The Gentle Power of Sublimation: How We Feed Raw Makes Freeze-Dried Raw Food

In the ever-evolving landscape of pet nutrition, dog owners are increasingly seeking convenient yet health-conscious feeding options. Freeze-dried raw dog food has emerged as a compelling choice, offering the nutritional benefits of a raw diet in a shelf-stable format. But how exactly is this innovative food created?

Understanding the process behind how freeze dried raw dog food is made can illuminate its unique advantages over traditional kibble. At We Feed Raw, we utilize a gentle yet powerful method to transform high-quality raw ingredients into a convenient and nutrient-dense meal for your dog.

This guide will take you behind the scenes, detailing the step-by-step process we use and highlighting why it's a superior way to nourish your furry companion, especially when you compare freeze-dried raw vs. kibble.

What Is Freeze-Drying? The Science Behind the Convenience

Freeze-drying is a sophisticated dehydration process that preserves food by removing moisture while keeping its essential nutrients intact. Unlike traditional drying methods that use heat, freeze-drying employs a unique scientific principle called sublimation.

Think about how dry ice turns into fog rather than melting into a puddle. That's sublimation in action: the direct transition of a substance from a solid state (ice) to a gaseous state (water vapor), bypassing the liquid phase.

The Sublimation Process Explained

In the context of making freeze-dried raw dog food, this process begins with freezing the raw ingredients. Once frozen solid, the food is placed in a vacuum chamber where the air pressure is significantly reduced. Under this low-pressure environment, the frozen water within the food sublimates. This means the ice crystals transform directly into water vapor, which is then drawn out of the chamber.

The beauty of sublimation is that it removes moisture without the high temperatures that can degrade heat-sensitive vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and proteins. This gentle approach is key to preserving the nutritional integrity of the raw ingredients, offering a convenient, shelf-stable product that retains much of the goodness of fresh, raw food.

It's the science of preservation working to bring you the best of both worlds: raw nutrition and effortless convenience.

The We Feed Raw Freeze-Drying Process: Step-by-Step

At We Feed Raw, we take great care in crafting our freeze-dried raw food to ensure it delivers both exceptional nutrition and unparalleled convenience. Our process involves several key steps, all designed to preserve the goodness of raw ingredients without the need for harsh processing or artificial additives.

Step 1: Sourcing High-Quality Ingredients

We believe that great food starts with great ingredients. That's why our freeze-dried raw recipes feature an impressive 85% meat and organs, providing a rich source of protein and essential nutrients. We are committed to using premium proteins like cage-free chicken and grass-fed beef in our recipes.

The remaining 15% of our formula consists of carefully selected phytonutrients, Omega-3s, essential vitamins, and trace minerals derived from non-GMO fruits and vegetables. You can rest assured that our freeze-dried food contains absolutely no grains, corn, soy, legumes, wheat, or artificial preservatives, just pure, wholesome nutrition.

Step 2: Freezing the Raw Food

Once our high-quality ingredients are sourced, the next crucial step is rapid freezing. This quick freezing process is essential for locking in the natural freshness and preserving the delicate nutrients within the raw meat, organs, and produce.

By freezing the food quickly, we minimize the formation of large ice crystals that could potentially damage the cellular structure and compromise the quality of the final product.

Step 3: The Vacuum Chamber and Sublimation

The frozen raw food is then transferred to a specialized vacuum chamber. Here, the magic of sublimation takes place. The chamber's pressure is significantly reduced, creating an environment where the frozen water within the food can transition directly from a solid (ice) to a gas (water vapor) without ever becoming a liquid.

This carefully controlled process ensures that moisture is removed effectively and efficiently while safeguarding the heat-sensitive nutrients.

Step 4: Moisture Removal

Over a specific period, nearly all the moisture is extracted from the frozen food through sublimation. This thorough dehydration process is what gives freeze-dried raw its remarkable shelf stability.

With minimal residual moisture, the food is no longer susceptible to microbial growth, allowing it to be safely stored at room temperature for extended periods without the need for artificial preservatives.

Step 5: High-Pressure Processing (HPP) for Safety

At We Feed Raw, your dog's safety is our top priority. After the freeze-drying process is complete, we implement high-pressure processing (HPP).

This is an all-natural, cold-water technology that uses intense pressure to inactivate any potential harmful pathogens that may be present in raw food. HPP ensures the safety of our freeze-dried raw without the use of heat, further preserving its nutritional integrity.

Step 6: Quality Control and Packaging

The final steps involve rigorous quality control checks to ensure that our freeze-dried raw food meets our high standards for safety and nutritional content. Once approved, the food is carefully packaged in airtight bags to maintain its freshness, prevent moisture absorption, and ensure a long shelf life until it reaches your dog's bowl.

This meticulous process from sourcing to packaging guarantees that you're providing your dog with a convenient and truly nutritious raw food option.

Why This Process Matters: The Benefits of Freeze-Drying for Raw Nutrition

The meticulous freeze-drying process that We Feed Raw employs is not just about convenience; it's fundamentally about preserving the superior nutritional value of a raw diet for your dog. This gentle method offers several key advantages that contribute to your dog's health and well-being.

Nutrient Preservation: Raw Power, Gently Kept

The most significant benefit of freeze-drying is its ability to retain the full spectrum of nutrients present in raw food. Unlike the high heat used in kibble production, which can degrade heat-sensitive vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and proteins, freeze-drying removes only water. 

This means your dog receives a food that is rich in the essential building blocks for optimal health, just as nature intended.

