Help! Protein bars that last up to 10 days!

[galya]

They called me for help to design protein bars that would last up to 10 days. It's important and I have no time to test it. Part of the time people will be climbing so it will be cold, but part of the time the bars will be transported in normal summer temperature. Is there any way to make this work. We found someone to do the packaging already, so no problem there. Can't have preservatives either. It seems impossible.

[gobbla]

how are they being packaged?

[Lost Dog]

That sounds tough unless you go the dry route. Like a granola bar. Even packaged bars go bad, once you open them, so it would be hard to make a shelf-stable bar at home.

Does it have to be a "protein bar" or just an energy bar with enough protein. Roasted soy beans, peanut butter, honey, dried fruit, etc. all mashed together would make it. It would be a sticky mess, but what do you want?

Would you consider beef jerky? Just cut it into bar shapes.

[galya]

We don't have beef jerky in Bulgaria, not the traditional kind anyways. We have pastramy only, but it can be very dry.
It has to be an energy bar with enough protein and good fats. The mashes sound great. I should probably avoid protein power, do you think?
They are being packaged at a facility that makes packaged precooked foods. I assume they will ensure not much oxygen, moisture or bad stuff gets in

[gobbla]

that ought to buy a few days then. The big question was how tight the seal is. as long as you get most of air out (and keep it out) and keep the recipie as dry as possible, it should be do-able.

dried fruit, ground oats, mabey some peanut butter\honey as a binder?

Do you guys remember a bar by RockHard a little while back that was date based?

*edit* the nuts\soy nuts is a good idea

[Lost Dog]

You might try email Johnka. He's been doing bars for years. I'm sure he's considered the problem before. I only think he comes here on nights, so email might get him faster.

[RacerBill]

Must it be a bar?

As a general principle, protein + moisture = bacteria chow. It's trying to keep the protein and moisture separate that's a problem.

I'm thinking you could pack dried fruit, nuts, granola -- maybe made with soy flakes for some protein. You can pack whey powder or soy protein powder and mix it with water along the way.

My favorite bar recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/reci..._31336,00.html

I've made it without eggs (increase the water) and without sugar and they're okay that way but not as tasty. If they can be hermetically sealed they should last a while.

This is a tough problem...

[Lost Dog]

Yes, some sorta trail mix with a whey chaser.

[gobbla]

peanut Butter cookies

3/4 cup Splenda
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon baking soda

cook at 350 for 15min

they last about a week on the counter...toss in some nuts, fruit, and vacuum seal them, you *should* be golden.

[galya]

Awesome Will try out soem on tuesday since I am leaving and those guys are not paying me for it yet

[gobbla]

just as an FYI...you're going to mix the ingredients together and it's going to be a runny, crappy mess. you're going to think "no way will this work". then you'll stir for like 1:13 seconds and WHAM it's dough.

[Michael Roussell]

Do you have gourmet nutrition? The Mixed Nut Bar, Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar, Peanut Butter Fugde Bar, and Peanut Butter Banana bars are all ones I make regularly. They should all last for extend peroids of time at room temperature.