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10 Best Freeze Dried Dog Food (Review)

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Freeze dried dog food in a bowlFreeze dried dog dishes are premium-grade meals that are gaining much popularity due to their high-quality natural ingredients, fantastic flavor, and a host of other impressive benefits. Manufacturing these mutt dishes is called freeze-drying, which, of course, entails the freezing of these nourishments, depressurization, and elimination of all water. Ultimately, the final nourishment is dry, compact, lightweight, long-lasting, and, most essentially, still nutritious.

That said, finding the best freeze dried dog food requires thorough research. Understandably, in light of the incredible reception among mutt breeders, many brands have since started manufacturing freeze dried mutt nourishments to meet market demands. As such, there’re many variations of freeze dried mutt nourishments in commercial circulation, which makes it quite challenging for shoppers to pick the most appropriate dishes.

So, to narrow your scope of freeze dried mutt foods, this post reveals the ten best products. Each nourishment is accompanied by a detailed review to provide you with a better idea. Besides that, there’s a comprehensive buyer’s guide to assist you in learning everything about freeze dried mutt delicacies. Let us get started.

Open Farm Freeze Dried Raw Grain Free Dog Food

Our Top Choice:

We highly recommend the Open Farm Freeze Dried Meal. Going through customer reviews, you can discern that customers consider it as the best freeze dried dog food for several distinct reasons. Nonetheless, what many have praised is the nourishment’s easy serving. You only have to pour the proper measure into your mutt’s feeding container, empty an adequate amount of water to the contents, and feed your loyal domesticated companion.

Comparison Table

Features:
Our Rating:
Buy from:
Open Farm Freeze Dried Meal
Open Farm Freeze Dried Meal
  • 85% beef
  • 13.5 ounces
  • Superfood contents like turmeric and coconut oil
  • Zero-grain
  • Unadulterated meat
5
Instinct Freeze Dried Mutt Nourishment
Instinct Freeze Dried Mutt Nourishment
  • Zero-grain
  • Chicken’s primary content
  • 5.5 ounces
  • 20 servings
4.9
Merrick Grain Free Backcountry Freeze Dried
Merrick Grain Free Backcountry Freeze Dried
  • For all mature dog breeds
  • Real beef recipe
  • 12.5 ounces
  • Zero-gluten
4.8
Primal Freeze Dried Mutt Dish
Primal Freeze Dried Mutt Dish
  • Chicken’s the primary component
  • Nugget form
  • 14 ounces
  • Zero grains and gluten
4.7
Northwest Naturals Freeze Dried Raw Mutt DishProduct
Northwest Naturals Freeze Dried Raw Mutt DishProduct
  • Beef’s primary content
  • 12 oz
  • Manufactured in a US-approved establishment
  • Nugget-style
4.6
Steve’s Real Food Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets
Steve’s Real Food Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets
  • Composed of real meat (turkey, cow) and goat milk
  • Enhanced with fruits, greens, and minerals
  • Manufactured for mutts plus cats
  • Available in a 1.25-pound bag
4.7
TruDog: Feed Me: Freeze Dried Raw Superfood
TruDog: Feed Me: Freeze Dried Raw Superfood
  • Beef or turkey is the primary composition
  • Six cup-sizes in a 14oz pack
  • Chewable sized dried bits
  • Can be served wet or dry
4.7
Buckley Liberty Dog Food Topper & Mixer
Buckley Liberty Dog Food Topper & Mixer
  • Sold in ten and twenty oz bags
  • 80% meat
  • Fortified with salmon, flaxseed, and fish oil
  • For use as main feed, treats, or toppings
4.6
Nulo Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food
Nulo Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food
  • Variety of meat, offering beef, domesticated fowl, and salmon
  • Includes probiotics
  • 5- and 13-ounce packs
  • Fortified with different fruits
4.6
Orijen Freeze Dried Adult Original Formula
Orijen Freeze Dried Adult Original Formula
  • 90% protein content
  • 16 oz of food in packaging
  • Consists of ground farm fowl with the bone
  • Comes in medallion shaped patties
4.7

The Best Freeze Dried Mutt Dishes to Acquire

There’re several freeze dried dog treats in commercial circulation, making it quite tricky to select a single brand, especially for a first-time customer. Lucky for you, we’ve narrowed down your choice-list to ten of the best freeze dried mutt dishes available. Check out these in-depth nourishment reviews to learn more.

Our Favorite

Our Top Pick: Open Farm Freeze Dried Meal

Open Farm Freeze Dried Raw Grain Free Dog FoodAfter extensive hours of thorough research, this brand emerged as the best freeze dried raw dog food. Compared to other freeze dried mutt dishes, it ranks on top in all paramount considerations, e.g., contents, processing, serving, and more. With that said, let’s highlight its specifics.

