Best Freeze-Dried Dog Foods: Reviews & Top Picks

Let’s check some of the best freeze-dried dog foods available on the market today.

Not only that we have selected the best of the best, but we will also present to you why each food is great for your dog.

Before we jump to our top picks, let’s master the basics of understanding freeze-dried dog food.

What Is Freeze-Dried Dog Food?

When we are talking about the freeze-dried dog food we are actually talking about food that went through a specific process.

This means that dog food went through a process that uses vacuum pressure to remove the moisture from raw frozen food.

Once this is done, a dry and crunchy product is made while keeping most of its original size and shape.

Freeze drying is a cold-temperature method that helps create super-healthy dog food.

This way dog food remains naturally preserved without hard chemicals, with mostly unchanged nutrients.

Read on to check the picks and discover the difference between freeze-dried dog food and dehydrated dog food.

How we chose

Because choosing the right food for your dog can be confusing and overwhelming, we reviewed all dog foods.

Every product on our list has been vetted to ensure that it aligns with Barking Royalty’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each product in this article:

• adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements
• is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs)
• is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
• is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust

Additional factors we considered included:

• Ingredients. We looked for supplements that are free of unnecessary ingredients such as fillers and artificial
• sweeteners and colors.
• AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile. We checked if the food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO.
• Price. We included products to suit a range of budgets.

Now, check the food that:

• Contains above-average protein
• Has no generic meats
• Contains no high-risk preservatives

Below, you will find Barking Royalty’s best freeze-dried dog foods and answers to some of the most common questions related to freeze-dried dog food.

Best Overall

1. Primal Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Beef hearts, beef livers, ground beef bones, organic carrots, organic squash

• Price: $$
• Energy: 144 kcal/oz
• AAFCO Profile: All Life Stages
• Grain-free: Yes

Beef hearts are labeled as the first ingredient in this formula, followed by beef livers, ground beef bones, organic carrots, and organic squash.

Did you know that the heart is both a muscle and an organ?

This is why when dogs are fed with food that contains heart they are actually getting proteins and vitamins at the same time.

In a similar manner, beef liver is naturally rich in iron, vitamins A, B, and D, while offering fatty acids at the same time.

Ground beef bones may not be so common ingredient in dog food, but it offers multiple fatty acids that are beneficial for the dog’s coat and skin.

Not only that this ingredient should make a dog’s coat shinier, but it also helps strengthen the dog’s immune system.

Real fruit and vegetable are added into this formula to provide not only a better taste but also to help with digestion.

This is why this formula contains organic broccoli, organic pumpkin seeds, and organic blueberries making digestion easier and the intestinal tract stronger.

Organic quinoa is included to support healthy teeth, nails, and strong bones.

Overall, this freeze-dried formula is made with antibiotic, hormone, and steroid-free ingredients.

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Best Budget

2. Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: USDA chicken, potatoes, flax, carrots, celery

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3867 kcal/kg, 438 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: All Life Stages
• Grain-free: Yes

The first ingredient in this formula is chicken for better taste and nutrition, followed by potatoes, flax, carrots, and celery.

The top five ingredients are carefully selected and mixed to provide nutrients that dogs will thrive on.

Premium-quality fruit and vegetable, such as apples and blueberries are added to this formula.

As a formula packed with real fruit and vegetable, Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Chicken formula is best suited for dogs with food allergies or sensitive stomachs.

This formula is rich in natural omega-fatty acids and helps dogs maintain healthy skin, coats, and joints.

As a grain-free and freeze-dried recipe, this formula is always made in small batches, to ensure not only quality but also consistency. This is an all-natural formula with no by-products or preservatives.

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Best Grain-Free

3. Bixbi Rawbble Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Beef, beef liver, beef kidney, beef bone, pumpkin

• Price: $$
• Energy: 4,700kcal/kg, 213 kcal/cup/cup
• AAFCO Profile: All Life Stages
• Grain-free: Yes

Beef is often used in high-quality dog foods to provide enough protein and help dogs build muscles.

As an ingredient that is rich in many vitamins and minerals including iron, zinc, and selenium this is the first ingredient in this formula, followed by beef liver, beef kidney, beef bone, and pumpkin.

The first five ingredients are mixed to deliver not only a fair amount of protein but also enough fiber.

For dogs to thrive, they need food that comes with a certain amount of fiber to support dog’s digestive health.

Salmon oil is included in this formula to provide fatty acids that will make the dog’s skin healthy, and coat strong and shiny.

Moreover, salmon oil is specifically rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, keeping the blood pressure levels in balance.

Not only that high-quality salmon oil affects positively dogs overall health, but it also can affect, in a positive manner, cardiovascular health.

This formula is carefully crafted to be safe first, as the beef used in this formula is raised without any antibiotics or added hormones.

