When you're building an emergency food supply, storing enough food is only part of the plan. Many Augason Farms freeze-dried foods require water for rehydration, so you also need to think about how much water you'll have available to prepare them.

There isn't one water-to-food ratio that applies to every Augason Farms product. Some freeze-dried foods are covered with water and drained after rehydrating, while others specify a particular amount of water. Some fruits can even be eaten dry straight from the package.

The best way to calculate your emergency food water needs is to look at the preparation directions for the specific Augason Farms foods you're storing.

Key Takeaways

• Water requirements vary among Augason Farms freeze-dried foods.

• Some Augason Farms freeze-dried foods can be eaten without rehydrating.

• Freeze-dried meats need water to restore their familiar texture before being used.

• Freeze-dried fruits may be eaten dry or rehydrated.

• Always use the preparation directions on the individual Augason Farms package when calculating how much water you'll need.

• Your emergency water plan should account for food preparation in addition to the water your household needs for drinking and other purposes.

Do You Need Water for Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Food?

It depends on the product and how you plan to eat it. Freeze-drying removes much of the water from food, which makes the finished product lightweight and suitable for long-term storage. Adding water allows many Augason Farms foods to regain a texture closer to the food before it was freeze-dried.

But rehydration isn't always necessary. For example, Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Sliced Strawberries are ready to eat straight from the container. If you want to rehydrate them for a recipe, Augason Farms instructs you to cover the desired amount with warm water, let the strawberries stand for 5 to 10 minutes, and then drain the excess water.

Augason Farms Freeze-Dried White Meat Chicken, on the other hand, is designed to be rehydrated when you want to use it like regular cooked chicken. This is why there isn't a single answer such as "one cup of water per serving" that works across the entire Augason Farms freeze-dried food selection.

How Much Water Does Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Chicken Need?

Augason Farms gives a specific ratio for its Freeze-Dried White Meat Chicken Dices:

2½ cups dry chicken + 2 cups water = approximately 1 pound of fresh chicken

To prepare it, cover the freeze-dried chicken with boiling water, let it stand for five minutes, and drain any excess water. The rehydrated chicken can then be used in soups, stews, casseroles, tacos, salads, sandwiches, and other meals.

That means if Freeze-Dried White Meat Chicken is part of your emergency menu, you can use the preparation directions to calculate the amount of water you'll need based on how much chicken you expect to prepare.

The same 2½ cups dry meat to 2 cups water ratio is provided for Augason Farms' Freeze-Dried Chicken & Beef Combo Pack.

How Much Water Do Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Strawberries Need?

Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Sliced Strawberries work differently.

Rather than specifying a fixed cup-to-cup ratio, the directions tell you to cover the desired amount of strawberries with warm water. Let them stand for approximately 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and then drain the excess water.

There's another option during an emergency: don't rehydrate them at all.

Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Sliced Strawberries are ready to eat straight from the can. They can be eaten dry as a snack, which means you don't necessarily have to use part of your emergency water supply to prepare them.

If you're adding the strawberries to cereal, desserts, smoothies, or recipes where you prefer a softer texture, you can rehydrate them first.

What About Other Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Fruits?

The same general principle applies to other Augason Farms freeze-dried fruits: check the individual directions rather than assuming they all require the same quantity of water.

For example, the Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Fruit Variety Pail contains peach slices, whole raspberries, and apple dices. The preparation directions tell you to cover the desired amount of fruit with warm water.

The peaches and apples stand for about five minutes, while the raspberries may need approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Excess water is then drained before serving.

This gives you flexibility during an emergency. You can rehydrate fruit when water is readily available or use appropriate freeze-dried fruits without rehydrating when conserving preparation water is a priority.

How Much Water Do Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Vegetables Need?

Augason Farms offers a range of vegetables and vegetable ingredients, and their preparation requirements can differ.

For dried fruits and vegetables generally, Augason Farms recommends following the directions printed on the package for the correct:

• Water quantity

• Water temperature

• Soaking time

• Cooking time

Some vegetables can also be added directly to soups, stews, and sauces when the recipe already contains enough liquid for the vegetables to rehydrate as they cook.

That can make meal planning more efficient. Instead of using water to rehydrate a vegetable separately and then draining it, you may be able to incorporate the food directly into a recipe when its individual preparation instructions allow it.

Why Water Requirements Vary Between Augason Farms Foods

"Freeze-dried food" covers a wide range of ingredients.

A strawberry slice doesn't absorb water in exactly the same way as a piece of chicken, and neither necessarily has the same preparation requirements as a complete entrée.

That's why Augason Farms provides directions for individual products rather than recommending one standard amount of water for all freeze-dried foods.

Preparation may involve:

• Covering the food with water and draining the excess

• Adding a measured quantity of water

• Soaking the food for several minutes

• Using boiling or warm water

• Adding the dry ingredient directly to a recipe containing liquid

• Eating the food without adding water at all

When you're calculating your emergency water needs, the instructions on the foods you've actually stored are more useful than a generic freeze-dried food formula.

