Freeze-Dried vs Air-Dried, what’s best for your pet?
Fiona Dechaineux
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-drying uses extremely low temperatures under vacuum, which preserves nutrients at a near raw level, resulting in a light, crisp texture that melts in the mouth and offers a long shelf life without preservatives. Air-drying, by comparison, uses moderate heat of around 60–70°C, which can lead to some nutrient loss and produces a tougher, chewier texture, although shelf life remains relatively long. Freeze-dried food is ideal for raw-style feeders and sensitive pets, while air-dried options often suit dogs that enjoy more 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).