A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed the Peak Refuel Beef Stroganoff and was impressed with the flavor (as I usually am with Peak Refuel meals).
This go-round, I have a new meal to test out – Peak Refuel’s Sweet Pork and Rice. Now, I’ve never had this Peak Refuel meal before, so I will be tasting it for the first time on camera. I have, however, had sweet pork and rice in the “real world” many, many times, as it is one of my favorite dishes. The question is, will Peak Refuel’s version live up to the standard?
As usual, you can watch my full review unfold in the video above. Below is a summary of the finer points I make if you prefer to peruse the review that way.
Either way, you’ll get a comprehensive look at this meal and whether it’s worth your money or if you should pass in favor of a different freeze-dried meal.
So, without further ado, let’s get to the review!
Table of Contents
- Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice Review: Preparation & Cooking
- Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice Review: How Does It Taste?
- Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice Review: Benefits
- Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice Review: Final Thoughts
Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice Review: Preparation & Cooking
After popping open the Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice pouch and removing the oxygen absorber, all that’s left to do is add water.
The Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice meal requires one cup of boiling water. What I like to do is add about half the required water and stir it into the meal, then add the second half of the water and stir again. As I’ve mentioned before, I feel like this allows me to get the ingredients nicely jumbled up in the water to get a better final result (e.g., no big, dry clumps of ingredients).
As with other Peak Refuel meals, the rest of the preparation process is a waiting game – ten minutes, to be exact. Just close up the pouch, set a timer, and you’re off to the races!
Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice Review: How Does It Taste?
One of the things I most enjoy about meals from Peak Refuel is the sheer number of ingredients they use. Some freeze-dried meals taste freeze-dried, and I think part of the reason for that is that there aren’t enough spices and flavors to interest your tastebuds. That is not the case with this meal!
As you can see above, there’s a bevy of flavors that make the Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice a tasty treat, including the following:
- Brown sugar
- Onion
- Lime
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Paprika
- Cilantro
- Garlic
- Pepper
- Red chili flakes
On top of that, there’s red bell peppers, corn, and black beans in the sauce, and of course, rice and seasoned pulled pork.
Adding all these ingredients means a couple of things. First, the meal tastes great. It packs a flavorful punch that keeps you coming back for more. Though this is a two-serving pouch, I ate the whole thing, so that should tell you just how good it is!
Second, all those ingredients make for a meal that looks appetizing, too. Sure, there’s not a huge variation in colors like some of Peak Refuel’s other meals, but you can see the different ingredients in the bowl and experience the varying textures of the meat, rice, and vegetables in every bite.
Of course, all those ingredients also make for a great aroma when you pop open the pouch. As you can see in the video at the beginning of this review, I literally say, “WOW” when I pop it open. It smelled absolutely delicious, and the taste confirmed its deliciousness.
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Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice Review: Benefits
As I noted earlier, I downed the entire two-serving pouch of the Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice and enjoyed every bite. The question is, what nutritional value did this meal give me?
With 800 calories (for the whole pouch) and 40 grams of protein, this meal will give you fuel for heading off from camp to explore. As you can see below, the meal also provides about 35 percent of your daily value of iron, 15 percent of your daily potassium, eight percent of daily calcium intake, and six percent of the recommended daily Vitamin D intake.
As is common with meals like this, the sodium, cholesterol, and total carbs are pretty high, at 41 percent, 30 percent, and 45 percent of daily values. However, these numbers aren’t astronomical and are a good trade-off for having a tasty meal that’s so easy to prepare.
Another benefit that’s worth mentioning is that this meal rehydrated very well. Sometimes, freeze-dried meals can have a mashed potato consistency, but that’s not at all the case with the Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice. The individual components of the dish – the pork, rice, and vegetables – added distinct textures to the meal that, as I said earlier, add to an overall nice eating experience.
It goes without saying that the primary benefit of a meal like this is its ease of preparation. Obviously, the shelf life (five years) and ease of transport make it an ideal option for a quick camp meal. Honestly, this meal was good enough that I think I could pass it off as something I made from scratch at home!
Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice Review: Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice is another solid option for your camp kitchen. I graded this meal a four out of five for flavor, a five out of five for rehydration, and a five out of five for the visual and smell tests, all of which are consistent with past Peak Refuel reviews.
Sure, Peak Refuel meals don’t have the extended shelf life of others on the market, but five years is still plenty of time to let it sit until you need or want to use it. While I just bought this meal, my guess is that it’ll taste just as good five years down the road.
The Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice is a tasty dish that I thoroughly enjoyed here at home, and I’d eat it again in a heartbeat. With home-cooked flavors, a great aroma, and good visual appeal, this should be on your grocery list for your next outdoor adventure, especially if you love a sweet pork meal!