5 Steps in Freeze-Drying Dog Food for Safety

Kristina Voltin
Mar 29
4 min read

Updated: Mar 30

Step 1: Select and Prepare IngredientsUse high-quality, human-grade proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Follow strict hygiene and safety measures during preparation.
Step 2: Quick-Freeze IngredientsRapid freezing locks in nutrients and flavor before drying.
Step 3: Primary Drying (Sublimation)Remove frozen moisture by converting ice directly into vapor under controlled vacuum and temperature.
Step 4: Final Drying and TestingRemove residual moisture for long-term stability. Test for safety and quality.
Step 5: Package and StoreUse airtight, moisture-proof packaging. Store in a cool, dry place to maintain freshness.

This process preserves nutrients, eliminates the need for artificial preservatives, and ensures food safety for all life stages.

How Do We Make Our Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food ...

Step 1: Select and Prepare Ingredients

Making safe freeze-dried dog food starts with choosing high-quality, human-grade ingredients and following strict handling procedures. This step is crucial for ensuring the food provides proper nutrition while meeting safety standards. Here's how careful ingredient selection and handling set the stage for both safety and nutrition.

Human-Grade Ingredients

Choose all-natural, human-grade ingredients to create a nutritious and safe product:

Proteins: High-quality sources that support balanced nutrition
Vegetables: Fresh, thoroughly washed options
Fruits: Ripe and free from damage
Supplements: Food-grade additives to round out the nutritional profile

Safe Ingredient Handling

Proper hygiene during preparation is essential to avoid contamination. Follow these safety measures:

Keep storage temperatures within safe limits to preserve ingredient quality
Sanitize work surfaces using approved food-grade cleaners
Handle raw meats separately from other foods to prevent cross-contamination
Use personal protective equipment, like gloves and clean clothing, when preparing food

Pre-Cook Safety Steps

Cook raw meats to the recommended internal temperatures, cool them quickly, and check that each batch meets established safety guidelines. This ensures the food is safe before moving to the freeze-drying process.

Step 2: Quick-Freeze Ingredients

The next step is to quick-freeze the ingredients. This step helps preserve the nutrients and flavors of proteins, fruits, and vegetables. By freezing them rapidly, their quality remains intact throughout the freeze-drying process.

"Nutrients and flavor locked in naturally"

Once the ingredients are quick-frozen, the process continues with primary drying.

Step 3: Primary Drying

Primary drying is a key phase in the freeze-drying process. Here, frozen water in the ingredients turns directly into vapor through sublimation, skipping the liquid phase. This helps maintain both the structure and nutrients of the product.

How Sublimation Works

In sublimation, ice in the frozen ingredients changes directly into water vapor. This happens by reducing the chamber pressure while carefully managing the temperature.

Vacuum and Temperature Control

Maintaining precise vacuum and temperature levels is crucial to prevent melting and ensure effective sublimation. The exact settings depend on the formulation and batch size. Sticking to proven guidelines for equipment setup and process monitoring is critical for success.

Keeping an Eye on Moisture

Accurate moisture monitoring is essential to meet safety standards. This can be done using tools like real-time sensors and moisture analyzers, combined with visual checks throughout the drying process. Regular calibration of these tools and proper documentation of moisture levels confirm that the product achieves the required dryness. Once primary drying is complete, the product moves on to final drying and testing.

Step 4: Final Drying and Testing

After primary drying, the next steps - final drying and testing - are crucial to remove any remaining moisture and confirm the product's stability over time. This process ensures the product meets strict safety and quality standards.

Final Moisture Removal

Secondary drying focuses on extracting any leftover moisture that wasn't removed during sublimation. The temperature is gradually increased under a controlled vacuum to draw out this residual moisture. The process continues until the product reaches a moisture level low enough to reduce the risk of microbial growth.

Safety Testing

Safety testing plays a key role in verifying moisture levels and ensuring product quality. At Loyal Saints, every batch undergoes systematic moisture checks to meet strict safety criteria. Only products that pass these tests move on to the packaging stage, guaranteeing their safety and longevity.

Step 5: Package and Store

Packaging Materials

To protect freeze-dried dog food from moisture, oxygen, and light, use high-barrier packaging. Multi-layer laminated pouches with moisture-proof properties work best.

Key layers in effective packaging include:

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) as the outer layer for durability.
Aluminum foil in the middle to block moisture and oxygen.
Food-grade polyethylene as the inner layer for direct contact with food.

Sealing and Labels

Heat-sealing ensures an airtight barrier that keeps the freeze-dried food fresh. Labels should include critical information like the ingredient list, nutritional details, manufacturing date, lot number, storage instructions, feeding guidelines, and any safety certifications.

At Loyal Saints, every package undergoes seal integrity testing to ensure maximum protection. Labels clearly display veterinarian-approved formulations and AAFCO compliance statements, guaranteeing nutritional standards.

Once sealed, proper storage is crucial to maintain the product's quality.

Storage Rules

Store freeze-dried dog food in a cool, dry place between 35°F and 75°F (1.7°C to 23.9°C) to preserve its quality.

Key tips for storage:

Keep the package sealed until you're ready to use it.
Avoid areas with high humidity or water exposure.
Maintain a consistent, cool temperature.
Keep the product out of direct sunlight.
Store food in its original packaging for the best results.

For opened packages, use the zip-lock closure provided or transfer the food to an airtight container. Once opened, the food generally stays fresh for up to 30 days if stored correctly, though it’s best to use it within 2-3 weeks for peak freshness and nutrition.

Summary

Main Points

Freeze-drying safety relies on strict controls at every stage. It starts with carefully choosing human-grade, all-natural ingredients. Each step, from sourcing to final packaging, is designed to retain nutrients and ensure safety. Using high-barrier packaging and following proper storage methods helps preserve nutritional value and extend shelf life.

Key safety measures include:

Sourcing verified human-grade ingredients
Avoiding additives or fillers, adhering to veterinarian and AAFCO standards
Conducting thorough safety testing throughout production
Implementing effective packaging and storage to protect product quality

From ingredient handling to packaging, every step is focused on maintaining safety and nutritional value. Loyal Saints reflects these practices in every batch they create.

About Loyal Saints

Loyal Saints is dedicated to high standards, using veterinarian-approved recipes crafted with human-grade, all-natural ingredients in the USA. Their recipes are free from additives and fillers, showcasing their commitment to quality.