Review: Forever Fresh Freeze-Dried Meals

I assume, like me, you’ve been on some hikes — probably closer to the start of the month, when you’ve still got some money in the bank and thought you’d spoil yourself with one or two of those fancy, ultra-light freeze-dried meals. I mean, the description on the packet makes it sound like it’ll be the best meal you’ve ever had.

If you can relate, then you’ve most likely been a little disappointed when, two days into your adventure, the meal in your bowl isn’t even in the same postal code as the description on the packet. This is not one of those meals.

Testing a variety of Forever Fresh meals in a mountain hut. Photo by Alison Westwood.

Forget what you know about freeze-dried meals. When you pick up an unassuming, 100% recyclable Forever Fresh packet that says “Slow Cooked Lamb Tagine” or “Mild & Creamy Butter Chicken”, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s just another bit of marketing that’ll let you down. Fear not — this stuff is incredible! BEST LIGHTWEIGHT MEAL EVER!!!

Who Is Forever Fresh?

Forever Fresh is the brainchild of Jason Perthel, who I met while hiking two sections of the Rim of Africa Cape Mountain Traverse in 2019. Having retired and looking for a challenge, Jason signed up for the toughest, longest, wildest guided mountain traverse in South Africa — as one does.

Jason Perthel deep in the Cape mountains.

After buying the lightest gear he could find, Jason started experimenting with lightweight, nutritious food options. Unsatisfied with what was available, he decided he could do better — and he did. After testing his meals on the Rim of Africa, Forever Fresh was born.

Taste & Texture

The taste and texture of almost all Forever Fresh meals are as good as if you’d just prepared them from scratch in a kitchen. In fact, some are even better. They’re that good.

Some textures differ slightly from what you’d expect — for example, the lasagne turns into more of a mince-and-pasta mix than a layered dish. One or two hikers found certain meals a little salty, but overall, the balance and flavour are exceptional.

Restaurant-grade meals in minutes — just add water and heat.

Even when prepared at home, the meals tasted fantastic — proof that Forever Fresh’s quality holds up off the mountain too.

Nutrition & Energy

Forever Fresh measures all meals by 300g “wet weight” before freeze-drying. As a result, calorie counts vary depending on the dish — a vegetable lasagne naturally contains fewer calories than a chilli con carne.

There’s no strict “serves one” or “serves two” guideline; instead, you choose based on your energy needs and the difficulty of your hike. On lighter hikes, I shared a meal with my wife. On tougher trails, I happily finished one solo.

Build Your Own

There’s something for everyone — from vegetarian and wheat-free options to mix-and-match sides like quinoa and almond flakes. You can even buy single ingredients, like freeze-dried eggs or mixed veg, to build your own lightweight meal plan.

Freeze-dried sides and ingredients for custom trail meals.

For flavour lovers, the sides make a big difference — the Quinoa and Almond Flakes with the Lamb Tagine is a match made in hiking-food heaven.

Lamb Tagine paired with quinoa and almonds — perfection in a pouch.

Preparation

Freeze-dried meals are ultra-light and easy to prepare. The rehydration process requires no heat — just add water and wait. After about 20–25 minutes (a little longer than the packet’s 8–10 minute suggestion), simply heat it up and enjoy.

This method saves fuel, time, and effort. Add water when you reach camp, set up your tent, change clothes, and dinner will be ready to warm and serve.

Sustainability

Forever Fresh has gone the extra mile for sustainability. All packaging is 100% recyclable, and they’ve avoided single-use cook-in-bag packaging in favour of reusable, food-grade silicone pouches for those who prefer that style.

Reusable, food-grade silicone pouches offer convenience without waste.

Their freeze-drying process is fully solar-powered, and local production means minimal carbon footprint — a big win for both hikers and the planet.

Conclusion

Proudly South African, eco-friendly, lightweight, delicious, and competitively priced — Forever Fresh freeze-dried meals are hands down the best ready-made hiking meals available locally. In fact, they were awarded GO! Hiking Magazine’s 2021 Hiking Meal Shout-Out.

Explore the full range of freeze-dried meals at Forever Fresh.

Award-winning South African quality — Forever Fresh takes the prize.