When you last visited your local pet store, youmay have noticed the variety of pet foods that linethe "home prepared" section. Within this grouping, freeze-dried and dehydrated are two of themost prominent categories. Too often they are mistaken as the same; however, there are key differences that set them apart.
In essence both processes extract moisture from the original foods, but when it comes to nutrition, texture, and rehydration, one clearly bests the other.
The Processes
Dehydration:
The history of foodpreservationby dehydration extends thousands of years, and can be dated back to ancient civilizations such as the Middle East circa 12,000 B.C. In earlier days, fruits, vegetables, and meats were dried using methods such as burying it in hot sand, using smoke and warmth of a fire, or air-drying at fullsun.[1]All these methods shared one thing in common with modern day dehydration – the use of heat.
Modern day dehydration is achieved by the circulation of hot and dry air across the food to remove the water. The moisture in the air is then removed to further dry the food.
Freeze-Drying:
The freeze-drying process has an origin that can be traced back to 15th century Incan civilizations. Crops were stored at the high altitudes of Machu Picchu, where the cold temperatures froze the food and the water vaporized due to the low air pressure. Modern day freeze-drying is still relatively new as it was developed during WWII.[2]
The process requiresfood to be placed inside a vacuum chamber that lowers the temperature until it is belowfreezing and then moisture is drawn out by slowly raising the temperature. The water originally found in the food moves to a gaseous state from a solid to void the food of most moisture.
Moisture Content:
Dehydration removes approximately 90-95 percent of moisture, while freeze-drying removes about 98-99 percent.[3]
Rehydration:
Freeze-dried pet food will rehydrate within 2-3 minutes whiledehydrated pet food can often take 5-10 minutes or need to be leftsoaking for a few hours depending on the size of the food chunks.
Texture, Flavor, and Aroma:
When food is freeze-dried, the process is gentle and the enzymes are locked in without disrupting the texture, taste, or smell of the ingredient. This particular process greatly reduces the weight of the product and makes it convenient for storing and travel.
The look and feel of a freeze-dried product to a dehydrated is noticeable to the naked eye. Dehydrated foods tend to be a little darker, denser, and can sometimes appear leathery. In order to create a faster rehydration time for dehydrated food, they are often powdered or made granular, whereas freeze-dried foods can be kept in chunkier states.
Another key difference is that dehydration can break down vital vitamins and minerals due to the processes being a little more invasive.[2]The freeze-drying process will keep all the valuable nutrients intact ready to be rehydrated when needed.
Choosing adog foodalternative to kibble for your pup's diet can be daunting with all the choices available on the market. Knowing key differences between the many choices will help you make an informed decision. Local pet stores have knowledgeable employees that candirectyou through the seathat is pet food!
[1] Summer, Brian A. “Historical Origins of Food Preservation.” National Center for Home Food Preservation | NCHFP Publications, May 2002, nchfp.uga.edu/publications/nchfp/factsheets/food_pres_hist.html.
[2] Lexi at Ready Store. “Freeze-Dried Food vs Dehydrated.” The Ready Store, 9 June 2015, www.thereadystore.com/food-storage/8376/dehydrated-vs-freeze-dried-food/.
[3] Emergency Essentials. “5 Differences Between Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Food.” Emergency Essentials Blog, 2 Aug. 2016, beprepared.com/blog/20659/5-differences-dehydrated-freeze-dried-food/.
FAQs
Dehydration removes approximately 90-95 percent of moisture, while freeze-drying removes about 98-99 percent. Rehydration: Freeze-dried pet food will rehydrate within 2-3 minutes while dehydrated pet food can often take 5-10 minutes or need to be left soaking for a few hours depending on the size of the food chunks.
Is dehydrated dog food better than freeze-dried? ›
Preserving Meat By Removing Moisture
However, as explained above, freeze-dried food has one extra step in production that aims at minimizing the impact on protein molecules in the food ingredients. If you have a choice between dehydrated food and freeze-dried food, the more nutritious option is freeze dried!
Which is better dehydrated or freeze-dried? ›
Freeze-dried food maintains most of its nutrients throughout the process, and once rehydrated, is very similar in nutritional value to its fresh counterpart. In contrast to dehydrated food where only around 60-75% of the original nutrients are retained. In freeze-dried food about 97% of the nutrients are retained.
