Freeze-dried dog food is healthy and convenient, but have you seen the price tags on some of the more popular brands? If you have a freeze-dryer, you should consider how easy it is to make it yourself.
Whether your pet requires a grain-free diet, a raw diet, or other special dietary needs, you can customize and source your own humanely raised high-quality ingredients and make the best natural freeze-dried dog food. Read on to learn how.
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Freeze-dried products are gaining popularity beyond building long-term storage in your pantry.
We’ve been known to keep our freeze dryers (yes, we have two) running nearly non-stop through the summer months to preserve organic fruits and vegetable staples such asfreeze-dried berries, freeze-dried potatoes, freeze-dried corn, freeze-dried coffee, and even freeze-dried avocados.
Using the freeze dryer is our favorite way to preserve eggs and dairy products, too. Check out our tutorials on freeze-dried eggs, freeze-dried milk, and freeze-dried ice cream!
Imagine our surprise that you can use the freeze dryer for non-food items. Homemade shampoos and skincare products have a short shelf life, so making them in small batches works best. However, homesteaders are finding they can make these items in bulk when they freeze-dry them.
Though we haven’t tried freeze-drying non-food items… yet!… freeze-dried pet food is a great place to begin experimenting with your freeze-dryer. My mother uses our freeze-dryer to make freeze-dried dog food for easy transportation when traveling with her small dog.
If you have a dog, this may be right up your alley, too!
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The freeze-drying method uses vacuum-pressured, frigid temperatures (-40° degrees), removing 98-99% of moisture in the form of gasses (sublimation) while retaining vital nutrients in the food.
Organ meats like chicken heart, beef liver, and fish with omega-3 fatty acids add protein-rich nutrients to your dog food. Fermented dairy products add probiotics. Grains, fruits, or vegetables add carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for a healthy diet.
When you make dog food yourself, you can customize and control the ingredients to make the complete and balanced diet your dog requires. You can even make low-cost mini-nibs as a special treat to accompany their freeze-dried dinner.
Dehydrated kibble has a reputation for being nutritionally inferior and unappealing to dogs. For this reason, many reach for the more palatable canned or “wet” dog food.
Canned dog food is expensive, heavy, bulky, and made with unnecessary fillers that we don’t want to feed our dogs, but don’t assume that commercially freeze-dried dog food is any different. They may also contain fillers and low-quality ingredients.
Check the labels and make your decision accordingly. Or, simply begin making your own freeze-dried dog food.
The supplies needed to freeze-dry dog food are minimal. The most considerable expense is purchasing a freeze-dryer, but its many options make it worth the investment.
This recipe will fill four regular-sized trays when using the Harvest Right freeze dryer (if you have a different sized machine, it may fill more or less). For a smaller recipe, visit The College House Wife’s recipe here.
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Did you make this recipe? If so, please leave us a star rating on the recipe card below. Then, snap a photo of your freeze-dried dog food and tag us on social media @homesteadingfamilyso we can see!
You will know that dog food is freeze-dried when it crumbles easily. It should not feel cold to the touch. If it is cold, return to the freeze-drier for two-hour increments until thoroughly dried and crumbly.
The technical way to reconstitute any freeze-dried food is to weigh the tray before freeze-drying, then weigh them again after freeze-drying. The weight difference is the amount of water, by weight, that you’d add back to the entire tray.
You can divide this number by how many servings of dog food are on each tray.
If you are not concerned with an exact science and prefer to eyeball it, rehydrating dog food is simple! Just add water (or any preferred liquid) a little at a time and stir until it reaches your desired consistency. (This should take about 5-10 minutes.)
Proper food storage is essential; your pet’s food is no exception. Store your freeze-dried dog food in airtight containers such as vacuum-sealed Mason jars or Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. You should reseal the package every time you remove dog food.
Homesteading Hack: Remove approximately how much food your dogs eat for a week’s meals. Keep it in a storage tote with a tight-fitting lid to keep out unwanted insects and critters. The resealing process will only need to happen each week versus daily.
Now that you know that you can use a freeze dryer to include all members of your family, are you considering purchasing one? If so, I encourage you to read my Honest Review of the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer.
Adding freeze-drying with the Harvest Right Freeze-Dryer to our preservation toolbelt helps keep our expenses manageable and our health optimal. I’d say that’s a win-win!
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Recipe
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