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About Mountain House
Mountain House is a company that specializes in making freeze-dried survival foods. Not just any freeze-dried survival foods though – they’re designed to mimic the taste and quality of home-cooked meals while maintaining a long shelf-life.
Selling individuals and families fuel for emergencies and outdoor adventures, Mountain House provides instant nourishment to its customers by using simple ingredients to replicate comforting meals.
Featured in various hunting and outdoor sports blogs, the company has over 70k followers on Instagram and several ambassadors.
While it gains traction on social media, this Mountain House review will take an in-depth exploration of the brand, its bestselling products, customer reviews, and ratings.
This Mountain House review will also answer frequently asked questions to provide you with background knowledge so that you can make an informed decision before purchasing any of their products.
Overview of Mountain House
Oregon Freeze Dry, the parent company of Mountain House, began freeze-drying fruit for breakfast cereals in 1963. Located in Albany, Oregon, the company opened its first production center in 1964.
The company’s big break came when they started supplying food rations for the US military during the Vietnam War and continued to expand their business by providing meals for NASA astronauts in the late 1960s.
Oregon Freeze Dry then created the Mountain House brand in 1969, focusing on providing freeze-dried foods to fuel outdoor recreation.
Whether hiking the Appalachian Trail or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Mountain House Freeze Dried Food is a convenient on-the-go option for anyone.
The brand takes pride in being the only company to cook its meals thoroughly at the production base before freeze-drying them, which gives these meals a nostalgic quality.
Before taking a deep look into the brand, this Mountain House review has compiled some highlights that you may want to consider.
Highlights
- Fast on-the-go options for those who don’t have much time or energy to spare in the kitchen
- Products have a long shelf-life, lasting for up to 30 years
- No artificial ingredients and gluten-free options
- Nutrient-dense to provide optimal post-workout fuel
- Recyclable packaging
- Easy clean-up
- Versatile sweet and savory meal options that imitate the real thing
- Free ground shipping on all orders
Mountain House wants to assure that customers are getting great-tasting, convenient, and nutritious food so that you can spend more time savoring your adventure and less time sweating in the kitchen.
As Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Mountain House understands that time is a precious commodity and should therefore be managed wisely.
This Mountain House review will feature the brand’s best-selling products, including meal pouches, bulk food, and dessert, all of which are freeze-dried and require little to no preparation before consumption.
Mountain House Review
Mountain House meals can be consumed “anytime, anywhere” according to their website. They sell large food kits that can feed families and individual meal pouches and snacks that are light enough to pack on a camping trip.
Featured below you will find the brand’s best-selling products; including a variety of classic meals, family-sized portions of protein, and sweet snacks that withstand the test of time.
This Mountain House review will examine some of the individual specs of the products to help you determine whether you should buy it.
Mountain House Beef Stroganoff Pouch Review
Need a quick meal that will be more satisfying than ramen noodles? After a hard workout or endurance competition, it is critical to fuel your body with enough calories and protein to build and repair muscle.
This savory pouch contains 560 calories and a whopping 24g of protein to help you meet your body’s needs.
Unlike many other instant meals, all the ingredients in this pouch are easy to pronounce and not filled with sneaky artificial colors or flavors.
This pouch provides all the comfort and taste of a home-cooked meal but requires only a fraction of the energy and dishes. All you have to do is add water to the pouch, let it sit for about 10 minutes, and voila! It’s done.
You can get yourself this protein-packed meal for $10 per pouch.
Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy Pouch Review
If you look up the definition of comfort food, you will most likely find biscuits and gravy, which have become a classic American brunch staple. Buttermilk biscuits, gravy, and pork sausage make for a warm and filling meal to help you conquer whatever challenge lays ahead.
Biscuits can be quite time-consuming to make by hand and demand a lot of physical effort in making the dough. However, all you need for this dish is about a cup of boiling water and 10 minutes of patience.
A bonus is that there are no artificial preservatives so you can feel good about what you’re putting in your body.
This hearty brunch is available online for $9 per pouch.
