Does your dog gobble down their food but still seem a little…blah? You want the best for your furry friend, and that often means looking at raw food. But lugging around frozen packages or worrying about spoilage can feel like a huge chore. You want the benefits of raw nutrition without the freezer space drama.
That’s where freeze-dried raw dog food steps in! It sounds like science fiction, but it’s really a smart way to keep raw ingredients healthy and easy to store. However, navigating the labels and understanding what “freeze-dried” really means can still leave you scratching your head. Which brands are truly the best? How do you even serve it?
This post cuts through the confusion. We will explore exactly what freeze-dried raw food is, why it might be the perfect solution for your busy life, and how to spot the highest quality options on the shelf. Get ready to unlock a simpler, healthier feeding routine for your dog. Let’s dive into the world of convenient, complete raw nutrition!
Top Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Recommendations
- PREMIUM BLEND - Nutra Complete is veterinarian-developed with 95% ranch-raised beef & organs. Each delicious bite contains hand-selected ingredients for nutrition that help support healthy digestion, a thick coat, healthy immune function, and overall health and happiness.*
- HIGH QUALITY BEEF - Premium, ranch-raised beef and organs make up 95% of Nutra Complete. Our beef is 100% freeze-dried, so your dog gets easily digestible protein from every bite.*
- SEEDS, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES - Our unique blend of seeds, fruits, and vegetables provides your dog with health-supporting nutrients. This includes flaxseed, blueberry, carrot, sweet potato, spinach, and more.*
- HEALTH-SUPPORTING VITAMINS AND MINERALS - Our food contains a variety of ingredients, carefully selected to offer your dog high-quality nutrition to help support their daily well-being and happiness.*
- USE AS FOOD OR AS MIXER - If you’d like to boost your dog’s diet with freeze-dried nutrition but don’t want to replace their current food, you can use Nutra Complete as a mixer. To add, simply reduce the amount of your dog’s food and replace it with the desired amount of Nutra Complete to avoid overfeeding. Each 1lb bag contains about 7 cups of food.
- Raw Food Made Easy : Simply Raw combines the safety, easy prep and shelf stable convenience of kibble and canned food with the unsurpassed nutrition offered in real, fresh raw food. Just add water to make this 3 lb bag into over 18 lbs of raw whole food, ready to serve in minutes.
- Ingredients With Purpose : Simply Raw is made with only the freshest human grade ingredients. Every ingredient is chosen with care to support holistic health and provide functional benefits for lasting wellness : Freeze-dried raw beef muscle, organ meat, chicken bone broth, whole egg, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, OMEGA fatty acids, probiotics & prebiotics. Raw, whole food ingredients you can see.
- All Natural Nutrition : At Nature’s Diet, we believe in honest, transparent labels. We are proud of the wholesome, clean ingredients we use to make Simply Raw - unlike some other brands, we never put anything into our dog food that isn’t listed on the label. No fillers, no grains, no GMOs, no unnatural preservatives, no soy, no added flavorings or dyes. Just honest, raw, whole food nutrition. Key Product Features
- USA Sourced, Sustainable, Thoughtful : Made lovingly in small batches in the USA with regionally sourced ingredients & humanely raised meat. Real food for healthy dogs and a healthier planet.
- Safe Raw : Freeze-Drying is a natural food preservation process which removes moisture while maintaining the nutritional integrity of food. Freeze-Dried Raw is always free of pathogens, making it the safest way to feed a raw diet. Shelf stable, safe to handle & easy to store.
- HIGH PROTEIN, NUTRIENT DENSE: Featuring free-range Beef, Organs, Bone, and New Zealand Green Mussels, this grain-free dog food delivers nutrition with a mouth-watering taste for all dogs. Gentle air dried processing retains the goodness of the raw ingredients. This food offers stimulating crunchy texture small enough for puppy food but soft enough for senior dog food.
- GRAIN FREE RAW ALTERNATIVE: Gently air-dries raw ingredients for a nutritious, raw alternative dry dog food with a delicious jerky-like texture that dogs love. This process preserves the nutrition and flavor and is perfect for all life stages, from puppy food to senior dog snacks, with added vitamins and minerals. This formula is free from fillers commonly found in kibble.
- FRESH FOOD NUTRITION with SHELF STABILITY: This superfood blend of cold-washed Green Tripe, New Zealand Green Mussels, and Organic Kelp supports digestion, joint health, and healthy shiny coats. The air-dry process provides all the shelf stability of freeze dried dog treats and food with the nutritional benefits of fresh dog food.
- MEALS, TREATS, and FOOD TOPPERS: Serve as a complete balanced meal. Useful as a treat reward, or dog food toppers to provide texture stimulation with a supplement boost.
