Today we are revisiting and updating our review of an old favorite, Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries.
For campers, hikers, and preppers, the quest for nutritious, convenient, and lightweight meals can pose a real challenge. The mere thought of lugging around heavy cans or fretting over perishable foods in the field or for emergency preparations can be discouraging, often leading to inaction. Thankfully, freeze-dried food steps in as a viable solution.
We paid $5.99 each in March 2023 to restock our supply on Amazon. At that time, it had over 2400 customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. So it’s clear that this is a popular product and lots of folks are very happy with it.
We’ll dive right into our updated review of Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries. This freeze dried meal belongs to the Adventure Meals series, and for those looking for larger quantities, Mountain House also offers it in #10 cans. We’ll examine its taste, convenience, ingredients, nutrition, and technical specifications, giving you a comprehensive overview of this delicious and versatile option.
So let’s get started.
Contents
- Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries
- Technical Details
- Ingredients
- Nutrition Facts
- Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Pros and Cons
- Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Preparation
- Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Taste Test
- Pros
- Cons
- Final Thoughts in our Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Review
- Keep a Supply of Freeze Dried Meals on Hand
- Wrapping it All Up
Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Review
The first question we need to answer is, does it taste good? Otherwise, we won’t spend much time on our review.
So yes, this one is a keeper, all by itself, this one is good eats.
Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries is a freeze-dried meal that caters to campers, hikers, and preppers seeking convenient and nutritious options. Priced at $5.99 per pouch in March 2023, this popular product has received over 2400 customer reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
On April 28, 2024, I checked the Mountain House store on Amazon to get updated pricing for the Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries. It's in stock and available for purchase. It sure is a popular item. There are over 2400 customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.7 stars out of 5. Check it out here.
In terms of taste, Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries is a winner. It stands on its own as a delicious meal option. The Adventure Meals series offers this freeze-dried option, which is also available in larger quantities in #10 cans. In this review, we will examine its taste, convenience, ingredients, nutrition, and technical details to provide a comprehensive overview of this versatile option.
From a nutritional perspective, the 2-serving pouch provides approximately 520 calories, 18 grams of fat, negligible cholesterol and sodium, 74 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fiber, and 15 grams of protein. The label also indicates the presence of Vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium.
While the portion size may not be sufficient for everyone, it can be customized by adding extras such as fresh or dehydrated fruits, as well as nuts. The pros of this product include its 30-year shelf life, customizability, ease of preparation, and minimal cleanup. However, the portion size and price point may be considered cons by some individuals.
Overall, Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries is a highly recommended option for camping, hiking, traveling, and emergency preparedness. It offers great flavor and can be supplemented with additional ingredients to suit personal preferences. Having a supply of freeze-dried meals like this one is a wise investment for emergency situations or when other food sources are unavailable.
Technical Details
For those of us who want to know all the technical details and specifications. These are our out-of-the-box, off-the-shelf, weights and measurements as recorded on our inexpensive battery-powered digital kitchen scale.
- The unopened 2-serving pouch weight, 4.8 ounces or 138 grams
- Dry mix weight, 117 grams, this was a bit more of the dry mix than the 113 grams as shown in the package label
- Oxygen absorber packet weight, 5 grams
- Empty pouch weight, 15 grams
Other important details.
- Two servings per pouch
- Unopened shelf life of 30 years from the date of manufacture
- No artificial preservatives, no artificial flavors, and no artificial colors
- Requires 1/2 cup (4 ounces / 118 mL) of water for hydration
At the time of purchase, this Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Adventure Meal was $5.99 each on Amazon with over 2400 customer review ratings with an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
It’s also available in a 20-serving number 10 can for just under $41.00.
Amazon does change its prices frequently. Bookmark our price tracking page here, we track all of the latest Mountain House freeze dried food prices on the products that we use.
Ingredients
Mountain House says they use only the highest-quality ingredients and cook their meals the old-fashion way, allowing the flavors to blend naturally. The result is home-cooked goodness, no matter where you are.
In my taste test, I agree, this is some good stuff!
The main ingredients listed on the ingredients label are granola, non-fat dry milk, and freeze dried wild blueberries. Yes, there are a few other ingredients that other similar processed foods might have. Overall, no surprises or concerns.
The ingredients list backs up the claim that there are no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, and no preservatives; none are listed. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires food manufacturers to list ingredients on their product labels, with a few exceptions for very small packages or products with only one ingredient. The ingredient list must be printed in descending order by weight, with the ingredient present in the greatest amount listed first.
My own disclaimer, I am a camper, hiker, informed consumer, and someone who wants to be prepared for those inevitable situations that will happen without modern conveniences. I am not a food scientist or someone who understands the ins and outs of processing food from field to table.
Nutrition Facts
The Nutrition Facts label says a serving size is 2/3 of a cup or 57 grams of dry mix. Mixed with water, you get a single serving of 1/2 cup. This is a 2-serving pouch, so you’ll end up with 1 cup by volume, more or less.
That said, for the entire pouch we’re looking at 520 calories, with 18 grams of fat, almost no cholesterol, 20 milligrams, almost no sodium, 120 mg, 74 grams of carbohydrate, 8 grams fiber, and 15 grams of protein. The label also shows there is some Vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium.
I’ll say that nutrition needs vary from person to person and are dependent on activity. So this single 2-serving pouch might be fine as an entire meal for some folks. Each time I have had one of these, I felt the quantity of food wasn’t enough, in other words, I was still hungry, 1 cup of food isn’t much, even with all the morning coffee consumed.
I always recommend trying these at home before going out into the field. In part, so you can determine if the portion size is adequate. Imagine you starting on a long hike, or you are in an emergency situation and expending a lot of energy. If you were trying this one for the very first time, well you might be looking around for something more to eat. Unlike a lot of folks, I am a breakfast person and prefer substantial eats.
Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Preparation
This one is easy enough. The preparation instructions say to add 1/2 cup (4 ounces / 118 mL) of cold water. I prefer hot water.
With this meal, you don’t need to be exact on the water measurement. A bit more or less doesn’t change the texture much.
Just stir to mix and dig in.
Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Taste Test
This stuff tastes good. Because I usually let this hydrate in hot water while making the morning coffee, the granola softens a bit in texture. It’s not mushy, just a softer granola.
The blueberries are good, you can definitely test them.
The one complaint I have, I would like to see more. Maybe another serving.
You can easily supplement fresh or freeze dried fruit. Strawberries are good. Adding walnuts and cashews are winners. The snack pack sizes are ideal.
I give it a 5-star rating. It’s a keeper that we have purchased many times over and keep in our emergency food pantry.
Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at some pros and cons noted in our Mountain House granola review.
The price point might be an issue for some folks, so this is neither a pro nor a con. These days, food is not cheap.
Consider if you took the time first to prepare the meal from quality ingredients, and then freeze dry and package it into a sturdy pouch that also doubles as a cooking vessel. It’s a bargain, in my opinion.
When we purchased this Mountain House Adventure Meal from Amazon, the price was $5.99 in March 2023. As we update our review, there are well over 2,400 customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.7. Check it out here. Over 90% of the reviews are 4 and 5 stars. So this is a popular product that folks are happy with, likely with many repeat customers like me!
Many of the top reviewers say the Mountain House freeze dried granola is ideal for emergency rations, surprisingly good, not cheap, but reliable, and yum, yum, yum, with an occasional “good stuff” added here and there for emphasis.
Pros
- 30-year shelf life from the date of manufacture
- Highly customizable for adding extras
- Mountain House Granola can be made with either hot or cold water
- Easy and fast to prepare
- The bottom of the pouch expands into a bowl
- Almost no cleanup
In my experience, Mountain House meals may have a tad bit more dry mix. maybe just a few grams more than the weight shown on the package label. Very rarely, is there less than what is shown on the package label.
To be fair, I don’t weigh every single meal. I’ll weigh them when we are writing or updating a review.
Cons
- Depending on your activity level, this meal may not fill you up. You’ll need to try a few of these and decide for yourself, don’t wait until you’re out in the field and have one for the very first time
- The Mountain House Nutrition Label shows that a single serving size is 1/2 cup as prepared, or for the entire pouch, 1 cup prepared
Neither pro nor con, the bottom panel of the Adventure Meal pouch has bits of wit and wisdom printed on them, check it out. This particular Mountain House meal had a John Muir inspirational quote, “Of All The Paths You Take in Life, Make Sure a Few of Them Are Dirt.” Though I couldn’t find where this one came from referencing his published or unpublished works. If you know, leave a comment below.
Final Thoughts in our Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries Review
Would I buy them again? Yes, I would, and I have many times over for my camping and preparedness supplies.
The Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries has exceeded my expectations for taste and texture. It is darned tasty whether it’s made with hot, warm, or cold water.
As with most, maybe all, Mountain House freeze dried meals, they are highly customizable and this one is no exception. Consider adding fresh, dehydrated, or freeze dried fruit to the mix. Optionally, adding nuts, walnut pieces, pecans, peanuts, and cashews are favorite additions. You can find them in small snack pack sizes.
Keep a Supply of Freeze Dried Meals on Hand
Consider keeping a supply of freeze dried food and snacks on hand, such as this Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries that we reviewed today. Besides making for some easy-to-make camping food, freeze-dried food is one option for building an emergency food supply that is shelf-stable, easy to prepare, and has a long shelf life.
One of the critical components of emergency preparedness is having a reliable and sufficient food supply. Having a well-stocked emergency pantry is always a good idea. In the event of a natural disaster or other emergency situation, having a supply of freeze-dried foods can help ensure that you have access to nutritious food when other food sources may be unavailable.
It’s also important to regularly rotate through all of your food supplies to ensure that you use them before they expire.
Buy a few to try out before committing to a bigger purchase to stock up. It’s a good investment. Taste testing and trying out different freeze-dried foods before committing to a larger purchase is a smart idea to ensure that you like the taste and quality of the food.
Overall, having a well-stocked emergency pantry, including freeze-dried foods, is a wise investment in your and your family’s safety and well-being in the event of an emergency.
Wrapping it All Up
So wrapping it all up. The Mountain House Granola freeze dried Adventure Meal is a keeper. It has great flavor and there are plenty of options to bulk it up.
The unopened pouch weighs in at 4.8 ounces, or 138 grams, and has a shelf life of 30 years from the date of manufacture. Our particular meal was purchased in March 2023, and the best-by date was August 2052, a mere 29 1/2 years from now.
The Mountain House meals are ideal for camping, hiking, traveling, emergency preparedness, or getting home late meal options.
Once opened, Mountain House recommends using the dry contents within one week for best results and taste. This goes for the Adventure Meal pouches like we looked at today, and the larger 20-serving number 10 can.
On April 28, 2024, I checked the Mountain House store on Amazon to get updated pricing for the Mountain House Granola with Milk and Blueberries #10 Can. It's in stock and available for purchase. It sure is a popular item. There are over 325 customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5. Check it out here.
The nutrition facts label shows that a serving size is 2/3 cup of the dry mix, or 1/2 cup prepared. There are 2 servings in the pouch, so you’ll get about 1 cup prepared according to the preparation instructions.
This meal can be prepared with either hot or cold water. We prefer hot water, boiling enough to mix into the pouch and the remainder for coffee.
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.