Is it better to freeze dry or dehydrate dog treats? ›
Winner: Freeze Dried Dog Treats
Due to the flash freezing process, more nutrients are locked in making freeze dried dog treats the more nutritious treat option. It is thought that dehydrated treats do lose some of its nutritional value during the slow heating process.
Is freeze-dried dog food worth it? ›
Freeze-dried raw dog food is a great option for busy pet parents who want to give their pups the best nutrition possible. Not only does it have a long shelf life, but it is also easy to prepare and full of all the nutrients your pup needs!
What does Oprah Winfrey feed her dogs? ›
Based on Dr. Marty's advice, Oprah says she now feeds her dogs a mixed diet of chicken, beef, lamb, brown rice, potatoes and carrots. Dr. Marty says most people feed their dogs diets that go against their animal nature.
Is freeze-dried dog food harder to digest? ›
Once it's time to feed, the food can be easily rehydrated with water, restoring it to a state that's similar to its original form, both in texture and nutritional value. This rehydration process makes it more palatable and easier to digest for dogs, compared to dry kibble.
What are the disadvantages of freeze-dried food? ›
Disadvantages:
- Water required for reconstitution (except for simple snacks)
- Slow process — average cycle is 24+ hours.
- Some dislike the dry, styrofoam texture.
- Not all foods can be freeze dried.
- Airtight containers are required for long-term storage.
- No space savings — the food's cellular structure is mostly retained.
Dehydrated foods have a higher calorie content by weight and can be high in sodium and sugars, depending on the food. In excess, these nutrients can cause weight gain and increase your risk of obesity, heart problems, and diabetes.
How long does freeze-dried dog food last? ›
Similar to air-dried pet food, freeze-dried raw dog food and cat food is shelf stable for up to a year. However, once rehydrated, it must be stored in the fridge, just as you would store raw food.
Storage mites thrive in environments where there is moisture or increased humidity, but are most frequently found in dry food items such as flour, grains, dried fruits, cereal, and dry dog and cat foods. Most contamination of dry pet food by storage mites occurs once the bags have been opened.
How do I rehydrate freeze-dried dog food? ›
Add approximately 1/4 cup of water for every 15 pieces fed. To speed up rehydration, crumble the food into smaller pieces, add water, and mix.
Does freeze-dried last longer than dehydrated? ›
The main difference between freeze drying and dehydrating is the shelf life of the finished product and the consistency of the finished product. Freeze dried products can have a shelf life of up to 20-25 years, whereas the shelf life of dehydrated foods is more around the 5-15 year mark.
Do vets recommend freeze-dried? ›
A: No, the opposite is true. Microbiologists and veterinary nutritionists tell us that freeze-drying is one of the best ways to preserve bacteria. Because the technique helps bacteria remain viable and healthy for decades, freeze-dried raw food is just as risky as unprocessed raw food.
Does freeze-dried dog food still have bacteria? ›
Freeze-drying leaves the food nearly unchanged compared with raw frozen diets, and kills a percentage of bacteria (4).
What is the best dog food for longevity? ›
Green leafy vegetables or high-quality freeze-dried food are great examples of dog food that makes dogs live longer. Here, the nutrients have not been destroyed in the cooking process.
Is dehydrated dog food healthy? ›
It's Safe for Dogs
Since dehydrated food undergoes a low-heat cooking process, any harmful bacteria that may be present in the ingredients are killed. This makes dehydrated dog food a safe and healthy alternative to traditional raw diets.
Is dehydrated dog food good for them? ›
No matter your dog's shape, size, breed, or age, dehydrated dog food can be a very healthy option. Most dogs, especially those who have been fed highly processed diets their whole life, will see vast improvements in their coat and skin, overall energy levels, and health when switching to dehydrated food.
Does freeze-dried dog food lose nutrients? ›
Freeze-dried dog food retains more nutrients and enzymes compared to its kibble counterparts, but may undergo more processing and contain additives or preservatives to enhance shelf life.
Is dehydrated dog food safer than raw? ›
Raw pet food poses similar risks for pathogenic bacteria as do raw meat and eggs for humans (2,15). Freezing, freeze-drying, or dehydration results in a reduction in bacterial counts but viable pathogenic bacteria survive (2–5,15).
