Freeze-Dried vs. Fresh: Which Dog Food Diet Is Best?

As pet owners increasingly seek out healthier alternatives to traditional kibble, the realm of “fresh” dog food has expanded to offer a variety of enticing options. Among these, two popular contenders stand out for their nutritional benefits and convenience: freeze-dried vs fresh dog food.

With choices ranging from gently cooked meals to the biologically appropriate approach of raw, and even air-dried and dehydrated options, navigating this landscape can feel overwhelming. This guide will delve into the key differences between freeze-dried dog food and other types of the best fresh dog food, exploring factors like cost, convenience, nutritional value, and palatability.

By understanding the unique characteristics of each, you can confidently determine which “fresh” approach is truly the best fit for your beloved canine companion.

What Is Freeze-Dried Dog Food?

Freeze-dried dog food offers a convenient and shelf-stable way to provide your canine companion with the nutritional benefits of raw, whole foods. This type of food undergoes a specialized process called freeze-drying, which effectively removes the vast majority of moisture from the raw ingredients while preserving their essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

The Freeze-Drying Process Explained

The process begins by freezing fresh, raw ingredients, such as meat, organs, fruits, and vegetables. Once frozen solid, these ingredients are placed in a vacuum chamber. Under this low-pressure environment, the frozen water within the food sublimates, meaning it transitions directly from a solid (ice) to a gaseous state (water vapor), bypassing the liquid phase.

This gentle removal of moisture leaves behind a lightweight product that retains much of the original nutritional profile, flavor, and aroma of the raw ingredients.

Typical Ingredients

Freeze-dried dog food recipes commonly feature a variety of wholesome ingredients, including:

• •High-Quality Proteins: Muscle meat and organ meats provide essential amino acids.

• •Fruits and Vegetables: These offer natural sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. We Feed Raw's freeze-dried recipes include beneficial plant-based ingredients.

• •Vitamins and Minerals: These are naturally occurring in the raw ingredients and are largely retained through the freeze-drying process.

Key Benefits of Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Some of the many benefits of freeze-dried dog food include:

• •Exceptional Convenience: Being shelf-stable, freeze-dried food requires no refrigeration or freezing, making it incredibly easy to store and travel with.

• •Long Shelf Life: Properly stored freeze-dried food can last for an extended period without spoilage.

• •Nutrient Retention: The gentle freeze-drying process helps to preserve the natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes present in the raw ingredients.

• •Palatability: The process often concentrates the natural flavors and aromas of the food, making it appealing to many dogs.

• •Easy to Serve: Simply measure and serve, or rehydrate with water for added moisture. It's important to remember that We Feed Raw's current freeze-dried offerings include beef and chicken recipes formulated for adult dogs.

Other Types of "Fresh" Dog Food

While freeze-dried food offers a unique combination of convenience and nutrition, it's important to understand how it compares to other categories within the "fresh" dog food landscape.

Frozen Raw Dog Food

Frozen raw dog food aims to replicate a dog's ancestral diet with uncooked meat, bones, and organs. Unlike We Feed Raw's freeze-dried options, our frozen recipes do not contain fruits or vegetables but offer a wider variety of protein options (chicken, beef, turkey, duck, venison, and lamb) suitable for all life stages.

Frozen raw retains natural nutrients through minimal processing but requires freezer storage and thawing.

Gently Cooked Dog Food

Gently cooked dog food involves cooking fresh, whole ingredients at low temperatures to eliminate pathogens while preserving nutritional value. This method can be a good option for pet owners who are hesitant about feeding raw or for dogs with sensitive digestive systems.

Gently cooked foods often include a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. While cooking can make some nutrients more digestible, it may also lead to a loss of certain heat-sensitive vitamins compared to raw or freeze-dried options.

Air-Dried Dog Food

Air-dried dog food is made by gently circulating warm air around raw ingredients to remove moisture. This slow process helps to preserve nutrients and flavors without high-heat cooking. 