This freeze dried mutt dish comprises of eighty-five percent beef, tissues, and powdered bone. Unlike some other brands in commercial circulation, the meat utilized in manufacturing this freeze dried mutt nourishment is derived from ethically-bred cows. What this means is that the cow is bred without bacterial medications and isn’t fed enhanced superfoods. Instead, for meals, the cow only enjoys the grass. Given this source of meat, this freeze dried mutt dish is a great provider of quality protein to your loyal domesticated companion.

More beneficial components are present in this nourishment as well. There are turmeric and coconut oil, which are known superfoods. Besides, it packs adequate amounts of leafy green and pumpkin, which are excellent sources of paramount supplements.

Pros

  • Straightforward serving
  • Nutrient-rich
  • Excellent source of protein
  • No enhanced meats
  • Ethically-processed

Cons

  • A bit expensive for the amount

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Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Boost Mixers Grain Free Recipe All Natural Dog Food Toppers with Functional IngredientsIf your four-legged companion is a hen lover, then this’s the best freeze dried dog food to acquire. It packs chicken as the primary content, making it an excellent source of protein for your mutt. Besides that, this freeze dried mutt dish has components that encourage a healthy digestive system, such as pumpkin, sweet potatoes, apple cider vinegar, and probiotics.

This nourishment is all-natural and has zero traces of preservatives and colorings. All contents in it are of superior-quality and gathered from within the US borders. Unlike other treats, it is refined sparingly to conserve the nutritive value of each component.

Pros

  • Enhances the health of the digestive tract
  • Great taste
  • Excellent for choosy mutts and pups
  • Natural ingredients

Cons

  • It might cause stomach issues when introduced

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Merrick Grain Free Backcountry Freeze Dried Raw Meal MixerAs a freeze dried dog meal buyer, you would not mind getting a quality product at a bargain. So, why not go for this fantastic meal? After all, it has more to offer than a price cut. Let’s quickly explore it below.

It’s a zero-grain delicacy that boasts of a real beef recipe. Adult mutts of all breeds are certain to enjoy this dish either as solo nourishment or mixer. When serving this to your domesticated animal companion, it’s unnecessary to buy them any supplements because this freeze dried mutt nourishment provides all paramount minerals. It’s quite digestible, thus promoting better absorption of nutrients within the body.

Pros

  • Promotes the development of a healthy coat
  • A dense concentration of nutrients
  • Rich in quality protein
  • Easily digested and absorbed

Cons

  • For mature mutts only

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Primal Freeze Dried Dog Food Chicken FormulaIf you’re going for wholesome, standardized nourishment for your mutt no matter their age, you’ve got to acquire this freeze dried mutt dish. It’s availed in nugget design and has quality contents within it that bring happiness and vitality to your four-legged companion. There’s seventy-eight percent of hen tissues and powdered skeleton and twenty-two percent of greens. Given that the hen is reared naturally, the meat utilized in this nourishment has no traces of bacterial medicines and other human-made enhancements.

All materials utilized in the manufacturing of this product are provided by farmers and ranchers in the US and New Zealand. After that, the nourishment is manufactured as per the special formulation for this dish by Primal.

Pros

  • Suitable for mutts of all growth phases
  • Thoroughly sourced contents
  • Safely processed
  • No antibiotics and steroids

Cons

  • Nuggets can be too large for tiny dogs

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Northwest Naturals Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food NuggetsThis freeze dried mutt nourishment has eighty percent of beef. It’s manufactured in an eco-friendly compliant setting and has no traces of bacterial meds or biological regulators, thanks to using meat from grass-fed cows. You can be sure of its standard because it is manufactured in the USDA/ FDA accredited establishment.

You can avail it to a sickly or recovering mutt as a supplement or add it as a topping to their meal. It has excellent taste.

Pros

  • Nutrient-rich
  • Zero-grain
  • Eco-friendly manufacturing
  • Great for sickly and recovering mutts

Cons

  • Not ideal for tiny mutts

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Steve's Real Food Freeze-Dried Raw NuggetsSteve’s nuggets formula is another worthy entry in the best freeze dried dog food 2020. It’s an excellent source of lean protein. The food is also fortified with goat milk, which adds to the protein variety. Other flavor varieties can also be found, including lamb, pork, chicken, and beef.

