What Is Freeze-Dried Food for Dogs?
We worked with expert formulators and board certified vet nutritionists to create a formula that ticked all those boxes – and was complete and balanced for dogs at all life stages. On its own, our dry food formula provides dogs with all the nutrients they need in flavors they love. But we wanted to do something a bit extra…
Freeze-Dried Nugs
"Freeze-dried foods can be an excellent addition to your dog's diet, offering different protein sources and nutrients."
To take our food for dogs to the next level, we added freeze-dried nuggets – a.k.a. nugs – to our food for dogs. The recipe for each nug is limited to two ingredients: chicken or beef and sweet potatoes. That’s it.
Vets – including our Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Kwane – are big fans of incorporating freeze-dried food into your dog’s diet. According to Dr. Judy Morgan, a holistic veterinarian, "Freeze-dried foods can be an excellent addition to your dog's diet, offering different protein sources and nutrients."
But what is freeze-drying – and why are so many vets raving about it?
The Basics: What Is Freeze-Dried Food for Dogs?
Freeze-dried food for dogs is food that has been preserved by freezing it at extremely low temperatures – and then slowly removing the moisture through a process called sublimation. The result is a lightweight, shelf-stable product that retains the original nutrients and the flavor of the fresh ingredients.
The Benefits: Nutritious, Flavorful, and Safe
"The freeze-drying process retains essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that are vital for your dog's health."
Freeze-drying locks in the benefits of fresh food without the use of artificial preservatives. According to Dr. Karen Becker, a well-known veterinarian and pet nutrition expert, "The freeze-drying process retains essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that are vital for your dog's health."
The process preserves the natural flavors and aromas of the ingredients, making it more enticing for picky eaters. As pet nutritionist Rodney Habib puts it, "Dogs are natural carnivores, and freeze-dried food often smells and tastes closer to what they would eat in the wild. It's like giving your dog a gourmet meal every day."
One concern with raw diets is the potential for bacterial contamination. Freeze-drying reduces this risk significantly. The process effectively kills harmful bacteria without the need for high-heat cooking, which can degrade the nutritional quality of the food. At Kismet, we keep cooking temps low for our dry food to make it as nutritious as possible – it’s gently baked at ~200 F. Dr. Jean Dodds, a leading veterinarian in the field of canine health, explains, "Freeze-dried dog food offers a safer alternative to raw feeding while still providing many of the same benefits."
How Is Freeze-Dried Food for Dogs Made?
Here’s a quick rundown of the freeze-drying process:
Preparation: Fresh, high-quality ingredients (we use beef or chicken and sweet potato) are prepared and mixed into a wet dough.
Freezing: The dough is frozen at extremely low temperatures, usually around -40°F. This ensures that the structure and nutrients of the food are preserved.
Vacuum Application: The frozen food is placed in a vacuum chamber. The low pressure causes the ice to sublimate, turning it directly from solid to gas without passing through the liquid phase. This removes the moisture from the food.
The result is a product that looks a bit like astronaut food. Depending on how it's served, you can add water to rehydrate freeze-dried food, but that’s really a personal choice. Freeze-dried foods are RTG – no thawing, defrosting, mixing, rehydrating, or heating needed.
Kismet x Freeze-Dried Food for Dogs
At Kismet, we opted for a dry food formula, a.k.a. kibble, instead of raw or fresh food; after extensive research, we determined that kibble – when done well with great ingredients – yields the safest, most effective, and most consistent results for the longest term. Raw and fresh food diets are not necessarily any better nutritionally, and they carry a higher risk – and a much higher price tag.
But we didn’t stop there. Adding freeze-dried nugs to our dry food formula was an easy way to keep our food safe, convenient, and affordable – while providing an extra pop of flavor and even more protein. The nugs are a party bonus beloved by pups for their concentrated taste, enticing aroma, and satisfying texture.
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