How to Safely Dehydrate Canned Tuna for Backpacking Meals

By Inga Aksamit & Aaron Owens Mayhew, MS, RDN, CD

Updated January 14, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links.

Some hikers love tuna as a backcountry staple, and others just bring it for their dogs. Either way, you might be wondering if you can dehydrate it at home. The answer is yes – you can safely dehydrate canned or pouch tuna for backpacking meals. You can also freeze-dry it using a home freeze-dryer. However, be forewarned that your house will smell like a fish processing plant! To minimize the odor, we recommend placing your dehydrator or freeze-dryer in a non-living space such as a garage.

What types of tuna can you dehydrate or freeze-dry?

You can dehydrate or freeze-dry canned or pouch tuna packed in water but not oil. Tuna packed in oil will likely go rancid due to the increased fat content. For the same reason, fattier fish like salmon is not a good option for dehydrating. 

Commercially prepared freeze-dried fish can be challenging to find and is primarily used for pet treats. Your dog may enjoy Grandma Lucy’s 100% freeze-dried Mahi, available on Amazon.

Continue reading, and you’ll see that home-drying tuna is simple and worth the minimal work required.

Is it safe to dehydrate or freeze-dry tuna?

Dehydrating or freeze-drying tuna is safe as long as you follow recommendations from food safety experts. Pay special attention to temperature and handling guidelines.

Canned or pouch tuna is pre-cooked, so it does not need to be heated before dehydrating. To dry fresh tuna, you must first cook the fish to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (63 C).

How do you dehydrate or freeze-dry canned tuna?

Step One: Drain the juice from the can or pouch.

Step Two: Transfer immediately to the dehydrator or freeze-dryer trays.

• Break the tuna into small bits and spread it evenly in a single layer on dehydrator trays using fruit leather tray liners or parchment paper.
• Freeze-dryer trays do not require liners or parchment paper.

Step Three: Begin the drying process.

• Dehydrate at 145-155℉ (62-68℃).
• If freeze-drying, start the freeze-dryer and allow it to run its cycle.
• Don’t forget to remove your dehydrator or freeze-dryer from the living area. Your home will smell like fish!

Step 4: The tuna is done when it is completely dry.

• The dehydration process will take approximately 4-6 hours or longer, depending on the humidity.
• The freeze-drying process will take approximately 12 hours.
• Be aware that the tuna will turn into “fish dust” if not handled carefully.

Step Five: Prepare the dried tuna for long-term storage.

• For dehydrated tuna, allow the fish to cool for 30-60 minutes. Then, package it in an air-tight container.
• For freeze-dried tuna, package the fish immediately in an air-tight container.
• Once dried, the tuna will reabsorb moisture from the air, so do not leave the tuna out for more than an hour.
• To lengthen the shelf-life of the tuna, consider vacuum sealing it in vacuum seal bags, mylar bags, or mason jars.
• You can purchase a mason jar vacuum sealer accessory online.
• Also, consider adding an oxygen absorber. Oxygen absorbers will remove any extra oxygen from your container.

What is the yield?

• A five-ounce can of tuna provides about 1/2 cup dehydrated and 1 cup freeze-dried.
• The image above shows four 5 oz (142 g) cans of tuna stored in 16 oz mason jars after freeze-drying.

How do you rehydrate dried tuna?

• Add enough hot water to cover the tuna and let stand for 10-20 minutes.
• Dehydrated tuna will take longer to rehydrate. In contrast, freeze-dried tuna will rehydrate quickly.
• Rehydrate longer if the texture is still too firm.
• You can use cold water, but rehydration will take longer (up to two hours).
• Do not leave tuna rehydrating for more than two hours in moderate temperatures or one hour over 90℉ (32℃). 

How long will dehydrated or freeze-dried tuna last?

• You can store dehydrated tuna in an airtight container for 1 to 2 months at room temperature, up to 6 months in the refrigerator, and up to one year in the freezer.
• You can store freeze-dried tuna for 10-15 years when vacuum sealed with an oxygen absorber.

Give this keto-friendly dehydrated tuna recipe a try!

Ready to see more backpacking recipes like this one?

Backcountry Foodie is your go-to resource for over 200 backpacking dietitian-created recipes and a one-of-a-kind automated meal planning tool. The meal planner even creates itemized shopping lists for you! Meal prep has never been easier.

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Are you new to dehydrating food for backpacking meals?

Consider checking out these posts:

• How to Dehydrate Strawberries for Backpacking Meals
• How to Dehydrate Green Onions for Backpacking Meals
• How to Dehydrate Tofu for Backpacking Meals
• How to Dehydrate Chickpeas for Backpacking Meals

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Inga Aksamit is a Northern California-based author and backpacker who writes about exploration, adventure, and eating well on the trail. She focuses on creating delicious gourmet meals with healthy, wholesome ingredients and no-fuss preparation in the backcountry. She has written several books, including “The Hungry Spork: A Long Distance Hiker’s Guide to Meal Planning” and “The Hungry Spork Trail Recipes.”

Aaron Owens Mayhew, MS, RDN, CD, is a registered dietitian and ultralight long-distance backpacker with over 20 years of nutrition and backpacking experience. She’s also the founder and owner of Backcountry Foodie, an online ultralight recipes and meal planning platform for backpackers. She also enjoys teaching hikers about backpacking nutrition via virtual masterclasses, YouTube videos, and podcast episodes. You can follow Aaron’s adventures in the kitchen and the backcountry via Instagram and Facebook.

Resources:

• MacKenzie, Jennifer, Jay Nutt, and Don Mercer. The Complete Trail Food Cookbook. Robert Rose, 2010.
• McCallister, Glenn. Recipes for Adventure. Glenn McCallister, 2013.
• USDA. Freezing and Food Safety.
• USDA. Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart.