more money up front, but you’ll save money in the long term by opting for the healthier option!
My favorite way to bring eggs backpacking…
When I’m hiking, this is the only egg recipe I bring with me because it’s so easy to make. It can also be made with raw eggs fried on the road, but I prefer to dehydrate my food in preparation because I am a lightweight backpacker.
Prepare in advance:
- A zip-lock bag filled with powdered eggs that have been dehydrated
- Small packet containing paprika, salt, and pepper all mixed together.
- Coconut oil in a little vial. Using coconut oil is a good choice because it is solid at room temperature and does not leak.
- In a second zip-lock bag, add crushed cheese chips (like Doritos).
To make:
- Re-hydrate the eggs as discussed above.
- Heat oil in a small frying pan.
- Toss in eggs and the spice blend, and cook.
- Toss in some cheesy chip crumbs and enjoy your eggy, crunchy breakfast.
This is a hiking meal, so it’s not going to be gourmet, but enjoy just the same!