How to Pack and Cook Eggs in the Backcountry

[@shermthebearofbears6959]

We all need more Kevin in our lives

[@KevinOutdoors]

Ha, true, but I have just the right amount of 'Kevin' :)

[@schulme123]

That chicken bit at the beginning was hilarious, Kevin! Thanks for the tips! I will have to give the egg crystals a whirl on my next adventure.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Glad you liked the yolks!

[@alanbierhoff6831]

This video was just jam packed full of humor, great information and helpful tips. You have been missed sir. I’m extremely glad your back.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Thanks Alan, that was nice to read.

[@RoughLandings77]

I took eggs into the backcountry a few weeks ago for the first time. Used a hard plastic jar with a screw on lid and filled the voids with instant rice. That worked very well. Next time I do that I'll plan a dish with rice in it as well.

[@KevinOutdoors]

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@nazaninnaderi3783]

Love your well-made informative videos

[@KevinOutdoors]

Glad you like them!

[@Woodswalker1965]

Great tips and those Crystals are something I need to try. On a more serious note, I agree that taking a chicken in the backcountry isn’t very practical but what about an ostrich? They could carry a decent sized pack and one egg could feed 8-10 people. Thoughts…?

[@KevinOutdoors]

Oh Man, that is way out of my wheel house, I need to get a couple of ostrich and an emu too and do some experiments! :)

[@Woodswalker1965]

@@KevinOutdoors 😂

[@april906outdoors3]

Two chickens per person in the backcountry - hilarious!! Appreciate the humor, Kevin. Nice looking chickens! Wish the USA would stop the practice of washing eggs; ours come from a local farm, unwashed - they keep for a very long time. ❤

[@KevinOutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@LostLakes]

Great vid/topic Kevin. My go-to has been the whole eggs in a container approach (packed with clean tea towels or cloths) but I think bringing 2-3 live chickens per person may be best 😝 It's too bad we wash our eggs here...needless refrigeration/energy waste

[@KevinOutdoors]

Thanks Jon. If you and Erin every want to herd chickens on a trip I can lend you a couple 😃🍳

[@miken7629]

I know a couple tips. A Foam Microphone Windscreen is perfect size to pull over and protect an egg. If you coat eggs with oil, it keeps oxygen from getting inside and eggs will keep for months. If you mix the OVAEASY egg crystals by themselves, then pour mixed egg batter directly into boiling water, the eggs will remain intact, great for cooking eggs in camp cup, can spoon them out of the water, I usually cook Eggs & Ramen together in same cup.

[@earlhayes2969]

Great information Kevin definitely love fresh eggs on trips but when you can't Ova easy egg crystals are the way to go the first time I seen them was years ago on Hoops videos as always thanks Earl

[@KevinOutdoors]

Thanks Earl, yes I think I remember Hoop featuring them. ATB!

[@hike-bike-paddle-and-drone]

Thanks for the GREAT tips Kevin! Jeff

[@KevinOutdoors]

Glad it was helpful!

[@blueridgestops3128]

This video makes me want breakfast for dinner.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Great comment, thanks!

[@l214laus]

Twenty years ago, I used to go to a backcountry hut for a cross country ski trip. We’d get the supplies in before the snow arrived and then we’d only need to bring in fresh vegetables and meat. To keep the eggs fresh, we’d smear the eggs with Vaseline, petrol😢jelly. This kept the eggs perfectly well for three months or so.

[@KevinOutdoors]

I found that method when doing my research for this video. It seems that that method and also flipping the eggs over three times a week is popular with the long distance sailing crowd. The flipping it so ensure the air bubble inside the egg doesn't stay in the same place for long, I believe the air space contributes to spoilage. Interesting stuff but the Vaseline method would be quite messy. Thanks for the comment.

[@AJKPenguin]

Egg cellent! 🍳 Love the chicken cameo. 🐔 Thank you Kevin for a resourceful and entertaining video.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robertdrolet5785]

Salut Kevin, i have your book paper version and on my cell to, but glad of this new video.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Merci! I plan to cover several more topics from the book but I can't cover everything.

[@jean-francoislaniel2933]

I just discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago. Was hypnotised by the St.Raphael 11 Days trip! Made me go to bed very late! And finally I love your Habs cap! JF, Montreal

[@KevinOutdoors]

Glad you liked the St. Raph trip. I grew up near Sherbrooke Quebec. Go Habs Go!

[@rodgerankarenhowell2952]

I’ve carried 2 chickens across Zambia Africa for 3 months before! They laid almost every day!

[@KevinOutdoors]

LOL, that is so awesome. We have chickens and they slow down if the are disturbed too much.

[@rodgerankarenhowell2952]

@@KevinOutdoors I’m guess mine were from Zambia and was used to being carried and tied by the leg so they could eat and walk around!