How to Calculate Water for Your Augason Farms Emergency Food Supply

If you're building an emergency pantry with individual Augason Farms freeze-dried foods, start by making an inventory. Write down each product and determine how you expect to use it. Then check the preparation instructions on its packaging or Augason Farms product page.

For products with a specific water measurement, multiply that amount by the quantity you expect to prepare. For products that tell you to cover the food with water and drain the excess, allow enough preparation water to follow those directions.

Finally, identify foods you plan to eat without rehydrating. Augason Farms freeze-dried fruits that can be eaten straight from the package can reduce the amount of preparation water required for those particular foods.

Example: Planning With Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Chicken

Suppose your emergency meal plan calls for preparing the equivalent of one pound of Augason Farms Freeze-Dried White Meat Chicken.

The product directions specify:

2½ cups dry chicken + 2 cups water = approximately 1 pound fresh chicken

If you planned to prepare that quantity four times during your emergency food period, you would need approximately:

2 cups × 4 preparations = 8 cups of water

That's ½ gallon of water specifically for rehydrating those four batches of chicken.

This calculation doesn't include drinking water, water for other Augason Farms foods, or any other household water needs.

Don't Assume Every Freeze-Dried Food Needs the Same Amount of Water

One of the easiest mistakes to make when planning an emergency food supply is calculating the number of servings you have without checking how those servings are prepared.

Two Augason Farms foods can have very different water requirements.

Freeze-Dried White Meat Chicken provides a specific water ratio. Freeze-Dried Sliced Strawberries instruct you to cover the fruit with warm water and drain the excess (but the strawberries can also be eaten without rehydration).

Other Augason Farms foods have their own preparation instructions.

Before an emergency, review the labels of the foods in your supply. That way, you know not only how many meals or ingredients you have, but also what you'll need to prepare them.

Can You Eat Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Food Without Water?

Some products, yes. Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Whole Raspberries are specifically described as ready to eat straight from the can. Other individual freeze-dried foods may also be suitable for eating without rehydration.

However, don't assume that every Augason Farms product can or should be eaten dry.

Complete meals and certain ingredients have specific preparation instructions that should be followed. Augason Farms notes that complete meal solutions such as soups, entrées, and breakfast foods typically require adding water and cooking.

Check the directions for each individual product before deciding whether it belongs in the "no preparation water needed" portion of your emergency food plan.

Remember That Preparation Water Is Separate From Drinking Water

When you're determining how much water to store, don't count the same water twice.

If your emergency food plan requires water for rehydrating Augason Farms chicken, preparing entrées, or cooking other foods, that water needs to be accounted for alongside the water your household plans to use for drinking and other essential needs.

A practical way to plan is to create two separate estimates:

Household water needs + Augason Farms food preparation water = total emergency water requirement

Your food-preparation estimate should be based on the actual Augason Farms products in your emergency supply.

Plan Your Augason Farms Food and Water Together

A well-stocked emergency pantry isn't just about counting cans, pouches, or servings. It's about knowing how you'll turn the foods you've stored into meals when you need them.

When shopping the Augason Farms emergency food collection, consider water requirements alongside calories, servings, shelf life, and food variety.

Choose the Augason Farms freeze-dried foods that work for your household, check the preparation directions for each product, and calculate how much water you'll need before putting them into long-term storage.

Doing that work now means you'll know exactly what your food requires when it's time to use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much water do you need for Augason Farms freeze-dried food?

There is no single amount that applies to every Augason Farms freeze-dried food. Water requirements vary by product, so check the directions on the individual package or Augason Farms product page when calculating your emergency preparation water.

How much water does Augason Farms freeze-dried chicken need?

For Augason Farms Freeze-Dried White Meat Chicken Dices, 2½ cups of dry chicken plus 2 cups of water makes approximately one pound of rehydrated chicken. The chicken should be covered with boiling water, allowed to stand for five minutes, and then drained.

Do you have to add water to Augason Farms freeze-dried fruit?

Not always. Augason Farms Freeze-Dried Sliced Strawberries can be eaten straight from the can. To rehydrate them, cover the desired amount with warm water, allow them to stand for 5 to 10 minutes, and drain the excess water.

Can Augason Farms freeze-dried vegetables be added directly to meals?

Some dried vegetables can be added directly to soups, stews, or sauces when the recipe provides enough liquid and cooking time for them to rehydrate. Check the directions for the specific Augason Farms vegetable you're using.

Does all Augason Farms emergency food require water?

No. Some individual freeze-dried foods can be eaten without rehydrating, while complete meals and other foods require water and potentially cooking. Always check the individual product directions.

Should I calculate food preparation water separately from drinking water?

Yes. When building your emergency water plan, account for the water required to prepare your Augason Farms foods in addition to the water reserved for drinking and other household needs.