Freeze-dried dog food is a relatively new concept that has become incredibly popular, with many new companies and brands emerging with their version of the best raw dog food.
From raw meatballs to dry kibble, there are many different options to choose from.
While it can be confusing to sift through all your options, luckily we’ve done the dirty work for you.
We tested each product to find the best one, taking into account quality and value. Here are our in-depth reviews of the 10 best freeze-dried dog foods
Is freeze-dried food better for dogs?
Freeze-dried foods are often a good alternative for people who like to feed a raw diet. Your dog gets the same nutritional benefits of eating raw without any problems.
Foods are nutritionally balanced, easy to handle and store, plus they keep for a long time.
What’s the best freeze-dried or dehydrated dog food?
Freeze-dried: Preserves most of the vitamins and minerals found in fresh and raw pet food. No added vitamins or minerals are needed to meet complete and balanced dietary standards for dogs and cats of all life stages.
Dehydrated: Many vitamins are lost during processing, with only 40-50% of the nutrients left in the food.
What are the benefits of freeze-dried dog food?
The benefits of freeze-dried raw pet food include:
- Its long and stable shelf life allows it to be stored at room temperature for long periods, so as not to crowd the freezer.
- It is incredibly comfortable to take on the go.
- It rehydrates quickly and easily, there is no need to cut or defrost raw meat.
The 9 Best Freeze-Dried Dog Foods – Reviews & Top Choices
All dog foods included on this list meet the recommended AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines for dogs. Always consult with your veterinarian before making changes to your dog’s diet.
1. Stewart Raw Freeze Dried Dog Food – Best Ever
Product Detail –
| Flavor | Chicken |
| Top 5 Ingredients | Chicken, Ground Chicken Bone, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard, |
| Item Form | Raw, Frozen |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- If you are looking for the best quality freeze-dried raw dog food, Stewart Raw Naturals is a freeze-dried dog food packed with wholesome ingredients and nutrients to keep your dog healthy.
- The first ingredient is hormone-free fresh chicken, with no protein by-products.
- It also contains fish oil, which provides your dog with a daily dose of essential fatty acids rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6.
- Stewart Raw Naturals is soft and easy for most dogs to chew, so it can be fed to a variety of dog breeds.
- It also tastes great that dogs seem to really enjoy, without the strong smell of other freeze-dried foods.
- The only problem is that this brand is a little more expensive than other brands, but it is a high-quality, great-tasting food that your dog can take advantage of.
2. Sojos Complete freeze-dried dog food
Product Detail –
| Flavor | Beef |
| Top 5 Ingredients | Beef, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Whole Egg, Cabbage, |
| Item Form | Dry |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- If you and your dog are new to freeze-dried dog food, Sojos Complete Natural Freeze Grain Free Dog Food is a great option to try.
- Sojos Freeze-Dried Dog Food uses high-quality ingredients without the premium price.
- It also contains a healthy blend of fruits and vegetables for a boost to your dog’s immune system.
- This dog food is easy to make and tastes great that most dogs seem to like.
- The only problem we have encountered with Sojos Dog Food is that it has a slightly strong odor, which can be unpleasant for both you and your dog.
- We kept it out of our No. 1 because the most demanding palates may not appreciate this brand.
- Otherwise, we have found that Sojos Complete Freeze Dried Grain Free Dog Food is the best freeze-dried dog food for the money.
3. Nulo Freeze Dried Dog Food: Premium Choice
Product Detail –
| Flavor | Beef |
| Top 5 Ingredients | Beef, Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Apples, Broccoli, |
| Item Form | Raw, Frozen |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
Nulo 55FB13 Freeze-dried Raw Dog Food is a premium quality raw freeze-dried dog food with a nutrient-rich recipe for optimal nutrition.
Contains high-quality ingredients with a rich protein blend for a variety of essential nutrients and vitamins for your dog.
Nulo Dog Food also contains GanedenBC30 probiotics, which help support your dog’s digestion and immune system.
This brand is expensive compared to other brands, but it is a great brand for those looking for a premium choice of dog food.
We also found that Nulo crumbles a little easier in the bag if you aren’t gentle while handling it, leaving more dust than other brands. Because of this, we kept it out of our top 2 places.
If you don’t mind handling it carefully and can spend the extra dollars, Nulo Freeze-dried Dog Food is a great option for your dog.
4. Grandma Lucia’s artisanal dog food
Product Detail –
| Flavor | Sweet Potato, Fruit |
| Top 5 Ingredients | Potatoes, Flax, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Celery, |
| Item Form | Raw, Frozen |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Dog Food is freeze-dried raw dog food made with an all-natural blend of fresh pork and vegetables.
- Nonna Lucy uses only a select amount of ingredients, with no questionable ingredients such as by-products or preservatives.
- It features a truly grain-free formula, which can be great for dogs with food allergies.
- The problem is that this brand has a rather strong smell, which can be overwhelming for some dogs.
- In addition, the flavor may be too strong or rich, so it is not suitable for the fussy eaters of dogs with sensitive stomachs .
- If your dog is allergic and you are looking for a specialized diet, Grandma Lucia’s artisanal dog food is a good place to start.
5. Primary freeze-dried dog food
Product Detail –
| Flavor | Beef |
| Top 5 Ingredients | Beef Hearts, Beef Livers, Ground Beef Bones, Organic Kale, Organic Carrots, |
| Item Form | Seeds, Powder, Frozen |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- Primal CCF-FD Freeze-Dried Dog Food is a freeze-dried raw dog food specialized in a balanced diet for your dog’s well-being.
- This brand uses naturally sourced vitamins and minerals for essential health benefits, without sacrificing flavor.
- Primal is also free of fillers like corn, soy, and wheat, so it’s a good option if you’re looking for a raw grain-free diet for your pup.
- This brand is expensive, so we recommend that you try Sojos freeze-dried dog food for better value.
- It also has a strong odor even when dry which can dissuade some dogs from eating it.
- Primal freeze-dried dog food may also be too rich for dogs with sensitive digestive systems.
- We recommend that you try Stewart Naturals Freeze-Dried Dog Food for an overall better diet for your dog.
6. Buckley Liberty Freeze Dried Dog Food
Product Detail –
| Flavor | Beef |
| Top 5 Ingredients | Beef, Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Ground Beef Bone, Beef Kidney, |
| Item Form | Raw, Frozen |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes, Small Breeds |
Reasons to suggest–
- Buckley Liberty Freeze-Dried Dog Food is a versatile type of dog food made from raw freeze-dried lamb and nutrients.
- It can be rehydrated for a balanced diet, served as a snack, or mixed with your dog’s favorite kibble. Buckley Liberty also contains fish oil and flaxseed oil rich in fatty acids, essential for healthy skin and coat.
- This brand also does not contain any corn, soy, or wheat ingredients that can cause allergen flare-ups.
- One problem with Buckley Liberty Dog Food is that it is expensive compared to high-quality brands like Stewart and Sojos.
- Another problem is that this brand is high in fat, which can be a problem for dogs that have pancreatic diseases.
- Buckley Liberty Dog Food can also lead to dehydration if your dog doesn’t drink enough water with it, so dogs that tend to drink less than normal should try other brands first.
7. Stella & Chewy freeze-dried dog food
Product Detail –
| Flavor | Chicken |
| Top 5 Ingredients | Chicken With Ground Bone, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard, Pumpkin Seed, |
| Item Form | Raw |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- Stella & Chewy Freeze-Dried Dog Food is an all-natural lamb recipe made into handy patties to make dinner time an easier task.
- Stella & Chewy contains no fillers, preservatives, or additives. Although there are high-quality ingredients, meatballs are difficult for smaller dogs to chew.
- This brand is also only meant for dogs weighing less than 40lbs which can be a headache if your dog is a large dog breed.
- Stella & Chewy is also more expensive than most brands because the meatballs are small and your dog may need more than one per meal.
- We recommend trying other brands with larger portions per bag.
8. Open Farm Freeze Dried Dog Food
Product Detail –
| Flavor | Turkey |
| Top 5 Ingredients | Pasture-raised lamb, lamb heart, lamb liver, ground lamb bone |
| Item Form | Raw |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- Open Farm freeze-dried dog food that can be given as a meal or in combination with high-quality kibble.
- The Open Farm brand uses all-natural ingredients with human-raised, protein-rich meats.
- This brand’s recipe contains turmeric and coconut oil for multiple health benefits, with pumpkin to aid digestion.
- Unfortunately, Open Farm Freeze-Dried Dog Food has a strong odor which can be unpleasant when you feed your dog.
- The flavor of this freeze-dried food is also too strong, so fussy eaters will likely reject it.
- It’s also quite expensive for the quantity, so it’s better as a topper than a substitute for kibble.
9. TRIKOS premium freeze-dried dog food
Product Detail –
| Flavor | Chicken |
| Main Ingredients | Chicken |
| Item Form | Raw, Frozen |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
TRIKOS Premium Freeze-Dried Dog Food is a mix of freeze-dried and molded raw chicken and vegetables into small, easy-to-serve meatballs.
This brand does not contain any by-products or fillers, but it does contain a preservative that may be of concern.
While meatballs may look comfortable, they break too easily in the bag and quickly turn into chicken meatball powder.
TRIKES meatballs are also very small, so they are too expensive for larger breeds that require a raw food diet.
TRIKES freeze-dried dog food may seem like a great deal for high-quality ingredients, but there are other brands with higher quality recipes and more value for money.
Our Review –
After looking at the reviews of each freeze-dried dog food, we found Stewart Raw Naturals Freeze-dried Dog Food to be the best freeze-dried dog food ever.
Use all-natural ingredients and supplements for your dog’s health and well-being.
For the best value for money, we found Sojos Natural Grain Free Freeze Dried Complete Dog Food to be high quality and low cost. It also tastes great that dogs seemed to like.
We hope we have made it easier for you to find the best freeze-dried dog food for your dog.
With quality and value in mind, we have sought the best products on the market. If you are ready to start a new dog food, consult your veterinarian first.
FAQ –
Is freeze-dried dog food dangerous?
Freeze-dried safety So you shouldn’t worry about harmful bacteria in your dog’s freeze-dried food. Dogs tolerate bacteria much better than humans. … However, many manufacturers still take the extra step of using high-pressure pasteurization (HPP) for both frozen and freeze-dried foods.
Why is freeze-dried dog food so expensive?
Freeze-drying requires expensive equipment that consumes a lot of energy;
these higher overheads translate into a more expensive product.
Also, freeze-dried dog food typically consists of higher quality food such as fresh beef than the “mystery beef meal”.
Is it better to freeze-dry or air dry?
But the sublimation process in freeze-drying keeps the cell structure intact more effectively than the air-drying process.
Air-dried finished products tend to have a more wrinkled appearance.
Due to the higher moisture content, however, an air-dried product may have higher color saturation than its freeze-dried counterpart.
Is freeze drying better than RAW?
Freeze drying is a slow process that preserves nutrients, enzymes, and protein structures while stabilizing the food shelf, so it does not require refrigeration.
Freeze-dried food is nutritionally the same as raw food, except for the lack of moisture.
Is it better to freeze-dry than to dehydrate?
Freeze-dried foods offer a longer shelf life, lower moisture content, and generally taste better than dehydrated foods.
Freeze-dried foods rehydrate faster and also retain their original shape, texture, and color.
A much greater variety of foods can be freeze-dried than dehydrated.
Is freeze-dried food healthy?
Freeze-dried food is relatively healthy. Other nutrients, such as vitamins C and E and folic acid, are somewhat depleted through the freeze-drying process.
Once rehydrated, freeze-dried food is similar in nutritional value to fresh food according to Diane Barrett, a professor of food science and technology at UC-Davis.
How much freeze-dried food do you feed a dog?
Always make sure to provide plenty of freshwater for your pet when feeding a freeze-dried diet. Approximately 14-18 nuggets per ounce.
2 meals a day.
How long does freeze-dried dog food last?
Unopened freeze-dried foods have a shelf life of two years, bearing in mind not to exceed the printed expiration date.
Once opened, food is fresh for up to 30 days, provided it is resealed between feeds.
Can You Get Salmonella From Freeze-Dried Dog Food?
Freeze drying leaves food almost unchanged compared to frozen raw diets and kills a percentage of bacteria.
This process kills most bacteria including Salmonella and Listeria without affecting nutritional quality.
Is freeze-dried raw dog food as good as raw?
Comparison between frozen and freeze-dried raw formulas
Is there a difference in formulas or nutritional value from one raw product to another?
The fact is, when it comes to the different formats of our complete and balanced formulas, there isn’t much of a difference.
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