The Best Air-Dried & Freeze-Dried Dog Food Brands (Vet Guide)

• Best overall air-dried dog food: ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Dog Food
• Best for dogs with food allergies: Prime100 SPD Air Dried
• Best gently cooked whole-food diet: Eureka
• Best freeze-dried raw diet: K9 Natural
• Best for Australian-sourced ingredients: Frontier Pets

ZIWI Peak is a New Zealand-made air-dried dog food built around ethically sourced meat, organs and seafood. It consistently sits at the top of this category for a reason — the ingredient quality is exceptional and the formulas are nutritionally complete without relying on fillers or synthetic additives.

Most recipes contain around 96% meat, organs and bone, making them grain-free and very low in carbohydrates. Green-lipped mussels are included across the range, providing natural compounds that support healthy joints — something you'd normally only find in a dedicated joint supplement or veterinary diet.

Why Dr Jack recommends ZIWI Peak

This is about as close to a whole-prey diet as you can get in a shelf-stable format. The meat content is genuinely high, and the green-lipped mussels are a real bonus for older dogs or active breeds prone to joint wear. It's a premium price, but the quality matches it. A strong everyday diet for dogs of all sizes and life stages.

Prime100's SPD Air range is purpose-built for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. SPD stands for Single Protein Diet — each recipe uses just one protein source, which makes it much easier to figure out what your dog can and can't tolerate.

The formulas are short on ingredients by design, and they've been developed with veterinary input specifically for use in elimination diets — where you systematically remove potential allergens to identify what's causing the problem. Available in a range of proteins including crocodile, duck, and Prime100 SPD Slow Cooked Kangaroo & Pumpkin, which are useful options for dogs that have already reacted to more common proteins like chicken or beef.

Why Dr Jack recommends Prime100 SPD Air 

If your dog has been scratching constantly, getting recurring ear infections, or having ongoing digestive trouble, a food allergy could be the reason. This is the food I'd reach for in that situation. The single-protein approach takes the guesswork out of elimination diets, and having it available in an air-dried format means you're not compromising on quality while you work through the process. Best used alongside veterinary guidance.

Eureka takes a different approach to the others on this list — rather than air-drying or freeze-drying, the food is gently cooked at low temperatures using whole-food ingredients. Think of it as a home-cooked meal, made to a nutritionally balanced recipe.

The ingredients are human-grade, meaning the same standard of meat you'd buy at a butcher. The gentle cooking process makes the food highly digestible, particularly useful for dogs with sensitive stomachs or those coming off a raw diet.

Why Dr Jack recommends Eureka

Some dogs simply don't do well on dry dog food, but aren't great candidates for a fully raw diet either. Eureka sits neatly in between with ingredients that have been cooked enough to be safe and digestible. A great option for fussy eaters too, since the smell and texture appeals to a wide range of dogs.

K9 Natural produces freeze-dried raw dog food designed to mirror what dogs would eat in the wild — high meat content, natural probiotics, and none of the grains or fillers that bulk out lower quality dog food.

Recipes contain up to 90% meat and organs, and freeze-drying preserves the nutritional profile of the raw ingredients without requiring refrigeration. The inclusion of natural probiotics supports healthy digestion, and many owners report visible improvements in coat condition, muscle tone and energy levels after switching.

Why Dr Jack recommends K9 Natural

This is raw feeding made practical. You get the nutritional benefits of a raw diet without needing to source, portion and store raw meat — which is a real barrier for a lot of owners. It rehydrates well with warm water, which is a good way to add extra moisture to your dog's diet. A strong choice for high-energy breeds or dogs whose coats and condition could use a boost.

Frontier Pets makes freeze-dried raw dog food using human-grade Australian meats — meaning the same quality of meat sold for human consumption. For owners who care about where their dog's food comes from, this is the standout local option.

The recipes are simple and clean, with no artificial preservatives or fillers, balanced with vegetables and nutrient-rich whole foods. The recipes are simple and straightforward, which is genuinely useful if your dog reacts badly to certain ingredients — fewer things in the bowl means it's much easier to pinpoint what's causing the problem.

Why Dr Jack recommends Frontier Pets

A great pick if you want to know exactly where your dog's food is coming from. The short ingredient list is also a genuine advantage for dogs with sensitivities — when there are only a handful of ingredients, it's much easier to work out what's agreeing with your dog and what isn't.

Both formats use minimal processing and prioritise real meat — but they work differently.

Air-dried dog food slowly removes moisture from fresh ingredients using low-temperature airflow. This concentrates the nutrients and flavour while keeping the food shelf-stable, without the high heat used in conventional kibble manufacturing that can degrade protein quality.

