Freeze-dried raw meals
Cupboard-friendly raw meals, with adult recipes and a separate Chicken Puppy recipe.
Explore freeze-dried mealsFeeding resources
Freeze-Dried vs Air-Dried vs Cold-Pressed Dog Food
These names describe different ways of making food. Freeze-dried, air-dried and cold-pressed products can differ in texture and preparation, but the method alone does not tell you whether a recipe meets your dog's needs.
On this page
This guide explains the methods and the questions to ask on the label. For a broader comparison of raw feeding routines and conventional dry food, see freeze-dried raw, frozen raw and kibble.
How the three methods differ
Freeze-drying removes moisture from frozen material under reduced pressure. The drying method is distinct from the question of whether ingredients were raw or cooked beforehand. Pets True House freeze-dried meals are sold as raw recipes.
Air-drying removes moisture using circulating air. Exact conditions and any earlier ingredient preparation depend on the product. Do not assume all air-dried foods have identical processing or handling requirements.
Cold pressing combines prepared ingredients and presses them into compact pieces. The pressing stage differs from extrusion; it does not prove that every ingredient remained raw. UK Pet Food: processing methods
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| Feature | Freeze-dried | Air-dried | Cold-pressed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main method | Moisture removed from frozen material | Moisture removed with circulating air | Prepared ingredients pressed into pieces |
| Texture | Often light and porous; varies by recipe | Varies with recipe and drying conditions | Compact pieces or pellets |
| Serving | Check the pack; our complete meals may be dry or softened | Follow the individual product | Follow the individual product |
| Complete or an addition? | Check the label | Check the label | Check the label |
| What still matters? | Ingredients, life stage, portions and storage | The same checks | The same checks |
Look at the actual texture
A format name is a useful starting point, but photographs of the food itself are more helpful than packaging alone. Look at the size and shape of pieces and read the serving instructions before deciding whether they fit your routine.
Our freeze-dried food can be served dry or softened with warm water. That gives you a choice of texture without needing to thaw a frozen meal. Weigh the dry food first so adding water does not confuse the portion measurement.
Our cold-pressed range offers a dry pellet format in 2 kg and 5 kg options. Use the product's own feeding guide rather than assuming the scoop used for another food gives the same amount.
Air-dried products vary, so use their own preparation instructions. Avoid assuming that one product's texture, portion size or opening life describes the whole format.
Check the recipe as well as the method
Ask what the food contains, which life stage it is intended for and whether it is sold as a complete meal or an addition. Complete-food status concerns the formulation, not simply whether the ingredients were dried or pressed. UK Pet Food: complete foods and other FAQs
Pets True House adult freeze-dried recipes contain 80% named meat or fish alongside selected plant ingredients, vitamins and minerals. Chicken Puppy is a separate recipe with its own feeding chart. A meal topper should not be treated as an interchangeable full meal.
The cold-pressed recipes have their own compositions. The Fish recipe names trout and also includes goose fat and other declared ingredients. Duck includes beef tallow. Those details are important when an owner is choosing around particular ingredients; the flavour name alone is not the full list.
Choose between our two ranges
Consider freeze-dried raw if you want cupboard-friendly raw meals and the option to soften the food before serving. Check the portion guide and choose a pouch quantity you can use within the product's opening instructions.
Consider cold-pressed if you prefer a dry pellet format and bag sizes suited to your daily routine. Read the composition, check the feeding chart and compare the current price for the bag you intend to buy.
Neither choice needs exaggerated claims about all other food. Choose the recipe, suitability and practical features that matter for your dog, and ask for advice where the published guide does not answer your question.
Cold-pressed meals
Explore Chicken, Beef, Duck and Fish dry recipes and check their individual ingredients.
Explore cold-pressed mealsKeep storage instructions product-specific
Foods in these formats may be sold for dry storage, but opening-life and preparation instructions can differ. Follow the individual pack and keep feeding equipment clean. Do not transfer a storage period from a topper to a complete meal, or from another manufacturer's food to ours.
Explore feeding guides
Start with our cold-pressed explainer if that format is new to you, then check cold-pressed feeding amounts. The feeding guides hub also links to adult and puppy freeze-dried portions.
Questions about this guide
Does lower-temperature processing guarantee better nutrition?
No. A processing description alone is not evidence that one complete product is better for your dog. Read the recipe and suitability information and assess the individual food.
Does Pets True House sell all three formats?
This comparison explains three methods. Our featured meal ranges here are freeze-dried raw and cold-pressed; use the cards below to explore them.
Sources
General references explain feeding and food formats; they do not certify or endorse Pets True House products. Check each product page and pack for its own instructions.
