Registered: 12/27/05
Posts: 931
Loc: East Texas Piney Woods
I know you can buy single packets of Propel and various Lipton green teas for backpacking. My question is a little different than that.
I buy Gatorade in powdered form in the big, bulk cannister and use it up during the summer months while I'm working outside. I also buy powdered Tang for use on our monthly campouts.
Has anyone used their vacuum sealer to package powdered drink mix? Quite often, the mix hardens up before I've used it all and I have to use a fork to scrape it out of the container and chop it up. If I vacuum seal enough powder to mix up a couple of quarts, will it stay in its original consistency? Does this make sense what I'm try to say?
Anybody tried it?
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If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't. Either way, you're right.
In the past I have purchased the small jewelery/bead type ziplocks. They come in different sizes and I put single servings of my powdered drink mixes in them. They still clumped up.
As with my meals I am about going to try some sort of paper packaging and just crush the mix back to powder before I use it.
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I agree with phat, except that I recommend pint Mason jars so that there's less chance for air with its attendant moisture to get in there. Do the repackaging while your kitchen is dry (no cooking or dishwashing going on).
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
Sounds Unanamous. I havent experience storage problems. However on recent smokeys trip I did pre package one quart Gatorade portions in small ziplocks. Things worked very well as did the Tang for my evening cocktail of Vodka and Tang! My leftovers stored at home are son consumed bye my Kids! God Bless Them!
If you do try the vacuum sealer, consider putting in the powder and covering it with a small piece of paper towel before sealing to prevent the vacuum from sucking all that nice powder out of the bag.
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If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
Most of my childhood and backpacking was in MD/VA/WV. As an adult, I was a long time resident of San Antonio. I now live in the Missoula area were humidity in the teens or single-digits is common. Color me very, very happy.
So I don't have a storage problem but my approach to powdered drinks on the trail could help with your end results. I baggie package individual servings (or maybe two) of a mix of Carnation Essentials (nee Instant Breakfast), Nido, and instant coffee/expresso. To mix these ingredients and to avoid clumping when preparing the beverage, I use a sifter when packaging. It nicely mixes the stuff and on the trail and I get no clumps when adding the hot water...
FB
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"...inalienable rights...include the right to a clean and healthful environment..." Montana Constitution
Once upon a time, I used a vacuum sealer to make cocoa packets(Nestle's Quik and powdered milk)and it worked fairly well.
I don't do it anymore, because although the cocoa was tastier, the packets were bigger than regular instant cocoa and it was more trouble than it was worth.
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