Unlocking the Differences: Freeze-Dried vs. Dehydrated Raw Dog Food: Which is the better option for your pet

You may have noticed two types of raw pet food at your local pet store – freeze-dried raw dog food or dehydrated dog food. These two types are often considered the same, but there are key differences that set them apart.

Both options remove moisture from the food (to preserve shelf life), but regarding nutritional value, texture, and serving, one comes out on top, freeze-dried.

What’s the Difference Between Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Dog Food?

Although both can start with a healthy source of raw food for your dog, there are several differences between dehydrated and freeze-dried dog food. Everything from how the food is processed to the feeding routine to the resulting nutrition for your pet varies between freeze-dried and dehydrated pet food.

Dehydrated raw dog food goes through a heated drying process to remove the moisture from the food. This process of heated dehydration can sacrifice some of the nutritional value of dog food.

Freeze-dried pet food is frozen, and vacuum pressure is applied to remove ice and moisture at a low temperature (our raw, freeze-dried food starts frozen and goes through a 48-hour freeze-drying process to maintain nutritional integrity).

In addition to a potential loss in nutritional value, the dehydrating process creates a hard-cooked texture that often requires rehydration before serving your dog. Rehydrating dehydrated dog food becomes inconvenient and time-consuming. Freeze-dried dog food can also be rehydrated—if that’s what your pup prefers—and the process is quicker and completely optional thanks to its lighter and easily digestible consistency.

4 Main differences between freeze-dried and dehydrated dog food:

Process

Freeze-Dried: Our custom freeze-drying process removes moisture under pressure without cooking the ingredients, keeping the nutritional integrity intact.

Dehydrated: Processed quickly under high-velocity heat, which sacrifices the nutritional value.

Nutrition

Freeze-Dried: Retains most of the vitamins and minerals in fresh, raw pet food.

Dehydrated: Many vitamins are lost in processing, with only 40-50% of nutrients remaining in the food.

Texture & Consistency

Freeze-Dried: Food and treats are lightweight and easy for pets of all ages to chew and digest, thanks to the freeze-drying process that removes moisture without heat or cooking. The lightweight treats are great for training, agility, and outdoor activities. Plus, freeze-dried raw pet food is a convenient meal to take on the road!

Dehydrated: Food and treats have a hard, cooked texture and may be more difficult for young or mature pets with sensitive teeth to chew. Most dehydrated foods require rehydration with water, making it more difficult and less convenient for feeding on the go.

Feeding

Freeze-Dried: Food can be conveniently served “as is” or rehydrated to meet your pet’s preference. It only takes two to three minutes to rehydrate our freeze-dried dinner patties.

Dehydrated: Food must be rehydrated (five to ten minutes), requiring additional time to prepare and becoming inconvenient for traveling.

When people think of raw dog food, they sometimes think of a homemade raw diet or freshly purchased raw protein. These forms of raw food are risky, but it isn’t the only way to offer your pup the benefits of a raw diet. Freeze-dried and frozen dog food both start raw and leave nutrients in their uncooked, raw state throughout the process. You can’t necessarily say the same about dehydrated dog food because the heated drying process is a form of cooking that removes nutrients and the ability to be defined as raw.

Ultimately, freeze-dried dog food provides an affordable, safe, and nutritious raw diet. At first glance, dehydrated dog food may seem similar, but it pales in comparison.

For more information on Vital Essentials and our full product line, follow us on TikTok and Instagram. And if you have any questions, be sure to check out our FAQ page for answers. Together, we can ensure your pet gets the proper nutrition they deserve.