The meat is from naturally bred poultry. The greens and fruits, which provide the required vitamins and carbs, are manufactured straight from source where it is grown without pesticides. These precautions are essential to check in any dog meal you buy for your pet, freeze dried or not, as some of these chemicals come with long-term health issues.

Other components in this freeze dried meal, though in smaller quantities, include flaxseed, coconut, sea salts, and cod liver oil. To give to your canine, first soak the portion they’ll eat for a couple of minutes and serve. If you’re a mutt owner who also has a cat, you’ll likely find this product worth it as it can be used as food both pets.

Pros

  • Great protein source
  • Simple preparation
  • Large nugget size
  • Can be used to add nutrients and flavor to other meals

Cons

  • May be quite costly if used alone

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TruDog: Feed Me: Freeze Dried Raw SuperfoodTruDog’s Feed Me is a wholesome diet made from meat, organs, and bones. Two flavors are available, Beef Bonanza and Turkey Gourmet Gobbler. TruDog, the brand that makes this freeze dried product, is a well-known manufacturer of different types of pet treats, foods, supplements, etc.

This freeze dried food is almost wholly protein of about 99% as listed on the packaging. There are zero fillers, like meals and grains added. The compounds found in this TruDog product include raw meat, ground bones, organs (liver, lung, and heart), blood and fat, vitamins, and antioxidants.

This freeze dried brand could be a great choice for picky canines. It may also be wonderful for canine owners whose mutts are sensitive to particular foods, as it has few protein types and doesn’t have grains, gluten, and other compounds, which may lead to allergic flare-ups. It’s definitely the best raw freeze dried dog food if you want something that works as the main diet or as treats.

Pros

  • 99% of real meat compounds
  • No filler or synthetic additives
  • Hypoallergenic and easy to digest
  • Sourced and processed in North America

Cons

  • Small bag

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Buckley Liberty Dog Food Topper & Mixer - 100% USA Made and Sourced Freeze Dried Grain Free Dog FoodBuckley Liberty freeze dried formula may be administered as the only diet, a treat, or topping for other dry meals. You can pour the bits or nuggets straight from the pack or mix a couple of pieces with some water, let it soak, and then serve. Giving your mutt these chunks without wetting it could work well if it is quite picky.

About 80% of this product is sourced from real meat, organs, and crushed bones. The remaining components are salmon, flaxseeds, and greens. Also, this formula is completely grain and meal devoid. That means you won’t find any wheat, corn, etc. You can buy this formula for your dog in either the ten and twenty oz bag. 

Pros

  • High-quality composition
  • Fresh veggies for a balanced diet
  • Comes in convenient bite-sized pieces
  • Less costly than most freeze dried brands

Cons

  • Significant fat percentage

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Nulo Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food for All Ages & Breeds: Natural Grain Free Formula with GanedenBC30 Probiotics for Digestive & Immune HealthNulo freeze dried food for mutts comes in a selection of meat choices, including beef, lamb, farm fowl, or salmon. It’s composed of proteins from meat and bones, amounting to 80% of the food, along with fiber and probiotics. The formulas are fortified with apples, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries or pears going with the type you pick. Nulo, a pet food manufacturer, has a variety of dry and some of the best canned dog food.

You can buy this freeze dried food in a 13-ounce bag, which provides about seven cups, or the smaller 5-ounce pack. While you can serve this dish on its own, you can also use it as a side dish for regular kibble, which helps keep the bag going for longer. These freeze dried chunks are relatively deprived in carbs, which is ideal if your goal is to control your mutt’s weight.

Pros

  • Works as an entire meal or topper
  • Rich in protein and good fat source
  • Limited composition

Cons

  • One pack doesn’t last too long

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Orijen Freeze-Dried Adult Original Formula, 16 ozThe last best freeze dried dog food 2020 on this review is Origen freeze dried mutt formula. It’s composed of poultry meat that is ground with the bone, organs, such as the liver and heart, herring, and eggs. Apart from these proteins, which make up the bulk of the food, you will find other wholesome compounds such as sunflower, squash, pumpkin, carrot, fruits (apricot, apples, different kinds of berries, plums, etc.), and an array of minerals.

Orijen has a host of canine food and treats formulae on Amazon, all of which comprise 85 to 90 percent of protein composition and two-thirds of ingredients being uncooked or fresh. You’ll find this particular brand in a sixteen-ounce packet.

Pros

  • Many of the compounds are fresh or raw
  • All nutrient sources are natural
  • High palatability

Cons

  • The patties aren’t to be eaten from the pack (should be soaked first)

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Freeze Dried Dog Food Pros: Why Do People Love It?

