Sweet and Sour Pork by Mountain House
Kevin Felts 01.31.17
Mountain House produces freeze dried sweet and sour pork in a pouch. Moisture is removed from the food by a vacuum during the freeze drying process. The food is then put into a mylar lined pouch with an oxygen absorber.
These have a life expectancy of seven years. However, Mountain House did some test and rated all of their pouches with a new life expectancy of 30 years Due to the seven year life expectancy, I did not buy too many of them. Since they now have a rating of 30 years, I am going to start stockpiling the pouches.
Rather than buying random pouches, I am buying a few, tasting them, and then focus on the ones I like. In this taste test, we are looking at the Mountain House Sweet and Sour Pork.
Nutrition
Taken from the package:
- Serving size: One
- Calories: 290
- Calories from fat: 50
- Cholesterol: 30mg / 10% Daily Value
- Sodium: 760mg / 32% Daily Value
- Total Carbohydrate: 48g / 32% Daily Value
- Protein: 12g / 24% Daily Value
- Vitamin A 4%
- Calcium 2%
- Vitamin C 10%
- Iron 8%
Lunch
I had been clearing brush for a fence line and had worked up an appetite. Rather than going back to the house to get a sandwich, I decided to bring my cook set and cook lunch on the tailgate of my truck.
The Coleman max isobutane stove was setup, around 7 ounces of water brought to a rolling boil, then added to the pouch.
The instructions on the pouch say to stir, but I just seal the ziplock, hold it closed with one hand, and with the other hand on the base, flip the pouch upside down several times. If you turn the pouch upside down, be sure to hold it closed. I have been told the ziplock seal will open, which means you will be eating your lunch off the ground.
Sweet and Sour Pork Taste Test
The sweet and sour pork is fully cooked. Just add boiling water, stir, and wait about 10 minutes.
I found the sauce to be rather weak and bland.
The pieces of pork were about the size of a pencil eraser.
There was more rice than pork. Maybe this should be called “sweet and sour rice with pork” rather than “sweet and sour pork with rice.” I found the size and amount of pork to be rather lacking.
It was okay at best. I have tasted much better from Mountain House than this. I will buy a few more sweet and sour pork, but it will not be one of my favorites.
