Today we’re updating our original Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy review. We first published this Mountain House biscuits and gravy review back in October 2015.
However, I must say that this freeze dried biscuits and gravy food pouch is still one of my favorites.
Mountain House has updated their product packaging, and even tweaked the recipe just a bit. We’ll share our opinions and thoughts on both of those changes.
So, who doesn’t like a big helping of biscuits and gravy for hearty and satisfying breakfast to help sustain you for a day on the trail or out in the field?
I used to whip up a batch of my Mom’s sawmill sausage gravy recipe before each camping trip and freeze big hearty breakfast sized portions in quart sized zip top bags along with some extra fast-food biscuits.
But, the Mountain House freeze dried biscuits and gravy comes in second to Mom’s for taste, but wins hands down for convenience.
Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy
Mountain House has totally changed their product packaging for its freeze dried biscuits and gravy. So, let’s check that out first, exactly what has changed. This is what we noticed.
On April 27, 2024, I checked the Mountain House store on Amazon to get updated pricing for the Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy. It's in stock and available for purchase. It sure is a popular item. There are over 4600 customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5. Check it out here.
Original Product Packaging
We have a good number of what we’re calling the “original” or “old-style” Mountain House biscuits and gravy freeze dried food pouches.
These are the specifications taken from the old-style packaging from our supply:
width: 8 inches / 20.3 centimeters
height: 9 1/2 inches / 24.1 centimeters
bottom: expands into a food pouch bowl and has a bit of wisdom or campfire talking points printed on the bottom
servings: about 2
serving size: 65 grams dry mix
makes: two 1 cup servings as prepared
Reading the old-style Mountain House biscuits and gravy food label shows the package weight as 4.94 ounces (140 grams).
My digital kitchen food scale shows my unopened package weight as 5.2 ounces (149 grams) averaged over my entire supply of Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy old-style freeze dried food pouches.
New Product Packaging
Our own measurements of the new-style product packaging:
width: 8 1/4 inches / 22 centimeters
height 8 1/8 inches / 21 centimeters
weight of the empty freeze dried food pouch: 18 grams
weight of the oxygen absorber: 5 grams
total weight of the freeze dried biscuits and gravy dry mix: 126 grams
The Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy label shows:
servings: 2
each serving size: 62 grams dry mix
makes: two 1 cup servings as prepared
These new-style Mountain House freeze dried food pouches are plastic-coated mylar. This is what you want for long-term food storage.
Reading the Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy front label shows the package weight as 4.4 ounces (124 grams). My digital kitchen food scale shows the unopened package weight as 5.3 ounces (149 grams) and averaged over my entire supply of the new-style packaged Mountain House biscuits and gravy freeze dried food pouches.
Some big box stores offer a limited selection of Mountain House freeze dried food products. However, last minute needs or purchasing for long-term storage, consider other options that offer a greater shopping selection. We recently picked up a number for just under $7.00 each with free Amazon Prime shipping.
Click here to see the current pricing and latest customer reviews here on Amazon.
The Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy has over 1500 of mostly 5-star customer reviews. This is evidence of a good product that customers are happy with and buy time and time again.
As we update this post in January 2021, Mountain House does not offer any other Biscuits and Gravy product sizes other than the 2-serving pouch.
Freeze Dried Food Pouch Differences
Both the old-style and new-style Mountain House freeze dried food pouch product packages require you to remove, or tear off, a significant amount of the product package at the tear notch, about 2 1/2 inches / 6.3 centimeters, or 4 grams of the package weight.
Just below the tear notch, is another 1/2 inch / 1.2 centimeters, to the zipper seal. In our opinion, Mountain House could better to optimize packaging and reduce waste.
Mountain House now includes recycling information on every product they sell. Instead of tossing these freeze dried food pouches in the trash, you can mail them, with pre-paid postage, to TerraCycle.com. Way to go Mountain House!
These new-style packages also feature rounded corners. Mountain House must have read one of my suggestions. The squared-off pointy corners are now a thing of the past.