- ETHICALLY SOURCED: ZIWI sources only 100% free-range, grass-fed, grass-finished meats, and wild-caught seafoods, all from New Zealand farms and pristine oceans. Farmed without added hormones, antibiotics, or growth promotants.
- Made with High-Quality Ingredients – Each bag is crafted with real meat, nutrient-rich organ meats, fruits, vegetables, and seeds, providing a variety of ingredients in every serving. Made proudly in the USA.
- Freeze-Dried for Convenience – Freeze-drying helps maintain the natural taste and nutrients of raw ingredients while making it easy to store and prepare, with no refrigeration needed.
- Serve as a Meal or a Topper – Use as your dog’s complete meal or sprinkle over their usual food for added variety and taste. If using as a topper, reduce the amount of their current food to avoid overfeeding.
- No Fillers or Artificial Preservatives – Formulated without grains, cereals, or unnecessary fillers, and contains no artificial preservatives.
- Bite-Sized and Easy to Serve – The pieces are conveniently sized for dogs of all breeds and sizes, making mealtime quick and easy for you while providing a meal your dog will look forward to.
- FREEZE DRIED RAW MEAT: Kibble in the Raw locks in the nutrients and flavor of raw meat through our freeze-dried process. Unlike traditional kibble, it delivers optimized nutrition and digestibility without high-heat cooking and overprocessing.
- EASY SCOOP AND SERVE: Skip the prep and mess! Kibble in the Raw is ready to serve straight from the bag, offering the convenience of dry dog food with the nutrition of a raw diet. No preparation or hydration necessary.
- BEEF RECIPE: Made with 100% freeze dried raw protein and grass-fed beef, this recipe delivers protein-rich nutrition to help maintain muscle health and support sustained energy. Packed with flavor, it’s a meal your pup will love with every bite!
- ONLY REAL WHOLE FOODS: We use organic apples, sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, and kale—no synthetic vitamins or minerals. Our minimally processed recipes preserve natural nutrients to help support healthy digestion and overall wellness.
- GENTLE ON DIGESTION: Primal freeze dried dog food is crafted without fillers or common allergens to help support digestive health, leading to smaller, firmer stools.
- PREMIUM BLEND - Nutra Complete Chicken Recipe is veterinarian-developed with 95% cage-free chicken & organs. Each delicious bite contains hand-selected ingredients for nutrition that help support healthy digestion, a thick coat, healthy immune function, and overall health and happiness.*
- HIGH QUALITY CHICKEN - Premium, cage-free chicken and organs make up 95% of Nutra Complete. Our chicken is 100% freeze-dried, so your dog gets easily digestible protein from every bite.*
- SEEDS, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES - Our unique blend of seeds, fruits, and vegetables provides your dog with health-supporting nutrients. This includes flaxseed, blueberry, carrot, sweet potato, spinach, and more.*
- HEALTH-SUPPORTING VITAMINS AND MINERALS - Our food contains a variety of ingredients, carefully selected to offer your dog high-quality nutrition to help support their daily well-being and happiness.*
- USE AS FOOD OR AS MIXER - If you’d like to boost your dog’s diet with freeze-dried nutrition but don’t want to replace their current food, you can use Nutra Complete as a mixer. To add, simply reduce the amount of your dog’s food and replace it with the desired amount of Nutra Complete to avoid overfeeding. Each 1lb bag contains about 7 cups of food.
- Made with High-Quality Ingredients – Each bag is crafted with real meat, nutrient-rich organ meats, fruits, vegetables, and seeds, providing a variety of ingredients in every serving. Made proudly in the USA.
- Freeze-Dried for Convenience – Freeze-drying helps maintain the natural taste and nutrients of raw ingredients while making it easy to store and prepare, with no refrigeration needed.
- Serve as a Meal or a Topper – Use as your dog’s complete meal or sprinkle over their usual food for added variety and taste. If using as a topper, reduce the amount of their current food to avoid overfeeding.
- No Fillers or Artificial Preservatives – Formulated without grains, cereals, or unnecessary fillers, and contains no artificial preservatives.
- Bite-Sized and Easy to Serve – The pieces are conveniently sized for dogs of all breeds and sizes, making mealtime quick and easy for you while providing a meal your dog will look forward to.
- EXCEPTIONAL FOR PICKY EATERS – Consistently entices even the most finicky dogs to eat when other foods fail – our freeze-dried raw patties deliver irresistible taste that transforms mealtime for selective dogs.
- VERSATILE SERVING OPTIONS – Perfect as complete meals, crumbled food toppers, or high-value training treats – ideal for puppies and adult dogs with options to serve dry or rehydrated with water.
- 95% GRASS-FED BEEF & ORGANS – Premium freeze-dried raw nutrition with whole-prey approach delivers muscle-building protein, enhanced digestibility, and natural nutrients that support coat, skin, and overall health.