Sourced and made in the USA, BIXBI Rawbble delivers a formula that does not contain any sort of meal by-products, soy, or corn.

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4. Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef kidneys, ground beef bone

• Price: $$
• Energy: 4,329 kcal/kg, 195 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: All Life Stages
• Grain-free: Yes

Beef meat is highly appreciated when it comes to creating dog food of high quality.

Beef meat is not only a great protein source, but it also offers great support to muscle.

In fact, when mixed the right way, beef helps dogs build muscle. That being said, it doesn’t come as a big surprise that NULO decided to include beef as the first ingredient in this formula.

Next to protein, beef provides dogs with vitamins and minerals that make the dog’s coat healthy and shiny.

Beef is followed by other high-quality ingredients beef heart, beef liver, beef kidneys, and ground beef bone.

For a richer taste, this formula contains salmon oil, making digestion smoother.

Real fruit and vegetable are added to provide vitamins, while sunflower oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, keeping dogs’ skin healthy and regulating hair growth.

Since sunflower oil contains vitamin A it prevents dry skin by promoting new skin cell growth.

Sweet potato present in this formula helps dogs keep their energy levels in balance, while spinach is packed with iron, antioxidants, and roughage stimulating the digestive tract.

This nutrient-dense raw formula delivers a high-protein and fat-balanced diet.

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5. Bravo! Homestyle Complete Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Turkey, turkey liver, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, turkey hearts

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3,730 kcal/kg, 106 kcal/oz, 187 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: All Life Stages
• Grain-free: Yes

Turkey is the first ingredient in this formula to provide protein and help dogs build muscle.

As meat that is rich in protein, turkey is just like chicken considered to be lean meat making it a highly digestible protein source for all dogs.

In this formula, turkey is followed by turkey liver, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and turkey hearts.

Next to a strong protein source, this formula contains real fruit and vegetable.

Carefully designed to provide complete and balanced nutrition for dogs of all ages and breeds, this formula thrives to deliver the very best to dogs.

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6. Vital Essentials Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Turkey, turkey heart, turkey liver, herring oil, mixed tocopherols

• Price: $$
• Energy: 4,448 kcal/kg, 70 kcal/patty
• AAFCO Profile: All Life Stages
• Grain-free: Yes

The first ingredient in this formula is turkey, followed by turkey heart, turkey liver, herring oil, and mixed tocopherols.

Turkey is not only a great protein source but also helps dogs build muscle.

When it comes to the most desirable meat for dogs, turkey is considered to be the first choice.

If a dog is allergic to chicken or has a hard time digesting chicken meat, this formula can be a great alternative.

This turkey-based dog food is grain-free, gluten-free, and free of added fillers, preservatives, and rendered by-products.

Thanks to its ingredients, this raw-like diet is suitable for any breed and all life stages.

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7. Sojos Complete Recipe Adult Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Turkey, sweet potatoes, whole egg, broccoli, apples

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3,604 kcal/kg, 342 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

Meat that is like turkey and chicken is meat that comes with protein and supports healthy digestion.

As such, turkey can help dogs build muscle. This is why the first ingredient in this formula is turkey, followed by sweet potatoes, whole eggs, broccoli, and apples.

The top five ingredients are carefully blended to provide not only enough protein but also vitamins and fiber.

Sweet potato in this formula is added to promote healthy skin, coat, and eyes while supporting nerves and muscles at the same time.

Sweet potatoes are also great energy of sources for dogs of all ages and sizes.

Broccoli is filled with many healthy vitamins, including vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium.

Celery found in this formula is beneficial as it is low in fat and cholesterol, making it a great source of fiber, and vitamins A, C, and K.

This easy-prep formula is free of preservatives and fillers, making raw eating easy and safe.

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Freeze-Dried vs Dehydrated Dog Food – What’s the Difference?

It is common for many to confuse freeze-dried and dehydrated food, not knowing the difference.

Although they may sound identical, or very similar, these terms refer to two different methods:

• Dehydrated dog food is made by circulating warm dry air over the surface of a food. In this process, the temperature is high to just the right degree that it can evaporate the moisture, without cooking the food.
• Freeze-dried dog food is made at cold temperatures removing between 98 to 99 percent of the moisture.

When compared, dehydration removes less, to a maximum of 90 percent, making freeze-dried dog food stronger at keeping the natural vitamins and minerals found in the original food.

Good to know: freeze-dried dog food has a longer shelf life compared to dehydrated dog food.

Best freeze-dried brands offer food that delivers and contains:

• Above-average protein
• No high-risk preservatives, and
• Contains meat that is not generic

Below, you will find the finest food for your dog and world-class freeze-dried brands.

You will also get answers to commonly asked about freeze-dried dog food and choose the best freeze-dried dog food in no time.

Now, that you know what are the best brands when it comes to freeze-dried food, let’s learn more about freeze-dried food and your dog may benefit from it when fed regularly.

