How does freeze-drying work, and does it preserve nutrients?Updated 2 months ago

Freeze-drying is a preservation process that removes moisture from raw ingredients without using heat. The food is first frozen, then placed in a vacuum chamber where the ice converts directly to vapor — a process called sublimation. What's left is a shelf-stable product that retains the nutritional profile of the original raw ingredients.

Because no heat is applied, the proteins, enzymes, and naturally occurring nutrients in the meat, organ, and produce ingredients are preserved in a way that heat-based processing can't match. Freeze-dried raw food is nutritionally comparable to frozen raw — just with the water removed.

Rehydrating freeze-dried food with water or bone broth before serving is a great way to restore moisture content, which supports digestion and hydration — especially for cats.