How long does freeze dried chicken last?

Mountain House lists 30 years unopened; after opening a No. 10 can, use it within a week or freeze it.

How do you rehydrate freeze dried chicken?

Add water, wait 5 to 15 minutes depending on the brand, then drain and cook as usual.

Is freeze dried chicken already cooked?

Yes; Mountain House, Ready Hour and Valley describe their chicken as fully cooked.

Can you rehydrate it with cold water?

Mountain House says room temperature water works if you double the rehydration time.

Home / Emergency food

Freeze dried chicken: shelf-stable protein that cooks in minutes

By the Plain Prepper editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

We research products from makers' specs, manuals and safety agencies; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

Quick answer

Freeze dried chicken is fully cooked chicken with the water removed, so it stores at room temperature and rehydrates with water in minutes. Mountain House lists its Diced Chicken No. 10 can at 14 servings with 25 g of protein each and a 30-year shelf life unopened, but says to use it within a week of opening or freeze the rest. Ready Hour's white meat chicken lists 27 g of protein per half cup and rehydrates in 5 minutes with boiling water.

Four freeze dried chickens compared

Product	Package	Per serving	Shelf life, unopened	Rehydrating
Mountain House Diced Chicken	No. 10 can, 14 servings	25 g protein	30 years	Ready in under 10 minutes
Ready Hour White Meat Chicken	6 pouches, 12 servings	27 g protein, about 120 calories	Up to 30 years	1/2 cup chicken in 1/2 cup boiling water, 5 minutes, drain
Valley Food Storage Chicken Dices	Pouch, 8 servings	130 calories	25 years	Per package
ReadyWise Diced Chicken	No. 10 can, 16 servings	Per label	Extended, per ReadyWise	1 cup chicken in 1 1/2 cups water, 10 to 15 minutes, drain

Figures are from the makers' product pages, checked October 2026. Ready Hour calories per serving are 1,440 calories divided by 12 servings.

Dark and white meat, or breast only

Mountain House: it describes its chicken as a natural proportion, meaning both dark and white meat.
Ready Hour: lists freeze-dried, cooked chicken breast as the only ingredient.
Valley Food Storage: lists USDA-inspected chicken breast.
Why it matters: choose what your family eats; breast-only products suit people who prefer white meat.

Diced, sliced or in a meal

Diced: plain, pre-cut cubes for soups, salads, pasta and casseroles, as Mountain House describes its Diced Chicken.
Grilled and sliced: Mountain House's Grilled Sliced Chicken is seasoned and sold for sandwiches, salads and tacos.
Already in a meal: Mountain House also sells chicken entrees such as Chicken and Rice, which it lists at 43 g of protein per pouch.
Bulk buckets: Valley Food Storage sells its chicken dices in a 10-pouch bucket, which it lists at 80 servings and 10,400 calories, or 10 times one 8-serving pouch.

How to rehydrate it

Remove the oxygen absorber when you open the can or pouch, as Ready Hour and ReadyWise direct.
Add water: Ready Hour uses equal parts boiling water and chicken; ReadyWise uses 1 1/2 cups of water per cup of chicken.
Wait: 5 minutes for Ready Hour, 10 to 15 minutes for ReadyWise, under 10 minutes for Mountain House.
Drain the extra water and use it like cooked chicken in soups, rice, tacos or casseroles.
No hot water: Mountain House says its meals can be made with room temperature water if you double the rehydration time.

Shelf life, opened and unopened

Unopened: Mountain House says its canned and pouched foods have a 30-year shelf life; Valley lists 25 years.
After opening a No. 10 can: Mountain House says opened freeze-dried food absorbs moisture, so use the contents within 1 week or store them in the freezer.
Ready Hour pouches: list up to 1 year after opening and recommend smaller pouches so you open only what you need.
Storage conditions: Ready Hour recommends a cool, dry, dark place between 55 and 70°F, and says actual shelf life varies with storage.
Rehydrated chicken is perishable again; refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Cans or pouches?

No. 10 cans: the most chicken per container, best for families who will use a can within Mountain House's one-week window.
Small pouches: Ready Hour sells 2-serving pouches, so a household of one or two can open just what a meal needs.
Protein math: a 14-serving Mountain House can at 25 g each holds 350 g of protein in total.
Weight: Ready Hour lists 2.12 oz of chicken per 2-serving pouch, which is light enough for a go-bag.

Building it into a food supply

Pair with carbs: rice, pasta and beans turn chicken into full meals; see our non-perishable food items guide for pantry times.
Ready meals too: see our freeze dried food guide for complete entrees.
Water: count rehydration water in your stored water plan; see our emergency water storage guide.
Rotate: use some in everyday cooking and restock, so the supply stays fresh.

What to look for when you buy

Family size: Mountain House Diced Chicken No. 10 Can

Best for: Households that cook for several people

Mountain House lists 14 servings of fully cooked diced chicken with 25 g protein each, a 30-year shelf life unopened, and preparation in under 10 minutes.

Watch out: Use within a week of opening or freeze the rest, Mountain House says; dark and white meat mixed.

See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)

Small portions: Ready Hour White Meat Chicken

Best for: One or two people, and go-bags

Ready Hour lists breast-meat chicken with 27 g protein per half-cup serving, six 2-serving pouches, up to 30 years unopened and up to 1 year after opening, and 5-minute rehydration.

Watch out: Store between 55 and 70°F for the listed shelf life.