Mountain House Chicken and Dumplings Pouch Review
If the sound of chicken, vegetables, and dumplings coated in gravy makes your stomach rumble, then this is your sign to give this pouch a try. This meal will fill your belly and soul as the mixture of ingredients pays homage to a classic Southern dish.
This portable pouch can be taken with you on your next road trip or camping adventure. Similar to the other pouches mentioned above, all you need to cook this meal is about a cup of hot water.
Packing in 33g of protein and 600 calories per pouch, this meal is recommended to serve two people. However, after a long day of physical activity, you may be too hungry to share.
You can take your taste buds on a trip down south for just $9 per pouch.
Mountain House Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich Review
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream that doesn’t make a mess when you eat it as fast as possible. It’s hard to believe, but this magical snack does not require any refrigeration.
At only 140 calories, this is a light dessert that you can bring with you wherever you are, even in the sunniest of spots. All you have to do to enjoy this Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich is take it out of the pouch and eat it.
Brighten up those sunny days with the tasty ice cream sandwich, available for $4 each.
Mountain House Diced Chicken #10 Can Review
Does the mere thought of cooking an entire meal for a group of people stress you out? You may be tempted to order a pizza instead. While that choice is understandable, cooking a balanced meal does not have to be an exhausting event.
The Diced Chicken #10 Can contains 14 portions of gluten-free diced chicken, which is almost enough to feed a small army.
With 25g of protein per serving and a 30-year taste guarantee, this product is ideal for storing in case of emergencies.
This Mountain House review recommends opening this product when you are ready to eat and using the contents immediately to maintain quality and taste. All you have to do is add hot water and your protein-packed meal will be ready in 9 minutes.
This can of chicken makes a perfect addition to your emergency shelter, and can be purchased for $63 per can.
Mountain House Granola with Milk & Blueberries Military Review
Instead of foraging for berries yourself, and risking being poisoned, why not opt for something that is pre-made and packed with nutrition?
This granola package is handy for those who need something fuelling and hearty but don’t want to add extra weight to their backpack. You can make this meal with hot or cold water which makes it a versatile choice.
With 33g of carbs and 8g of protein, this Granola with Milk & Blueberries is ideal for breakfast or a snack.
Whether or not you are in the military, this product makes for a great on-the-go snack and is available for $3 per pouch.
Who Is Mountain House For?
Along with air and water, food is a basic need. Since it is essential, this Mountain House review finds that the brand’s products support a wide consumer base. However, backpackers, campers, and outdoors people benefit from the products the most due to their convenience.
Mountain House Freeze Dried Food can also assist those with chronic illnesses as these meals require minimal effort to prepare. If you live in an area that is prone to power outages or susceptible to natural disasters then stocking up on these products may be of use to you.
Mountain House Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
This Mountain House review searched the internet to see what customers had to report about the products offered by this brand.
On Amazon, out of 2,885 ratings, the Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with Noodles generated an average rating of 4.6/5 stars.
Customer reviewers assisted each other by providing tips and tricks for getting the tastiest experience with their meals. One Amazon user spoke about its taste and texture:
“For freeze-dried food, this was pretty good. Tastes like beef stroganoff (even more so when you’re cold and hungry on the trail). The meat chunks didn’t seem to tenderize or rehydrate all the way, so I’d recommend maybe waiting longer for it to ‘cook’ than the package instructs you to.”
Next, out of 4,132 reviews on Amazon, the Mountain House Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich averaged 4.2/5 stars. A customer review on the brand’s website says that the taste and quality of the product are decent:
“I bought 10 of these freeze-dried vanilla ice cream sandwiches several months ago just to add a dessert to my long-term food storage. After a while, I decided to try one and see how it tasted. I found out that they tend to crumble a bit and some were broken but overall the flavor is good – not too sweet but can satisfy that dessert urge.”
Impressively, the Mountain House Diced Chicken #10 Can is currently sitting at a 4.7/5 star average from 1,190 ratings.
An Amazon review reports that the Mountain House Diced Chicken #10 Can is effective at replacing fresh food: “I’ve added this to soups when I didn’t have any chicken in my fridge & no one could tell that I’d used the canned dehydrated food over fresh.”