Convenience and Shelf Stability: Raw Made Easy

Freeze-dried raw food offers the ultimate convenience without compromising on nutritional quality. Its shelf-stable nature eliminates the need for freezing or thawing, making mealtime as simple as scooping and serving. This ease of use is particularly beneficial for busy pet owners or when traveling, ensuring your dog can maintain a healthy raw diet wherever life takes you.

Safety First: Inactivating Potential Pathogens Naturally

Our commitment to your dog's safety extends beyond ingredient quality. By utilizing high-pressure processing (HPP) after freeze-drying, we effectively inactivate potential pathogens that can sometimes be present in raw food.

This natural, cold-water process ensures a safe and wholesome meal for your beloved companion, giving you peace of mind with every serving.

No Fillers or Artificial Preservatives: Real Food, Real Benefits

Unlike many kibbles that rely on grains, fillers, and artificial preservatives, We Feed Raw's freeze-dried food contains only premium, species-appropriate ingredients. This means every bite is packed with real nourishment, contributing to better digestion, potentially decreased allergies, and a healthier coat–benefits often associated with a raw diet.

Concentrated Nutrition: Less Bulk, More Goodness

The removal of moisture during freeze-drying results in a highly nutrient-dense food. This means you can often feed a smaller volume compared to some kibbles while still providing your dog with all the necessary calories and nutrients.

Every ounce of We Feed Raw's freeze-dried food is packed with concentrated goodness, ensuring your dog gets the most out of every meal.

Freeze-Dried Raw vs. Kibble: A Processing Comparison

The way dog food is processed has a profound impact on its nutritional value and overall quality. When comparing We Feed Raw's freeze-dried raw food to traditional kibble, the differences in processing methods are stark and directly influence the final product your dog consumes.

Kibble: Extrusion

Kibble manufacturing typically involves a process called extrusion. In this high-heat method, ingredients are ground together, mixed into a dough, and then cooked at very high temperatures under pressure.

This cooked mixture is then forced through dies to create the familiar kibble shapes. Finally, the kibble is dried and often sprayed with fats and artificial flavor enhancers to increase palatability, as the high heat can diminish natural flavors.

This intense cooking process can significantly degrade heat-sensitive vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids, often necessitating the addition of synthetic nutrients after processing. Some kibbles undergo this high-heat cooking process multiple times during manufacturing.

Freeze-Dried: Sublimation

In stark contrast, We Feed Raw's freeze-dried raw food undergoes a minimal processing approach. As detailed earlier, our raw ingredients are simply frozen and then subjected to a vacuum environment where moisture is gently removed through sublimation. This process avoids the high temperatures that can compromise nutrient integrity.

The fundamental difference lies in the preservation philosophy. Kibble relies on high heat to cook ingredients and reduce moisture, often sacrificing natural nutrients in the process. Freeze-dried raw, on the other hand, gently removes moisture while preserving the inherent nutritional power of raw food. This minimal, low-temperature processing is a key reason why freeze-dried raw can offer nutritional advantages over highly processed kibble.

For the Best Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food, Try We Feed Raw

When it comes to providing your dog with optimal nutrition and unparalleled convenience, the gentle science behind We Feed Raw's freeze-dried raw food stands out. By harnessing the power of sublimation and prioritizing minimal processing, we deliver a shelf-stable food that retains the vital nutrients and flavors of a raw diet, without the need for high heat or artificial additives.

Choosing We Feed Raw's freeze-dried raw means opting for a food crafted with high-quality ingredients, including 85% meat and organs, and enhanced with essential phytonutrients, Omega-3s, vitamins, and minerals. Our commitment to safety through High-Pressure Processing (HPP) further ensures a wholesome and worry-free meal for your beloved companion.

Ready to experience the We Feed Raw difference? Give your adult dog the gift of convenient, nutrient-rich raw nutrition today. Take our quiz now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the freeze-drying process used to make We Feed Raw's freeze-dried food?

We Feed Raw uses a gentle process called freeze-drying, where our raw ingredients are first frozen and then placed in a vacuum chamber. This low-pressure environment causes the frozen water in the food to turn directly into vapor (sublime), removing moisture without the need for high heat.

Is freeze-dried food processed in the same way as kibble?

No. While both are convenient and shelf-stable, the processing is fundamentally different. Kibble is cooked at high temperatures multiple times and often contains fillers. Our freeze-dried raw undergoes minimal processing using sublimation, which locks in nutrients without heat or artificial preservatives.

How does We Feed Raw ensure the safety of its freeze-dried raw food?

At We Feed Raw, safety is paramount. Before the freeze-drying process, we utilize high-pressure processing (HPP), a natural method using cool water at high pressure, to eliminate any potentially harmful pathogens while preserving the food's raw integrity.

Does freeze-drying remove important nutrients from the raw ingredients in We Feed Raw's food?

No. The freeze-drying process is specifically designed to preserve the nutritional integrity of the raw ingredients. By removing moisture without heat, the essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and proteins remain largely intact, providing your dog with maximum nutritional benefit.

Why does We Feed Raw offer freeze-dried raw?

We Feed Raw offers freeze-dried raw to provide pet owners with the power of raw nutrition combined with unmatched convenience. While our frozen raw recipes offer excellent nutrition, freeze-dried raw is lightweight, portable, and shelf-stable, making it ideal for busy lifestyles and those who appreciate the ease of scoop-and-serve feeding without the need for thawing.