Extruded kibble forces raw ingredients through a die that cooks and shapes the food. Extrusion uses high pressure and heat, and the final product is trimmed into bite-size pieces.
Cold-pressed dog food
Cold-pressed dog food is made by mixing all the ingredients in ground form and putting them in a press that shapes the pulp into dog-appropriate pieces. High pressure is applied on the roller, and the high pressure makes the food warm.
However, unlike extruded kibble, the temperatures are limited to 40F to 80 F. The resulting product resembles the original ingredients. Most pet parents prefer this as it is near-natural.
Cold pressing ensures all nutrients are retained as high heat destroys some essential vitamins and minerals. However, their shelf-life can be shorter than that of extruded dry kibble.
Is baked or extruded dog food better?
Baked dog food is better as it retains approximately 100% of the original nutrients for maximum nutritional benefits. On the other hand, extrusion retains about 40% of the initial nutrients.
Is extruded dog food good?
Yes, extruded dog food made using high-quality ingredients is good. The food should be stored correctly to lower the risk of rancid fats. The extrusion also disintegrates the food for easier chewing.
Is hot extruded dog food bad?
No, extruded dog food made with high-quality ingredients and appropriately stored is not bad. However, your dog can experience gastric torsion or bloat since the kibble expands before digestion.
Is Fromm dog food extruded?
Yes, Fromm dog food is extruded. However, Fromm uses a low-temperature, high-moisture process to ensure all starch is well-cooked and that the proteins and other essential nutrients are not destroyed.
Read our detailed Fromm Dog Food Review.
What temperature is kibble cooked at?
The minimum temperature for cooking kibble is 180 degrees F for approximately 55 seconds to 1 hour 45 seconds. The kibble then moves into the end of the extruder for shaping and trimming.