[@sinfonianbarelytone9191]

Love this. I too have my own eggs and never wash them. We tend to refrigerate them because that's what my wife is used to but I don't the ones I take camping. I don't go on long trips, just overnights, but eggs are a welcome treat. If I'm scrambling them I just crack them in my Nalgene like you suggested. For cooking I always bring my much heavier stove that acts just like your gas stove at home. Love it for simmering things.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Hi Barelytone, nice to hear from you again!

[@sinfonianbarelytone9191]

@@KevinOutdoors nice to see your videos again sir. Been making my own backpacking meals with inspiration from you. Thanks.

[@KevinOutdoors]

@@sinfonianbarelytone9191 Very cool, I love to hear that!

[@Xplodicon]

I always appreciate your videos. This has given me a few ideas for my moose hunting trip in a couple weeks.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Well I hope your moose hunting group enjoys the egg breakfasts they are going to have! :)

[@markperry222]

Hi Kevin, a useful video thanks. I had not seen the peanut butter jar trick before. I have some other tips that might add to the discussion. First, not all canister stoves are super hot. Many mid price and top price stoves (not all) have a micro-regulator. Micro-regulators give much more control for low flames, as well as giving a consistent flame even when the canister is almost empty. Second, titanium is probably the worst material for hot spots, and not disttibuting the heat. Titanium is the best for ultralight, but not the best for cooking. It is a trade off. Third, you can use oven liners or even baking parchment as a non-stick base in camping pans. You can get PFOA and BPA free oven liners. You can trim these down to fit any pan and you can easily fry eggs sunny side up on these.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Thanks for the comments. I chose titanium for this video to show that it could be done with the right technique but it is not my first choice for eggs :)

[@BosomBuddyCreations]

Awesome advice, thanks.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Glad it was helpful!

[@1enediyne]

When we would car camp, I would crack 12 eggs into a Tupperware gravy maker. You can pour them out one at a time. We bought a freeze dryer a few years ago. It’s a game changer!

[@KevinOutdoors]

Oh wow, I have freeze dryer envy 😃

[@1enediyne]

@@KevinOutdoors it’s seriously awesome! Bought a few years ago to help with preserving, but did my first two paddles this year with all home dried foods. Using your book as a guide for prep so it rehydrates well. Who knows, with the good reception of your book maybe HR would give you a great deal to write a FD recipe book. We picked up from Rydens to save shipping costs. ;)

[@KevinOutdoors]

@@1enediyneGreat idea!

[@BrookZerihun]

Thank you, i subscribed because of your dehydrating video some time ago, you continue to teach and inspire, my daughter also says she liked the video, many thanks

[@KevinOutdoors]

You are so welcome, thanks for the kind comments.

[@ViVicamp__]

Thank you for good informations!

[@KevinOutdoors]

Glad you liked it.

[@craigrobertson6082]

I did enjoy the idea of a chicken ambling behind you on the trail of a portage! I normally stick with fried eggs if I bring real eggs on a trip.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Yeah bringing chickens on a trip would be a strange concept. When the chickens are disturbed they slow down their laying so if you were to try it, it would be completely counter productive. 😃

[@perfectweather]

Great video, thanks 👍

[@KevinOutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed it👍

[@Winter8R1]

Some great tips here and the opening was hilarious Kevin. Another idea for a future video would be how you make your butter for backcountry trips. Go Leafs Go!!!

[@KevinOutdoors]

Thanks Winter8R1, done! 😃 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIiomqlspspnaJo

[@Winter8R1]

So easy! Somehow I missed that clarified butter video 3 years ago. Thx for sharing Kevin.

[@ZGADOW]

I MUST know where you got that squeeze bottle for the hot sauce! That is the answer to so many of my backcountry food problems.

[@KevinOutdoors]

I have a few HumanGear GoToobs - spelled correctly :)

[@clarkansas6590]

Good job

[@KevinOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@ryanimage]

Literally was about to go back country camping in the Kwarthas and said to my partner "we should check and see if Kevin has a video about eggs"... What amazing timing! I think we're going to try the egg crystals and see if we can find the same brand bc we're in Ontario!

[@KevinOutdoors]

Awesome timing. This is one of those videos that has been brewing in my head for a long time. I'm glad it was available just in time for your trip.

[@dwrivers47]

Great video. I have had trouble finding the OvaEasy eggs - I will try to find the Canadian brand you showed 😊

[@KevinOutdoors]

I have found that all of these products have had temporary absences during the pandemic. Good luck!

[@williamsmith5610]

As always love you videos Kevin! Thanks for the humor 😂. What bear food barrel was that?

