Directions:

1. Remove and discard desiccants and oxygen absorbers.
2. Rehydrate lamb as soon as the can is opened in cold water for 30 minutes to equilibrate moisture, then drain off excess water. Use enough water to cover the meat. (If any hard spots are felt, soak additional 5 to 10 minutes.)
3. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 145F (62.8C) followed as standard by USDA and FSIS safety recommendations.

Note: Meat may be rehydrated in advance, drained, and refrigerated until cooking time.

Once opened, they will last:

1. Up to 1 year in a zipper locking bag with refrigeration once opened, but not rehydrated
2. Up to 60 days in a zipper locking bag without refrigeration once opened, but not rehydrated
3. Up to 5 days in the refrigerator once they're rehydrated

When will your freeze-dried food expire?

The manufacturer guarantees the minimum shelf life of 25 years from when the food was made. To find the manufactured date, look at the label on the can. There should be a code similar to this one below:

8034 b2 19

All you need to look at is the first set of numbers (8034) - that is the date code in Julian format. So in the example above, it was made on the 34th day of 2018, which is February 3. 25 years from this date gives you the minimum of how long it will last.

Note: Since it is a long-term storage, the shelf life will depend on the conditions under which you store the food.