Quick Rehydrated Pasta
Egg noodles precooked and dehydrated at home, ready to eat in minutes with minimal water.
- calories
- 520
- weight
- 3 oz
- cal / oz
- 173
- protein
- 19 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 2 min
- cook
- 4 min
- total time
- 6 min
- water
- 300 ml boiled
- cost
- $
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Canister stove
- Alcohol / Esbit
- Backpacking
- Thru-hike
- Car camping
- Vegetarian
- Nut free
- One pot
- Dehydrate ahead
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Dehydrated egg noodles | 1.6 oz | Made by boiling extra-wide noodles 6 minutes, rinsing thoroughly, and dehydrating until crisp |
|---|---|---|
| Butter | 1.5 tbsp | Carried in a small dropper bottle |
| Parmesan cheese powder | 2 tbsp | |
| Salt and black pepper | to taste |
Method
- Boil 300 ml of water.
- Add the dehydrated noodles and stir.
- Remove from heat, cover, and let sit 3 to 4 minutes.
- Drain off any standing water.
- Stir in the butter until melted, then the cheese powder.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Making instant pasta at home cuts weight by a third. A pound of raw noodles becomes 14 ounces after cooking and drying. On trail, you rehydrate in minutes with minimal water—no starchy overflow and no giant pot needed. The key is thorough rinsing before drying to prevent clumping and ensure even rehydration.
Don’t overcook; one minute of boiling and residual heat do the work. Butter and cheese aren’t optional—they’re your calories. Without them you have a warm, salty snack rather than a trail dinner.
Packing
Portion dehydrated noodles into single-serving bags at home. Carry butter in a dropper bottle or pre-portion it into small containers. Keep cheese powder in the same bag as the noodles for convenience.
Variations
- Stir in a foil packet of tuna or dehydrated chicken for more protein.
- Add instant potato flakes to thicken and increase calories.
- Use olive oil in place of butter for a dairy-free version.
- Add garlic powder, dried herbs, or red pepper flakes.
https://trailcooking.com/2022/10/15/freeze-drying-versus-dehydrating-egg-noodles-making-instant-pasta