Perfect — let’s walk through how to make and dehydrate a meal of chicken thigh and mashed potatoes using your dehydrator. This version will be shelf-stable for up to 6–12 months if stored correctly (longer if vacuum-sealed and frozen).
Trim all visible fat and skin (fat = faster spoilage).
Cook thoroughly — boil, bake, or pressure cook.
Shred or finely dice into very small pieces (no bigger than corn kernels).
Make without butter, cream, or milk (use water, salt, and optional seasoning).
You can use instant potatoes if preferred — they dry better and rehydrate faster.
Spread chicken evenly on dehydrator trays lined with parchment paper or mesh screens.
Dry at 145–160°F for 6–8 hours.
Done when pieces are dry, hard, and brittle (not spongy).
Spread a thin layer (1/4 inch) on a fruit leather tray or parchment paper.
Dry at 135°F for 6–10 hours.
Break into flakes or chunks once crisp.
Store as-is or grind into powder if desired.
Let both ingredients cool completely to room temp before storing (to avoid condensation).
Store in a ziplock bag in your pantry or fridge.
Vacuum seal with an oxygen absorber.
Or use mylar bags + oxygen absorber.
Store in a cool, dark place (basement or pantry under 75°F).
In a heat-safe container:
Add dehydrated chicken and mashed potatoes.
Pour in boiling water — just enough to cover (~1:1 ratio).
Stir, cover, and let sit for 10–15 minutes.
Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, or bouillon for flavor.
Optional: Use a thermos food jar to rehydrate it on the go!
Would you like me to give you a printable label format for the bag (like how Mountain House labels theirs)? Or help you scale this recipe up for batch prepping?
Great! Here's a clean, printable label template you can use for your dehydrated Chicken Thigh & Mashed Potatoes meal bags. You can either print it as a sheet of paper and tape it on, or use adhesive labels (like Avery 5163) if you have them.
🍽️ Meal Name:
Chicken Thigh & Mashed Potatoes
📅 Date Prepared:______________________
🧊 Storage Type:
☐ Mylar Bag with Oxygen Absorber
☐ Vacuum Sealed
☐ Ziplock (Short-Term)
📦 Batch # (Optional):______________________
🔥 Rehydration Instructions:
Add contents to heat-safe container.
Add boiling water to cover contents (about 1:1 ratio).
Stir, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes.
Season to taste and enjoy.
📆 Best By:__________ (Suggest: 6–12 months from prep date if stored cool & dry)
🥄 Ingredients:
Cooked chicken thigh (lean, shredded), mashed potatoes (water, salt, seasonings).
⚠️ Notes:
Contains no dairy or fat.
Store in cool, dry location.
Discard if bag is bloated or smells off after opening.
You can copy/paste this into a Word doc or label maker and print multiples at once.