Freeze-Drying

Freeze-drying is a manufacturing process where raw food is frozen, then placed in a vacuum chamber where the ice transitions directly from solid to vapor (sublimation) without melting. The result is shelf-stable food that retains more nutrients than any other commercial dog food format because the food never gets hot during processing. Freeze-dried dog food is significantly more expensive than kibble (typically 5 to 10 times the per-day cost) and is most often used as a topper rather than as the only food. Freeze-dried treats and freeze-dried raw meal are both common formats.