- BALANCED NUTRITION FOR ALL LIFE STAGES – Complete and balanced diet for growing puppies and adult dogs with probiotics for digestive health and omega fatty acids for skin and coat – free from grains, gluten, fillers, and artificial preservatives.
- MADE IN USA WITH PREMIUM INGREDIENTS – Small-batch production with 100% organic fruits and vegetables, responsibly-sourced ingredients, and no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors – trusted by thousands of pet parents.
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Choosing the Best Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
Freeze-dried raw dog food offers a convenient way to feed your dog a diet close to what they would eat in the wild. This guide helps you pick the perfect option.
1. Key Features to Look For
When shopping, look closely at these important features. They tell you how good the food really is.
- **Ingredient Transparency:** Good brands clearly list every ingredient. You should know exactly what your dog is eating.
- **Protein Sources:** Look for high-quality, named meat sources first, like “deboned chicken” or “lamb.” Avoid vague terms like “meat by-products.”
- **Nutrient Retention:** High-quality freeze-drying keeps most natural vitamins and enzymes intact. Check if the company uses gentle, low-heat processing.
- **Complete and Balanced:** The food must meet AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards for your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, or all life stages).
2. Important Ingredients and Materials
The quality of the raw ingredients matters most. Think of this food as a super-concentrated version of raw meat.
The best foods focus heavily on animal protein. This includes muscle meat, organs (like liver and kidney), and sometimes bone (ground finely).
Good additions include healthy fats, like fish oil, for shiny coats. You also want a small amount of whole food vegetables or fruits for fiber and antioxidants. Things like pumpkin, carrots, and blueberries are excellent.
What to avoid: Fillers are unnecessary. Skip foods heavy in grains (like corn or wheat), artificial colors, or chemical preservatives. These defeat the purpose of feeding raw.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The way the food is made heavily impacts its nutritional value.
Quality Boosters: Sourcing matters. Locally sourced, humanely raised meat usually means better quality control. Minimal processing helps lock in nutrients.
Quality Reducers: High heat ruins nutrition. If the food is cooked before freezing, it is not truly raw. Also, using low-quality filler ingredients significantly reduces the overall quality of the meal.
Some brands add probiotics or digestive enzymes after the freeze-drying process. These live cultures are great for your dog’s gut health.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
Freeze-dried raw food is incredibly versatile.
As a Complete Meal: You simply add water (or broth) and let it rehydrate for a few minutes. This is perfect for busy owners who want raw nutrition without the mess of handling frozen raw meat.
As a Topper: Many owners sprinkle a small amount over their dog’s regular kibble. This boosts palatability (taste) and adds raw nutrients easily.
For Travel: Since the food is lightweight and shelf-stable (it does not require refrigeration until opened and rehydrated), it is ideal for camping, road trips, or boarding kennels.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
Q: How is freeze-dried food different from regular kibble?
A: Kibble is cooked at very high temperatures, which changes the ingredients. Freeze-drying removes water using cold temperatures, preserving almost all the nutrients found in the original raw ingredients.
Q: Do I have to add water to freeze-dried raw food?
A: Yes, most of the time. Adding water rehydrates the food, making it easier for your dog to digest and enjoy. It returns the food to a texture similar to fresh raw food.
Q: Is freeze-dried food safe? Doesn’t raw food carry risks?
A: Reputable freeze-dried raw foods are generally considered safer than handling fresh raw meat. The freeze-drying process often helps reduce pathogens. Always buy from trusted brands that follow safety standards.
Q: How long does freeze-dried food last once opened?
A: Once you open the bag, it should be stored in a cool, dry place. Most manufacturers recommend using it within 4 to 8 weeks for best freshness, even though it will remain safe much longer due to the lack of moisture.
Q: Can puppies eat freeze-dried raw food?
A: Yes, if the bag is specifically labeled as “All Life Stages” or formulated for puppies. Puppies need specific nutrient levels for growth.
Q: Is this type of food expensive?
A: It is usually more expensive per pound than standard kibble. However, because it is concentrated (all the water is removed), a small bag lasts a long time, which can balance the cost.
Q: What if my dog doesn’t like the taste?
A: Freeze-dried raw food usually smells and tastes very strong because of the high meat content. If your dog is hesitant, try mixing a small amount into their current food first to let them adjust.
Q: What does AAFCO approval mean?
A: AAFCO sets the nutritional guidelines for pet food in the United States. If a food is AAFCO compliant, it means the recipe contains the necessary balance of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals your dog needs.
Q: Can I use this food to supplement my dog’s existing diet?
A: Absolutely. Many owners use it as a nutritious topper or mix it with their dog’s existing dry or wet food to increase appeal and nutrition.
Q: Does the freeze-drying process destroy enzymes?
A: While some very delicate enzymes might be slightly reduced, the low-temperature process preserves the majority of enzymes and nutrients much better than high-heat extrusion used for kibble.