[@KevinOutdoors]

Thanks William, that was a cleaned up and reused 20L olive barrel. I get them from Italian food stores and add U-bolts to the top so I can hoist them. They aren't bear proof but they are a good size for food storage and cut down on smells. I have a very old video on how I add the U-bolts. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXXZZmOVfsSggLM

[@mycampingobsession]

I usually pack paper towel between the rows of eggs in my egg carrier. And definitely unwashed eggs!

[@KevinOutdoors]

So, you are my people!

[@mikitta47]

Your chickens are lovely :) Dominiques, and Buckeyes?

[@KevinOutdoors]

Thanks Miki, they are Barred Rock and we have one Rhode Island Red.

[@dnjuneau]

Not bring chicken 🤣🤣🤣, nice hat, thats why i asked you an other time if you from Mtl 😃, great video thanks

[@KevinOutdoors]

I am originally from a town close to Montreal.

[@mikeb5664]

On canoe trips I'll put my eggs in a hard case, with a paper towel, then duct tape the case to the underside of a canoe seat. I've never broken an egg in years. Or, you can crack the eggs into a nalgene, and not worry about breaking them.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Thanks Mike!

[@Hames_tripper]

+1 on the unwashed eggs. We take 2 doz for a 9 day trip and are still enjoying french toast and facon on the last day.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Right on!

[@nelsonsiegel]

Where did you buy the crystals from?

[@1967AJB]

Could you not dehydrate and rehydrate on the trail? The chicken I’m talking about. Silly bugger! Really enjoyed that sir, sadly egg crystals are very hard to get here. Nice to have you back on good form.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Well, I have done that, but not my own chickens :)

[@1967AJB]

That in no way surprises me! 2am and I’m trying to find egg crystals on line. I took a wrong turn somewhere :)

[@KLR.Camper]

Question. Could one freeze eggs and if so how long would they last camping without refrigeration? I understand they would have to thaw but would they be ok? I've seen several people do this with steaks but they eat them on night one.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Yes, for sure you can freeze them. On a trip, they will last as long as they remain frozen. I have made "coolers" with layers of reflectix and I can get frozen meat to last 3 days before thawing and it still remains cool as if it was in a fridge. Eggs should work about the same.

[@pvesely299]

I like eggs with salsa too. Yum. Is it hard to keep chickens? Does it take a lot of time to care for them?

[@KevinOutdoors]

It isn't really hard. They get feed and water and we collect eggs once a day. We built a pretty good coop which keeps them safe but you can get away with less if you don't have as many predators around.

[@Brad-99]

My cousin use to carry hot sauce in his pocket ever where he went lol

[@KevinOutdoors]

LOL, it makes most meals better.

[@stevensoutdoors]

When I purchase eggs at the grocery, I typically buy large eggs. But I find that large eggs don't fit in those yellow camping containers. So if I'm buying eggs to carry camping, I'll purchase medium sized eggs.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Good tip, too bad I didn't cover that.

[@lavanyalea]

Does it mean egg whites (albumin only, no fat) are safe to be dehydrated? I’m thinking of dehydrated egg white omelette, rolled and chopped up to small “rolls”. Because my Japanese dehydrated soup (store bought) has them! These tiny swirls of omelette!

[@KevinOutdoors]

I would still be concerned about salmonella. The risk is low but a dehydrator creates the perfect environment for bacteria to flurish.

[@lavanyalea]

@@KevinOutdoors Fully cooked egg white omelette then? Not the runny French style ones… that would have eliminated salmonella risk?

[@squirrelcovers6340]

Beat the eggs, fill Nalgene to 3/4 full and freeze.

[@KevinOutdoors]

That would work!

[@michaelfrymus]

So, egg CRYSTALS instead of egg powder? Where can I buy this other than on Amazon - we don't have any of this where I live as I'm in a small town with a small grocery store - in Canada

[@KevinOutdoors]

Yeah I have to order mine online. I have seen them in large camping stores in urban centres but I don't get there very often. Ova Easy is on brand, Agason is another. Search Amazon for Freeze Dried Eggs. The prices has really gone up since I made this vide.

[@MrLightPanda]

How about hard boiled eggs, Kevin?

[@KevinOutdoors]

Good question, I had to do a little research. It seems that unrefrigerated, hard boiled eggs aren't recommended beyond beyond 2 hours. Now I have had plenty of hard boiled eggs in my lunchbox as a kid so you can certainly push that 2 hour mark but I wouldn't count on them lasting more than a day.

[@MrLightPanda]

@@KevinOutdoors Ah, I see. Maybe you could carry in some eggs, and then just as a relatively easy cooking method, you could make hard boiled eggs on the trail. You'd have to carry out the shells, though. Cheers, take care.

[@AlohaUlises]

"If you live in Europe"... dude straight up forgot about the whole bunch of other countries in his own continent and Africa, Asia, Australia, etc.

[@KevinOutdoors]

I didn't really forget about entire continents it is just that I have no idea what egg regulations are like in many of those other places. You might lighten up.