What Is Freeze-dried Dog Food?

To sum up: freeze-dried dog food is a mix of raw ingredients that have been quickly frozen and dehydrated.

This method keeps the majority of minerals, vitamins, and protein – all of the vital essentials.

Is Freeze-Dried Dog Food Expensive?

It is fair to say that freeze-dried dog food is expensive, at least when compared with traditional kibble.

If you choose organic freeze-dried dog food you can expect to pay even more.

It is common for freeze-dried food to have limited ingredients that are commonly gluten and grain-free.

How Long Can Freeze-dried Food Remain In The Bowl?

When fed dry, this food can remain in the bowl for up to 12 hours before going bad.

If the food has been “rehydrated”, you can expect it to stay in the bowl for up to 2 hours.

Is Freeze-dried Food Healthy For Dogs?

Simply said, yes.

Freeze-dried dog food is healthy for dogs of any size and age.

However, it is important to note that high-protein dog food usually has high-fat content which may not be best suited for certain dogs.

This is why there is a lot to consider when choosing raw freeze-dried dog food.

If you have any concerns about choosing the best freeze-dried dog food make sure that you talk with your veterinarian.

What Are the Benefits Of Freeze-dried Food For Dogs?

As mentioned above, freeze-dried dog food is healthy. But… Do you know the benefits of this type of food?

This type of food that comes with high-quality ingredients comes with certain benefits that every dog will experience when fed in the long run.

Here are some benefits of serving your dog freeze-dried food:

• Nutrient Density. Freeze-dried dog food is usually minimally processed making it high in nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and protein. As such, this food should provide a real health boost compared to traditional kibble.
• High-quality ingredients. Freeze-dried dog food is usually made with high-quality ingredients. What are high-quality ingredients? High-quality ingredients are labeled as ‘high-quality’ according to their nutritional value. If they are also grain and gluten-free they are considered to be packed with superfoods.
• Palatability. When dog food is labeled as healthy, it means that it does offer much of artificial additives and is instead full of delicious ingredients.

Great ingredients also make dog food better texture, making it easier to chew and consume.

Is your dog a picky eater? If yes, you should try freeze-dried recipes, as this type of food is great for picky eaters.

Can Dogs Get Sick From Freeze-Dried Food?

Unfortunately, yes. Freeze-dried dog food can make dogs sick, but only due to specific reasons.

Some of the most common reasons why freeze-dried food tends to get bad are listed below:

• Fast food change. If your dog is used to a certain type of food, brand, or food texture, it may lead to stomach disturbances if you change the dog’s food too fast.

  This is something that may happen when you switch your dog to freeze-dried dog food from any other regular food type.

• Inappropriate storage and serving. This is something that may affect every food type.

  If you miss properly storing or preparing dog food, it may go bad and lead to some form of sickness in your dog.

  This is something that you can expect to witness when switching your dog to freeze-dried food.

  What can go wrong? In most cases, high nutrient density freeze-dried food can cause stomach upset in dogs used to eating regular kibble. To avoid any sort of these disturbances, you should switch your dog to freeze-dried food gradually.

The best way to keep your dog healthy and happy is to be mindful of a dog’s nutrition.

Not only that you should know how much your dog should eat and when, but you should also know how to store food properly.

Always store food as suggested on the bag label.

The best way for a dog to get enough nutrients from certain food is to serve food as suggested, which leads us to the next common question.

Can I Warm Up Freeze-dried Food Before It’s Served?

No. Freeze-dried dog food should never be warmed, anyhow cooked, or heated.

With this food, it is crucial to serve it in its natural state. This is the only way to maintain its nutritional value.

If you choose to heat, warm or anyhow cook, freeze-dried dog food you are most likely to negate the benefits of feeding a freeze-dried raw diet.

Is Freeze-dried Dog Food Safer Than Raw Dog Food?

If you are thinking about switching your dog to a raw food diet, or freeze-dried dog food you should first know the difference.

These two food types are more similar than they are different.

Freeze-dried dog food is still considered raw, which is why you should be careful when it comes to not contaminating your kitchen.

Some freeze-dried dog foods are prepared by using a special germ control process known as High-Pressure Processing (HPP).

For maximum results, before you switch your dog to any new food diet, such as freeze-dried food or a raw diet, make sure that you talk with your veterinarian first.

To Sum Up

Before you decide on getting the food for your dog make sure that you do your research first.

Know what you’re buying so you can truly serve your dog what he needs to thrive.

Any food type will come with certain benefits, but if you want the best of the best you will need to invest more time in research.

This means that you should know how to reach pet food labels, how much your dog should eat and when, and what kind of food is the best fit for your Fido.

It helps to understand that high-quality ingredients are labeled as high-quality for a reason and that you should aim to serve food that is healthy and beneficial in different ways.