Air-dried food is shelf-stable and doesn't require rehydration. It typically retains more nutrients than dehydrated food due to the lower temperatures used. Many air-dried options boast high meat content and are free from artificial additives.

Dehydrated Dog Food

Dehydrated dog food also removes moisture from fresh ingredients but typically uses lower temperatures over a longer period compared to air-drying. This results in a shelf-stable product that needs to be rehydrated with water before feeding.

While dehydration preserves many nutrients, the lower temperatures used over extended periods can sometimes lead to a reduction in certain heat-sensitive vitamins. Dehydrated food is often a more budget-friendly option within the fresh food category.

Key Differences: Freeze-Dried vs. Other Fresh Food Categories

While freeze-dried dog food offers a unique set of benefits, it's important to compare it to other popular "fresh" options to determine the best fit for your dog.

Cost

The cost of freeze-dried dog food can vary among brands. However, at We Feed Raw, both our freeze-dried and frozen raw recipes are priced the same on a per-day basis.

Gently cooked dog food prices can vary depending on ingredients and whether it's commercially prepared or homemade.

Air-dried and dehydrated foods can also have a wide range of prices, but may sometimes be more budget-friendly than freeze-dried options from other brands.

Convenience

Freeze-dried food stands out for its exceptional convenience. Its shelf-stable nature eliminates the need for refrigeration or freezing, making it easy to store and travel with. Preparation typically involves simply measuring and serving, or adding water for rehydration.

Frozen raw requires freezer space and thawing time. Gently cooked food needs refrigeration or freezing. Air-dried food is also convenient and shelf-stable, while dehydrated food requires rehydration.

Storage

Freeze-dried dog food requires no refrigeration or freezing, offering the most straightforward storage among fresh options. Frozen raw necessitates ample freezer space. Gently cooked food needs to be refrigerated or frozen. Air-dried food is shelf-stable. Dehydrated food is also shelf-stable but needs to be kept dry.

Flexibility of Diet/Feeding Ratios

We Feed Raw's frozen recipes offer greater flexibility with six protein options suitable for all life stages, allowing for easier protein rotation and precise portioning, which is helpful for combination feeding.

Our freeze-dried options are currently limited to beef and chicken for adult dogs, offering less variety and customization.

Gently cooked foods can vary in their ingredient lists, offering some flexibility depending on the brand or recipe. Air-dried and dehydrated foods often have specific formulations with limited ingredient adjustments possible.

Health and Longevity

All minimally processed fresh food options aim to provide superior nutrition compared to heavily processed kibble. Freeze-dried food retains nutrients effectively through its gentle processing method. Frozen raw also preserves nutrients well.

Gently cooked food can lose some heat-sensitive vitamins. Air-dried food generally retains more nutrients than dehydrated food due to lower processing temperatures.

Mealtime Excitement

Freeze-dried food can be very palatable, especially when rehydrated, offering a unique texture. Frozen raw also tends to be highly palatable due to its natural moisture and aroma.

Gently cooked food can be appealing due to its aroma and softer texture. Air-dried food has a jerky-like consistency that many dogs enjoy. Dehydrated food, once rehydrated, may be less appealing in texture to some dogs.

Quantity Needed for Meals

Due to the removal of moisture, you feed a smaller volume of freeze-dried food compared to frozen raw or gently cooked food. Air-dried food is also denser, requiring smaller portions. Dehydrated food, once rehydrated, will have a larger volume. Always refer to the specific product's feeding guidelines.

Protein Sources Readily Available

We Feed Raw offers a broader range of protein sources in our frozen recipes (beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, venison) compared to our freeze-dried options (beef and chicken). Gently cooked, air-dried, and dehydrated foods vary by brand, but many offer a limited selection of single or novel proteins.

Which Is Right for Your Dog?

Choosing between freeze-dried and other fresh dog food options depends on a variety of factors, including your dog's individual needs and your lifestyle. All fresh food categories offer potential benefits over highly processed kibble, but each has its own strengths and considerations.

