Recipe Details
Extra-lean ground beef is one of the most versatile high-protein ingredients for backpacking and paddling meals. When properly cooked, rinsed, and dehydrated, it becomes lightweight, shelf-stable, and rehydrates well for freezer bag meals, one-pot dinners, and modular trail recipes. This method uses no seasoning, so the finished beef can be used in any meal build.
Prep Time
10min
Cook Time
7h
Wait Time
10min
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Cost: | Fairly Low Cost |
| Category: | Dehydrated Ingredients |
| Seasons: | All |
Ingredients
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Meat
| 1 lb | Extra Lean Ground Beef |
Dehydrated Ground Beef Directions
Step 1:
Place extra lean ground beef into a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until fully browned, breaking the meat into very small crumbles as it cooks. Continue cooking until no pink remains.
Step 2:
Transfer the cooked beef to a colander or fine strainer and rinse thoroughly with very hot water. Stir while rinsing to remove as much residual fat as possible. This step improves storage life and dehydration results.
Step 3:
Allow the beef to drain well. Spread onto a clean cotton kitchen towel (or paper towels) and gently pat dry to remove surface moisture.
Step 4:
Spread the beef evenly onto the dehydrator trays in a thin layer. Avoid clumping to ensure even drying.
Step 5:
Dehydrate at 145°F / 63°C for approximately 7 hours, or until the beef is completely dry and hard with no soft or cool spots remaining.
Step 6:
Remove from dehydrator and allow to cool completely before storing. Store in airtight containers. For long-term storage, keep sealed in the freezer until needed.
Recipe Notes
- Yield: 4.7 oz (133 g) dried beef from 1 lb raw extra lean ground beef.
- Typical trail serving: 1.25 oz (35 g) dried beef per person. This rehydrates to approximately one 4-oz cooked serving.
- Rehydration: Add about 1.7 oz (48 g) of boiling water per serving. Let it sit 10–15 minutes or simmer directly in meals.
- Batch rehydration: To fully rehydrate the entire batch, add approximately 6.8 oz (193 g) of hot water.
- Storage: Store sealed in a cool, dark place for short-term or in the freezer for long-term storage.
- Further reading: Refer to The Ultimate Guide to Dehydrating Food for Backpacking, Modular Meal System (coming soon), and Calorie Density Guide (coming soon) for guidance on building complete trail meals with dehydrated ingredients.
Nutrition facts
Serving size 1.25 oz gluten free lactose free
Per Serving
| Kcal: | 170 kcal |
| Sodium (mg): | 70mg |
| Fat: | 7g |
| Saturated fat (g): | 3g |
| Cholesterol: | 70mg |
| Proteins: | 26g |