Hey y’all, I’m heading on a hiking trip in Colorado next month and planning to make a spicy beef chili to take with me. I was thinking of cooking it up, putting it into sealable Mylar bags, squeezing out the air (but no vacuum sealing), and boiling the bags for 10 minutes to kill any germs. I’ll be storing them at around 60°F for up to 4 days. Is this a safe way to store the chili, or am I asking for food poisoning? Would freezing it after boiling help at all?
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That sounds doable, but honestly, 60°F is kind of borderline. I wouldn’t risk it for more than a day or two at that temp without refrigeration. Freezing after boiling might extend it, but I’d just stick with something more shelf-stable like jerky or dried meals for safety.
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I agree with @StarlitGrove, 60°F is kinda warm for 4 days. What about a cooler with ice packs? You could also freeze it beforehand and let it thaw slowly as you hike. I’d be nervous about eating meat that’s been sitting around too long in the heat.
Hmm, I didn’t think 60°F was that bad, but yeah, I see your point. The cooler idea might work if I can fit it in my pack… guess I need to rethink that. Thanks…
You might want to try dehydrating the chili beforehand then rehydrate it at camp and have a hot meal without worrying about spoilage.
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Dehydrating is definitely a solid idea, trust me, I do that with most of my meals now. You can use a food dehydrator or even your oven. Just bring along some water to rehydrate it when you’re ready to eat.
If you want to stick with fresh food, consider getting a vacuum sealer. It really helps with preservation, especially if you’re not able to freeze everything right away. Freezing after boiling won’t do much good unless it stays frozen until you’re ready to eat.
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Vacuum sealing sounds interesting. Would it really make that much difference even without a fridge?
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Yep, vacuum sealing can help prevent bacteria from growing as quickly, especially when paired with freezing.
I’m in the camp of ‘don’t chance it.’ When you’re on the trail, it’s not worth the risk of getting sick. Stick with dried or freeze-dried meals, or pack stuff that doesn’t spoil like nuts, cheese, or cured meats.