Mountain House also continues to print outdoor wisdom on the bottom of each food pouch which has made for some lively conversation around the nighttime fire, and even a few helpful suggestions.
Preparation and Tips
The Mountain House biscuits and gravy in the new-style packaging call for 12 ounces / 355 milliliters of boiling water added to the pouch. We think this is the right amount of water.
The older packaging called for 14 ounces / 414 milliliters of boiling water. That was too much. In our original Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy review, we recommended dialing that back by several ounces.
The product packaging recommends that you first add boiling water, stir, and seal, giving the freeze dried biscuits and gravy five minutes to hydrate. Next, open the pouch, stir, seal, and give it another four minutes before enjoying it.
After the second rest of four minutes, our experience was that some portion of the Mountain House biscuits and gravy had not fully hydrated.
Our recommendation is to use a 5-5-5 method.
Start by removing the top part of the freeze dried food pouch at the tear notch. Next, remove that oxygen absorber packet.
Gently pull open the bottom of the pouch to form a bowl.
First, open out the bottom of the freeze dried food pouch to create a bowl.
Second, measure out 12 ounces / 355 milliliters of water into your camping mug or pan, and add any desired spices. Cover and bring to a boil.
Third, carefully pour the boiling water into the freeze dried food pouch, mix and stir, seal, then let the freeze dried biscuits and gravy rest for five minutes to hydrate.
Next, after the five minutes have elapsed, open, and again mix and stir, then reseal for another five minutes.
Finally, open, stir and reseal, giving the freeze dried biscuits a final five minutes to hydrate completely.
To recap, we stirred, mixed, and mixed again over the 15 minutes of hydration. Plenty of time for any added spices and flavorings to mix.
Chopsticks make excellent stirring utensils and can multi-task as a lid lifter.
Taste and Texture
Mountain House biscuits and gravy taste fairly good right out of the food pouch.
There are bits and pieces of pork sausage, and chunks of biscuit all swimming in a creamy peppery gravy.
However, like most every prepackaged meal you might purchase, it’s a blank canvas. Mountain House biscuits and gravy included. It’s not spicy but not quite bland either. It’s probably a consumer preference as it allows for individual customization.
In our opinion, this two-serving pouch is just enough for one person. It could use more of the freeze dried pork sausage crumbles.
Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy Review Rating
In our opinion, the Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy make for some good downright tasty, and filling good-eats any time of the day or night.
However, I am giving this my own 4.9-star rating for taste, texture, and ease of preparation.
We’re docking a partial star because we think there should be more of that yummy pork sausage crumble.
But, this is one freeze dried food pouch that most definitely has a place in the freeze dried food pantry. Like most freeze dried food entrées, you can easily take this up a notch or three by adding your preferred spice selections.
Freeze Dried Food Hacks
As part of our Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy review, we have a few tips for kicking this freeze dried meal up a notch or two.
Consider adding crushed chipotle peppers to the water as you bring it to a boil. Chipotle peppers are easy to make at home and easy to pack. Just add one or two, per food pouch, in a small zip-top bag, and you’re all set.
Optionally, instead of chipotle peppers, consider crushed red pepper. Those take-out pizza places offer serving-size packets.
Sage and rosemary pair well with freeze dried biscuits and gravy. Add a teaspoon each of the dried spices to the water as you bring it to a boil.
Hot sauce pairs well with nearly everything, including biscuits and gravy. A popular fast-food chicken restaurant offers hot sauce packet condiments.
The Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy has over 1500 of mostly 5-star customer reviews. This is evidence of a good product that customers are happy with and buy time and time again. Click here to see the current pricing and latest customer reviews here on Amazon.
Be sure to pick up several. Try them out at home first, using the same gear you might use in the field or on the trail.
Be sure to check out our list of Mountain House freeze dried meals available on Amazon, where we track the daily price and product availability so you don't have to. We also link to our comprehensive Mountain House freeze dried meal reviews. We track the same for Peak Refuel freeze dried meals on Amazon, don't forget to check it out before you go.
Love the biscuits and gravy