Freeze-dried dog food takes raw ingredients, freezes them, then removes the moisture in a vacuum chamber — no heat involved at all. The result is a food that retains nutrients very close to what you'd find in raw meat, in a form that's safe to store and easy to serve. You can feed it dry or rehydrate it with warm water, which many dogs prefer.

Both are a meaningful step up from conventional dry food in terms of ingredient quality and digestibility.

Every food featured in this guide was evaluated through a veterinary lens based on real nutritional value. Our selection process considered:

• Ingredient quality: Named animal proteins as the primary ingredient, meaningful organ inclusion, and minimal use of plant-based fillers or synthetic additives.
• Processing method: Air-drying and freeze-drying were assessed for their ability to preserve nutritional value compared to conventional extrusion.
• Nutritional completeness: All recommended diets meet AAFCO standards for adult maintenance, confirming they provide complete and balanced nutrition.
• Real-world suitability: Each brand was considered for palatability, digestibility and practical use — including for dogs with allergies, sensitivities or specific health needs.
• Transparency: We favour brands with clear ingredient sourcing, honest nutritional data, and a track record of quality and consistency.

We only feature vet-endorsed foods that demonstrate proven nutritional adequacy and safety, not just those labelled "premium" or "natural."

1. A named animal protein listed first 
Chicken, beef, lamb, venison, fish — a specific protein should be the first thing on the ingredients list, not "meat meal" or a plant-based substitute.

2. High overall meat content 
Quality air-dried and freeze-dried foods typically contain 80–96% meat, organs and bone. This is far higher than conventional dry food and reflects a more natural diet for dogs.

3. Organ meat included 
Liver, kidney and heart are nutritional powerhouses, providing natural taurine, B vitamins, iron and zinc. Their presence in the recipe reduces the need for synthetic supplements.

4. Low in carbohydrates 
Dogs don't need grains or starchy fillers. A lower carbohydrate diet helps maintain a healthy weight and steady energy levels, and is easier on the digestive system for many dogs.

5. No artificial preservatives 
Air-dried and freeze-dried foods don't need artificial preservatives to stay shelf-stable — the process does that job. Avoid products listing BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin or propylene glycol.

6. An AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement 
This confirms the food is complete and balanced — not just a treat or topper. Look for "formulated to meet AAFCO nutritional levels" or "complete and balanced" on the packaging.

Switching foods too quickly is a common cause of stomach upset in dogs. Move gradually over 7–10 days to give the gut time to adjust.

Days 1–2: 25% new food, 75% current food Days 3–4: 50% new food, 50% current food Days 5–7: 75% new food, 25% current food Days 8–10: 100% new food

If your dog gets loose stools or seems off at any point, hold at the current mix for a few extra days before moving on. Dogs with existing digestive conditions or allergies should be transitioned with veterinary guidance.

Can I use these foods as a topper instead of a complete diet? 
Yes — many owners use a small amount of air-dried or freeze-dried food on top of their dog's regular meal to boost palatability and nutrient density. Just make sure the product is labelled as complete and balanced if you want to use it as a full meal, and adjust total portions to avoid overfeeding.

Are these foods suitable for puppies? 
Some products are formulated for all life stages including growth — check the AAFCO statement on the packaging. If it says "adult maintenance" only, it's not appropriate as a puppy's main diet without veterinary advice.

How do I rehydrate freeze-dried food? 
Add warm water and let it sit for a few minutes. Many dogs prefer the texture when it's rehydrated, and it's a simple way to add extra moisture to their diet — helpful for dogs prone to urinary issues or those that don't drink much.

Is the higher cost worth it? 
These foods cost more per bag than conventional kibble, but they're also significantly more nutrient-dense — meaning you often feed smaller volumes. Many owners find the difference in cost is less than it first appears once they adjust portion sizes. The improvement in coat, energy and digestion many dogs show is also worth factoring in.

My dog has a health condition — can I switch to one of these foods? 
Always check with your vet first if your dog has a diagnosed condition such as kidney disease in dogs, pancreatitis or a heart condition. High-protein diets aren't appropriate for every dog, and what's right for a healthy adult may not suit a dog with specific medical needs.

A good diet is one of the most impactful things you can do for your dog's long-term health. Air-dried and freeze-dried foods offer a genuine improvement in ingredient quality and digestibility over conventional kibble — and for most healthy adult dogs, they're a strong choice.

Whatever you choose, feed according to your vet's advice and keep an eye on your dog's body condition, coat and energy as indicators of how well the food is suiting them. Small, consistent improvements over time are what you're looking for.

This article was written by Dr Jack Ayerbe