Freeze dried dog meals present tons of advantages to our four-legged companions. Nonetheless, for impressive results, it helps to note that you should aim to acquire nothing but the best freeze dried dog food. That said, here are some excellent reasons why users adore these delicacies.

Superior-Quality Contents

Freeze Dried Food Ingredients by NuloIn comparison to other types of mutt diets, freeze dried delicacies have way more superior-quality compounds. The most common are muscle meat, organs, and powdered bones. At times, these meals also contain freeze dried fruits and greens. Allergens are quite difficult to come across in these dog dishes.

Raw Meal Alternative

Raw mutt meals can be quite challenging to make. Not to forget, working with raw meat poses a significant health risk to people. So, many dog breeders prefer freeze dried meals because they do not have to labor too much to create their own food. Besides, they stay safe from the ailments that come with handling raw meat.

Longevity

All moisture is removed when creating freeze dried food. Consequently, this allows these delicacies to last for long without getting spoilt. After buying them, you can store them over lengthy durations without worrying that they’ll go bad. Due to their longevity, these meals are excellent purchases if you reside in a place where the supply of the same is uncertain.

Mutts Go Crazy Freeze Dried Food

If nothing else, mutts just love this food. Whenever you serve these dishes to your canine companion, it won’t be long before you notice that they are enjoying every bite to the last.

What Are the Cons of Freeze Dried Food?

While this food has some pretty impressive advantages compared to other types, it also has its cons. The most apparent of all is that this freeze dried food is quite pricey, which may make it unaffordable if you have a tight budget. Besides that, other cons are:

  • Small bags;
  • Most brands cannot be served as is.

Dehydrated vs. Freeze Dried Food: Are They Different?

When you’re searching the market for dry dog food, you will likely see dehydrated and freeze dried terms quite often. But what is the distinction? Here are the definitions for each:

Dehydrated Food

Dehydration is the procedure of food subjected to high temp and little humidity over a long period (hours or days) to eliminate moisture composition. It can be done naturally by drying in the sun or using an electric machine. Since the food is heated during the drying process, it loses as much as 50% of its nutritional composition. It takes about ten to twenty minutes to rehydrate dehydrated food.

Freeze Dried Food

Freeze Dried Dog Food by NuloFreeze drying is a technique that removes around 98 percent of water content in food to give it more extended shelf life. The food is flash-frozen to a very low temperature. Then, it is exposed to a vacuum where the frozen water is converted into vapor without liquifying. The taste, aroma, texture, and nutritional benefits in freeze dried foods remain the same as in the original state. You can rehydrate freeze dried food by soaking in hot or cold water for five minutes or so.

Freeze Dried Food and Wholly Raw Food for Dogs

Raw dog food is basically untouched and contains nutrients and enzymes in their natural state. With raw food, the shelf life is very short, and, therefore, it also requires much more careful storage and should be eaten fresh or within a few days.

Freeze dried food is similar to raw food nutrition-wise except for the water content. It can be stored for very long without spoiling. Freeze dried food also less messy than raw food and may be carried when traveling, backpacking, etc.

What Is Categorized as Freeze Dried Mutt Food?

Any dry dog food that has undergone a freeze-drying process is categorized as freeze dried. Such information is usually provided by the manufacturer in the product description and the packaging.

Is it Okay to Put My Pup Freeze Dried Food Diet?

Of course. The freeze-drying technique stops bacteria decay of food hence keeping it safe for longer. Remember to rehydrate what your dog can finish at a time. The best freeze dried dog food for mutts reviewed here are safe as they are made from natural items and don’t contain artificial additives.

How Can You Tell That Your Dog Is Healthy?

Many things can show that your dog’s health is good. Some of these include cleaner and shinier coat, lean body weight, fresh breath, healthy bowel movement, clean ears, and alertness. The opposites of these things indicate health issues.

Final Words

These brands are definitely the best freeze dried dog food 2020. Each mention has its own unique advantages and limitation. Our top freeze dried selection is Open Farm freeze dried raw dog food. It’s available in several flavors, has a sufficient protein composition, and is enhanced with superfoods.

You can also explore other freeze dried brands reviewed here and make the ideal pick for your animal. If you’ve got experience with these or other freeze dried dog brands, we’d like to hear it. Share your thoughts and suggestions!

Images credits: Amazon.com & photo stocks

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Author

Susan Cropper

As a veterinarian practicing for 48 years, Dr. Cropper brings her priceless experience to all our readers. She is currently taking care of her two rescues, Ollie the Greyhound and Bryce the Pitbull mix, that is why she always sees things as a veterinarian and a pet owner simultaneously.

View all posts by Susan Cropper | DogsRecommend.com