Finally, a customer review from Backcountry Skiing Canada, reported that their customer service experience with Mountain House was efficient and helpful:
“Customer service goes a long way. After sending an inquiring email from their website, Mountain House replied with answers within a couple hours from a friendly customer service representative.”
Overall, several customers online discussed the effectiveness of Mountain House products, the company’s customer service, taste, texture, and quality of the meals. Generally, the reviews were positive.
Is Mountain House Worth It?
This Mountain House review recommends the company overall because they make products that are necessary and effective. Mountain House strives to make meals that can save you time and energy which is a huge feat in and of itself.
For over 50 years they have produced freeze-dried food for a diverse group of people, from those serving in the military to individuals living off the grid.
On top of that, Mountain House made over 200,000 donations last year to the Kids Against Hunger movement which strives to help end child hunger.
In 2020, Mountain House donated meals to local firefighters in Oregon during the wildfire season. The brand also supported local hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic which speaks to its core ethics and values.
Mountain House cares about the environment and works in partnership with TerraCycle, a recycling company that repurposes hard-to-recycle waste. You can feel good about supporting this brand knowing that they are taking strides to reduce their ecological footprint.
The brand carries a wide selection of meals and novelties and offers products that are peanut-free and gluten-free which is a plus.
In the future, if the brand wanted to further reduce its impact on the environment and cater to an even larger crowd, they might consider adding plant-based and vegan options.
Although Mountain House may not produce the most visually appealing or restaurant-quality meals, many customers note that the products live up to their expectations and provide adequate and quick nutrition.
This Mountain House review noted that the brand is transparent about the quality of ingredients going into the products which is a green flag.
Mountain House Promotions & Discounts
Fortunately, this Mountain House review discovered that the brand is currently offering a discount of up to 20% off on customizable emergency food supply kits. You can mix and match whichever meals pique your interest on the brand’s website.
There are multiple options you can choose from on the brand’s website:
- Two Week Food Supply: Buy 42 pouches, save 5%
- One Month Food Supply: Buy 90 pouches, save 7.5%
- Two Month Food Supply: Buy 180 pouches, save 10%
- Three Month Food Supply: Buy 270 pouches, save 13%
- Six Month Food Supply: Buy 540 pouches, save 17.5%
- One Year Food Supply: Buy 1,080 pouches, save 20%
Where to Buy Mountain House
You can order directly from the brand’s website or Amazon.
Mountain House products are also sold at certain retailers in Canada and the US such as the ones listed below:
- Awesome Adventures
- Bass Pro Shops
- Cabela’s
- Country Wide Sports
- Mountain Equipment
- REI
- Sport Chek
- Walmart
FAQ
Who owns Mountain House?
Mountain House is owned by Oregon Freeze Dry also known as OFD Foods LLC. Since 1963, OFD Foods LLC has been making freeze-dried food, covering breakfast cereals to war rations.
In 1969, the Mountain House brand was formed to offer the general public ready-to-eat meals built to last.
Does Mountain House ship internationally?
At this time Mountain House is only able to ship within the United States. However, many retail sporting goods stores in Canada carry Mountain House products.
What is Mountain House’s Shipping Policy?
All orders are processed Monday through Friday and shipped within 2 business days and there is free ground shipping on all orders.
According to the brand’s website most orders are shipped via UPS Ground, and you can request faster shipping for an extra charge. You might experience delays due to nationwide carrier disruptions, inclement weather, or a high volume of orders.
What is Mountain House’s Return Policy?
Mountain House does not accept returns unless the item is defective or damaged. If there is a discrepancy with the order upon receiving it then Mountain House will accept the return.
However, customers must submit return claims within 30 days of delivery by calling Customer Service at 1-800-547-0244 or sending an email to [email protected].
How to Contact Mountain House
For any other inquiries or questions you may have about Mountain House, you can contact them directly through their website, by mail, or speak to a customer representative over the phone:
- Phone: 1-800-547-0244, hours are Monday to Friday, 8 am-5 pm PST
- Mailing address: 525 25th Ave. SW; Albany, OR 97322
- Contact Form: mountainhouse.com/pages/contact-us
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