No-Cook Backpacking Breakfast: Dehydrated Yogurt

dehydrated yogurt, how to dehydrate yogurt, no-cook backpacking breakfast

At home, I often have yogurt for breakfast. It is tasty, healthy and does not take long to prepare. It’s a pity, I thought, that I couldn’t eat it while hiking. However, my craving for experiments in the kitchen and the desire to eat my favorite dishes on the trail took over and soon a solution was found: yogurt can be dried.

Why dehydrate yogurt?

Dehydrated yogurt makes an excellent base for a no-cook backpacking breakfast. Combined with freeze-dried fruits, powders and cereals it creates a quick, easy and tasty morning meal.

Dehydrated yogurt drops also make a great hiking snack. They are delicious by themselves or could be used as a healthy replacement for sugary chocolate candies in trail mixes.

How to dehydrate yogurt

Choose plain yogurt with low fat content (3% or less), to prevent it from spoiling. You can add sweeteners and taste/aroma enhancers later, when you start assembling your trail meals.

Spread the yogurt on dehydrator tray covered with a non-stick sheet or parchment paper in an even, thin layer (about 1/8-inch thick).

making dehydrated yogurt step 1, dehydrating123

Dehydrate at 135F/ 57C for about 6-8 hours until completely dry and brittle. Rotate tray every couple of hours and flip-over the yogurt bark halfway through the drying time.

dehydrated yogurt, dehydrating123

Remove from the dehydrator and let cool.
Vacuum-seal and freeze until you’re ready to put it into a backpack.
Unrefrigerated and without vacuum sealing, dehydrated yogurt can last at room temperatures in a zip lock bag for about a week.

How to make yogurt powder

Grind dehydrated yogurt pieces into a fine powder  using a coffee grinder.

dehydrated yogurt powder, dehydrating123

How to rehydrate 1 portion:

  1. With yogurt bark: Slowly add water into the bag with dried yogurt bark  (in ratio 1:1). Close the bag and gently knead until you get creamy and smooth consistence. Mix in your favorite filling (freeze-dried fruits, berries, granola) and enjoy!
  2. With yogurt powder: Pour yogurt powder into a mug. Add water and stir well.

Note: The dehydrated yogurt taste is slightly different than the fresh one. It’s sour enough and has a bit gritty consistency. Once you add granola, berries or fruits into yogurt, you will no longer notice these shortcomings and will be able to enjoy a quick and tasty breakfast.

Making dehydrated yogurt drops

You can use any commercially prepared flavored yogurts or make your own by blending plain yogurt with the fruits and berries of your choice.

Line the dehydrator tray with a non-stick sheet or parchment paper. Pour prepared yogurt mixture into a zip lock bag and close tightly.  Cut off the corner of the bag and gently squeeze yogurt onto dehydrator tray making small dots.

making dehydrated yogurt drops, hiking snacks, dehydrating123

Dry at 135F/C for 8-16 hours until nice and crispy.

dehydrated yogurt, how to dehydrate yogurt, no-cook backpacking breakfast, hiking snacks

Vacuum-seal and freeze until you’ll be ready to put it in a backpack.

Want to know more? Join our Online Class

Food Dehydrating Course

everything you need to know to get started with drying your own food for the trail

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17 Comments

  1. misty on August 26, 2020 at 3:07 am

    i have an abundance of yoplait in my 2 refridgerators,,I am going to try this and make rabbit treats. how long can they be out of the fridge? do you think they would last longer in a canning jar?

  2. Madison on July 29, 2020 at 7:37 pm

    Is there any way to keep them from getting flattter

    • Tanya Krezevska on August 3, 2020 at 9:43 am

      Only to choose yogurt with more viscous consistency

  3. Kate on June 5, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    Do you need to use regular yogurt for this or is Greek yogurt ok too? Excited to try.

    • Tanya Krezevska on June 10, 2020 at 8:55 am

      You can use Greek yogurt too.

  4. Janet on May 22, 2020 at 2:57 am

    How do you vacuum seal ?
    Can you add agave before you dry it?

    • Tanya Krezevska on May 25, 2020 at 9:23 am

      To vacuum seal dehydrated food you’ll need special device >> https://amzn.to/2TBwNhx
      Do not add any liquid to food before sealing. Better to do it after rehydration.

  5. Angie on May 14, 2019 at 11:14 pm

    Does this work well with non-dairy (vegan) yogurts?

  6. Erin on April 6, 2019 at 2:48 am

    Do you know how long these can can last out of fridge?

    • Tanya Krezevska on April 15, 2019 at 3:15 pm

      Hi Erin! It depends on the climate conditions you are hiking on. For longer shelf life, pack yogurt powder or drops into vacuum-sealed bag and keep in the fridge until you’ll be ready pack it for the trail.

  7. Port on January 10, 2019 at 5:33 am

    Do you think the 135F kills all the good probiotics?

    • Tanya Krezevska on January 10, 2019 at 9:54 am

      Live probiotic cultures are usually destroyed at around 115°F.

  8. Jack98743 on November 24, 2018 at 4:41 am

    Do the drops get bigger

    • Tanya Krezevska on November 27, 2018 at 12:23 pm

      Not really. I’d say they become flatter.

  9. margy on May 20, 2017 at 6:40 pm

    my yogurt barked turned out mostly yellowish, not white like pictured. There were patches of white, but mostly it was discolored. Is it OK?

    • [email protected] on January 3, 2018 at 4:25 am

      Last response, but did you eat it?
      Are you alive?

      • Tanya Krezevska on January 3, 2018 at 10:11 am

        Yep! I ate it and still alive )) As I wrote already in the post, the taste of rehydrated yogurt is a bit sour and slightly differ from just made or store-bought.

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