Consider Your Dog’s Needs

Before choosing, think about your dog’s:

• •Age and Life Stage: We Feed Raw's frozen recipes are formulated for all life stages, including puppies, while our freeze-dried options are specifically for adult dogs. Other fresh food types may have formulations for different life stages, so always check the product label.

• •Dietary Sensitivities: If your dog has allergies or sensitivities, the wider range of protein options available in We Feed Raw's frozen line might offer more flexibility compared to our current freeze-dried options or some gently cooked, air-dried, and dehydrated brands.

• •Health Conditions: Dogs with certain health conditions might benefit from specific types of fresh food. For example, dogs needing more moisture might do well on frozen raw or rehydrated freeze-dried.

• •Palatability: Picky eaters might respond differently to various textures and aromas. Freeze-dried (especially when rehydrated), frozen raw, and gently cooked options are often highly palatable.

Consider Your Lifestyle

Which factors are most important for you?

• •Convenience: Freeze-dried food offers unparalleled convenience for storage and travel. Air-dried food is also very convenient. Frozen raw requires freezer space and thawing. Gently cooked food needs refrigeration or freezing. Dehydrated food needs rehydration.

• •Budget: While We Feed Raw's frozen and freeze-dried recipes cost the same per day, other brands may have different pricing structures. Gently cooked, air-dried, and dehydrated foods can vary in cost depending on ingredients and processing.

• •Storage Space: If freezer space is limited, freeze-dried, air-dried, or dehydrated options are more practical.

• •Meal Preparation Time: Freeze-dried and air-dried foods require minimal preparation. Frozen raw needs thawing, and dehydrated food requires rehydration. Gently cooked food might need warming.

Combining Different Fresh Food Types

It's also possible to incorporate different types of fresh food into your dog's diet. For instance, you might use frozen raw for everyday meals and freeze-dried for travel or as a convenient topper.

Ultimately, the "best" fresh dog food depends on your individual dog's needs and your lifestyle.

For Freeze Dried Dog Food, Try We Feed Raw

Choosing the right "fresh" dog food is key for your dog's health. Freeze-dried and other fresh options offer great benefits. At We Feed Raw, we offer both convenient freeze-dried recipes for adult dogs and a diverse range of frozen raw options for all life stages.

Explore both to find the perfect fit for your furry friend. Start your pup’s We Feed Raw meal plan today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does freeze-dried dog food compare to frozen raw dog food in terms of nutritional value?

Both freeze-dried and frozen raw dog food are minimally processed and aim to retain the natural nutrients of whole food ingredients. While some argue that frozen raw's higher moisture content aids digestion, freeze-drying effectively preserves vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. The best option depends on your dog's individual needs and your lifestyle.

Is freeze-dried dog food more convenient than other fresh options like gently cooked or frozen raw?

Yes, freeze-dried dog food is generally considered the most convenient among fresh options. It's shelf-stable, lightweight, requires no thawing (just rehydration if desired), and is excellent for travel. Gently cooked and frozen raw foods require refrigeration or freezing and more preparation time.

How does the cost of freeze-dried dog food compare to other fresh dog food types?

The cost of fresh dog food varies depending on the type and brand. Generally, gently cooked dog food can range in price, sometimes being comparable to higher-end kibble or potentially more expensive depending on the ingredients and preparation. Air-dried and dehydrated foods can also vary in price.

At We Feed Raw, both our freeze-dried and frozen raw recipes are priced the same, offering customers a choice between convenience and the traditional raw format without a cost difference. Other brands of freeze-dried raw food, however, may still be more expensive than frozen raw options due to the processing involved.

Can I feed freeze-dried dog food to puppies or senior dogs?

While some freeze-dried dog food brands formulate their recipes to be suitable for all life stages, it's essential to check the specific product label. In the case of We Feed Raw, our current freeze-dried chicken and beef recipes are formulated for adult dogs only, whereas our frozen recipes are approved for all life stages.