Freeze-Dried vs Air-Dried, what’s best for your pet?
With two drying methods dominating the natural pet food world, it's easy to feel confused in the pet aisle. So, what’s better: freeze-dried or air-dried? Let's explore the real differences and help you decide what’s best for your tail-wagger or whiskered friend.
Walk down the pet aisle or scroll through your Instagram ads and you’ll see it: some treats are freeze-dried, some are air-dried, and a few are just… mystery meat in fancy packaging.
So, what’s the real difference between freeze-dried and air-dried pet treats — and which is better for your dog or cat?
Let’s break it down so you can make the best choice for your furry best mate.
🧊 What Is Freeze-Dried?
Freeze-drying is a gentle, science-backed preservation method that removes moisture from raw ingredients using ultra-low temperatures and vacuum pressure. That’s right — no cooking, no baking, no artificial nasties.
Here’s why it matters:
Retains up to 97% of nutrients
Keeps natural enzymes, amino acids and vitamins intact
Extends shelf life without preservatives
Maintains real taste and smell pets LOVE
With freeze-dried treats like ours at Ernie’s Bites, what you see is what you get: 100% pure Tasmanian meat, just as nature made it.
🔥 What Is Air-Dried?
Air-dried treats are created by slowly dehydrating meat using heated airflow — kind of like a low-and-slow roast. This makes the final product slightly chewier or tougher and removes moisture to help protect against spoilage.
While it’s still way better than traditional high-heat cooking, air-drying can lead to:
Minor nutrient loss (especially delicate B vitamins and enzymes)
More dense or leathery textures
Less "raw" nutritional value
In other words — it’s more cooked than raw.
⚖️ The Real Difference? It’s All About Nutrition & Texture.
Freeze-DriedAir-DriedTemperature UsedVery low (vacuum freeze)Moderate heat (approx. 60–70°C)Nutrient Preservation🌟 Excellent (raw-like)👍 Good, some nutrient lossTextureLight, crisp, melts in mouthTougher, chewierShelf LifeLong (natural preservative-free)Also long, but can varyIdeal ForRaw-style feeders, sensitive petsDogs that prefer a bit of chew
Ernie’s Bites are freeze-dried because we believe pets deserve the closest thing to nature, with zero compromise on quality, taste, or health benefits.
🐾 Why We Choose Freeze-Dried at Ernie’s
Our mission has always been simple: give your dog or cat the best of Tasmania in every bite. And freeze-drying lets us do just that — keeping our treats:
100% raw nutrition
Safe, shelf-stable and easy to store
Packed with flavour from real local meat
Perfect for picky eaters or allergy-prone pets
You won’t find fillers, added starch, or mysterious “flavour enhancers” here — just honest-to-goodness protein your pet instinctively loves.
✨ Final Woof
While both freeze-dried and air-dried treats can be far better than conventional cooked options, freeze-dried shines when it comes to nutrient retention, safety, and species-appropriate nutrition.
If you're after clean, raw, single-ingredient snack options — Ernie’s Bites freeze-dried range is the ultimate (and your pet will 100% agree).