Best instant pasta noodles?
Contributors to this thread:Elk
From: DonVathome
09-Aug-22
I am looking for pasta that is nutritious and instant so I can ad it my mountain house meals, suggestions? Not a huge fan of cous cous.
From: Aspen Ghost
09-Aug-22
Plain (unflavored) Ramen noodles might work well. But I haven't tried it.
From: Kodiak
09-Aug-22
Ramen no contest baby.
From: Glunt@work
09-Aug-22
Instant Ramen isn't that nutritious but easy and good. With all the salt in some freeze dried meals,maybe skip the flavor pack. Top Ramen is about 380 calories.
From: PushCoArcher
09-Aug-22
I'm a big fan of peak refuels chicken pesto meal.
From: DonVathome
09-Aug-22
I used to always use Ramen but it's not not nutritious so I'm hoping for a substitute. I do not use the flavor packet but I have saved it in case of an emergency. Once when weather's stuck me in Alaska for almost a week I was resorting to Boiling Caribou meat with it. I can't say it was good:)
From: jordanathome
09-Aug-22
https://www.viteramen.com/
From: DanaC
09-Aug-22
Better than ramen, pre-cooked, just heat for three minutes. I use these for stir-fry all the time. Get them at grocery store in Asian section. Two packages per envelope.
From: JL
09-Aug-22
Wouldn't some thin pasta or angel hair noodles work?
From: Blood
09-Aug-22
Nutritious how? Pasta is all carbs. Ramen is easy, light and delicious. Don’t add the dry packet if you don’t like sodium….but you need the salt in the mountains when you sweat it all out.
From: woodguy65
09-Aug-22
Spaghetti made from whole wheat, whole grain or veggie cooked in 6-8 minutes for bit more nutrition. They also come in any other type of noodle. Or as Dana said there are Different version of pre-made pastas for stir fries and ramen. You can get them made out of rice etc. They are ready soon as you add them.
From: woodguy65
09-Aug-22
From: Sivart
09-Aug-22
I prefer Muchuran sp?, to top ramen.
From: TGbow
09-Aug-22
Ramen noodles ...they even have shrimp flavor
From: DonVathome
10-Aug-22
I think years ago I tried angel hair and it didn't work the same. I'm trying to have something that is light nutritious and will cook along with my Mountain House meal in the pouch. When I say nutritious I just mean pretty much anything is better than Ramen. I'm trying to bulk up my Mountain House meals because they don't fill me up by themselves. Close but just a little more something else makes a big difference. I use rice and instant mashed potatoes in certain Mountain House meals but for lasagna and spaghetti I'm looking for a noodle.
From: Beendare
10-Aug-22
I like those uncle bens precooked rice dishes…and the zatarans beans and rice
From: Altitude Sickness
10-Aug-22
Have you considered spaghetti squash? You could dehydrate it
From: Altitude Sickness
10-Aug-22
From: DanaC
10-Aug-22
"I'm trying to bulk up my Mountain House meals because they don't fill me up by themselves."
Generally, are you looking for more carbs, protein, or 'whatever calories you can get'?
Outdoors in colder weather you burn more calories than normal (unless your job is out there.) Maybe some peanuts or almonds while your meal is heating?
From: Castle Oak
10-Aug-22
Knorr has pasta and rice that are great. I'll add a package of chicken or tuna for protein.
From: TwoThumbsUp
10-Aug-22
Brown Rice noodles. Add boiling water, let sit 5 minutes. I'd imagine they'd be a good addition to your Mtn House.
From: Beendare
10-Aug-22
I like those uncle bens precooked rice dishes…and the zatarans beans and rice
From: Blood
10-Aug-22
DonV. If you want more calories, mix in a couple spoonfuls of olive or avocado oil every day in your Mountain House. Good fat calories go A LONG way in providing extra calories in the mountains. You’ll get more out of this than adding carb calories for energy and production. And you’ll sleep much better with the added oil.
From: Inshart
10-Aug-22
Why don't you pre-cook some mixed vegetables - (not cooked till mushy of course) freeze them in about the size baggie you want - just add a baggie to each meal??? Gives you an added bit of flavor and Nutrition.
From: butcherboy
10-Aug-22
Heather’s Choice has some pretty good meals. Why not just pick up some freeze dried veggies and add those into your meal. Shelf reliance, readywise, etc. plus’s many more out there. My dream is to buy a home freeze dryer and make my own for hunting and backpacking trips. Also, make a bunch of meals for home food storage.
From: soccern23ny
10-Aug-22
Peak is very good. Some of the best calorie to $$ ratio you can buy
From: MQQSE
10-Aug-22
Peak also tastes damn good too.
From: BIGERN
10-Aug-22
How about some black bean pasta or edamame pasta? High in protein and fiber. Taste is diffrent and it is very filling.
From: DonVathome
11-Aug-22
Thanks guys, I usually take a small container of olive oil to add to meals. I am looking to be full and add as many calories per ounce as possible and nutritious - in that order. Going to try some of these - this is for backpacking.
I should have mentioned weight is critical originally, sorry. Frozen stuff is not an option.
From: Notme
11-Aug-22
Why not Farina or polenta?. You have to boil the water anyways and it's usually done in under a minute..Farina and butter was a childhood favorite and still is ..
From: Shuteye
12-Aug-22
Our local Dollar store had all kinds of noodles. You can read the ingredients and calories right on the packages. All kinds of flavors. Some you just add boiling water and wait three minutes. Some are really good. They also come in several sizes. I love pasta and have some every week.
From: Hunts_with_stick
12-Aug-22
Just got spatzel at slides for 53 cents a bag! Pretty good!
From: Bearman
12-Aug-22
I can't believe the 2 words "nutrition/ pasta in thesame sentence?
From: DanaC
13-Aug-22
Why not? The box I'm holding shows significant amounts of assorted B vitamins etc. It ain't a steak and salad but it ain't 'empty' - and you need the carbs/calories for energy and warmth outdoors.
From: Tracker
14-Aug-22
I eat healthy when I am home. For the 10 days I'm in the MNTs a little sodium won't hurt. I like good ole Ramen. It just tastes so good. Just add in a pack of white chicken.
From: Mule Power
14-Aug-22
Ate you using the 2 serving MH meals? I can’t imagine one of those not filling you up. If not why don’t you just eat a 2 serving and a 1 serving? No way you’d be hungry after that. Sometimes I’ll eat a MH desert afterward like an ice cream sandwich or Neapolitan ice cream.
From: DonVathome
19-Aug-22
I eat 2 servings and I am definitely not full. Mac and cheese maybe. The right pasta is a good food for backpacking. Some are better then others, hence trying to ditch ramen. Never tried polenta or farina, but I will!
From: BackStraps
20-Aug-22
Try using powdered instant mashed potatoes. I often add them to Mountain House to thicken it up and to get some more calories. Tastes good too.
Idahoan is my favorite.
From: Mule Power
21-Aug-22
If I added anything it would probably be meat. Chicken, shrimp, maybe some type of sausage.
From: Barron114
22-Aug-22
Cous cous, instant mashed potatoes, and knor pasta sides have worked for me in the past. All are super cheap, easy, taste good, and can be found at any grocery store or even dollar general.