Food & Feeding

Feeding Frozen Dog & Cat Food

Nicole Groshek | February 20, 2024 | 8 minute read

Frozen raw dog and cat food is a great choice because it’s minimally processed, nutrient-rich, and closest to what our pets’ bodies instinctually crave. Stella & Chewy’s FreshMade frozen gently cooked dog food provides complete and balanced nutrition with all the benefits of home cooking, without the hassle.

That being said, some pet parents may be hesitant to give it a try because feeding frozen dog or cat food works a little differently. This quick and easy guide covers everything you need to know about feeding your dog or cat frozen food, so you and your pet can enjoy the benefits!

Help Your Dog or Cat Transition to Frozen Food

Whenever you make a change to your pet’s diet, it’s best to slowly transition. Sudden changes can cause temporary digestive issues, and your dog or cat might need some time to get used to the smell, taste and texture of the new food. We recommend a transition period of 7-10 days in which you mix the new food with the food your pet is used to eating, and gradually adjust the ratio. These articles will walk you through it:

How Much Frozen Food Should I Feed My Dog or Cat?

Every package of Stella & Chewy’s frozen pet food has portioning guidelines on the back. You can also find detailed feeding guidelines on each product page on our website. These two charts show how many portions you’ll get from different size bags of dog and cat food. Feeding guidelines are a starting point– they can be adjusted to suit your pet’s individual needs.

These articles have more information on serving size:

Whether you’re feeding our frozen raw dog food, frozen raw cat food, or gently cooked frozen dog food, always provide plenty of fresh water at mealtime and between meals.

Stella & Chewy's Frozen Raw Dinner Morsels for Cats

Defrosting Frozen Dog & Cat Food

The size of the frozen food pieces inside the package determines how long they take to defrost. Frozen raw morsels thaw the fastest, followed by frozen raw patties, and gently cooked frozen dog food takes the longest (but you can serve the thawed gently cooked food over multiple days). Here’s how to thaw each type:

Frozen dinner patties or morsels should be gently defrosted overnight in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Frozen dinner morsels can also be defrosted in a bowl on your counter for 10-20 minutes.
Frozen gently cooked dog food should be defrosted in the refrigerator in its original packaging (may take 24-36 hours to thaw completely).

Please note that our frozen dog and cat foods should never be cooked, heated, or microwaved. If you need to defrost product quickly, you can place the food in a zip-top bag or glass bowl and submerge the product in warm water.

Stella & Chewy’s frozen dog food is available as:

Stella & Chewy’s frozen cat food is available as frozen raw cat food morsels.

Tips for Feeding Frozen Raw Dog or Cat Food

Raw dog and cat food has a lot of benefits, and there are a few food safety tips to keep in mind:

Be sure to wash your hands before and after handling your pet’s food.
Use a clean dish every time (also clean any utensils/surfaces the raw food touches).
Once served, raw food can sit out for up to 2 hours – anything left after that should be discarded.
Once thawed, frozen raw patties can remain in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Don’t refreeze raw dog or cat food after it has thawed.
Frozen raw patties may be broken up after thawing, if preferred.

You can add extra hydration with cool or warm (never hot) water or broth after thawing.

Tips for Feeding Frozen Gently Cooked Dog Food

Our FreshMade dog food is made from 100% human-grade whole foods, gently cooked in small batches and frozen. Follow these steps to serve:

Thaw in the refrigerator in original packaging—it may take 24-36 hours to thaw completely.
Once thawed, cut the package along 3 sides to open (heads up: our food is fresh and juicy!)
Place the food and broth into a resealable container.
Use a fork to break up the food, creating a consistent texture and mixing in the broth.
Portion out the food at mealtimes.
Keep remaining food stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Thawed frozen gently cooked dog food should be used within 5 days.

Frozen Pet Food FAQ

Can dogs and cats eat food that is still frozen?

Some dogs and cats might eat frozen food, but we don’t recommend serving pet food that’s still frozen. Animals that tend to wolf or gulp their meals run the risk of choking on frozen food. If you’re short on time to thaw, try putting the frozen food in a zipper bag and submerging it in warm (not hot) water to speed things along.

Is frozen raw food good for dogs & cats?

Frozen raw food is a great choice for dogs and cats because it’s frozen at peak freshness and doesn’t include any preservatives or hidden ingredients. Feeding frozen raw food is good for dogs and cats in many ways: it tastes incredible, promotes a shinier coat and cleaner teeth, and helps with improved energy levels and maintaining a healthy weight.

Is frozen dog or cat food good for itchy skin/allergies?

All Stella & Chewy’s frozen and freeze-dried raw diets contain fewer allergy trigger ingredients and are grain-free, yeast-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free. Our formulas contain naturally existing oils and fats and are minimally processed, which can aid in the relief of skin allergies. Learn more about food sensitivities or allergies in dogs and cats, or addressing seasonal allergies in dogs and cats.

Is frozen dog food good for large breed puppies?

All of our products are complete and balanced for large breed adults. However, large breed puppies (defined as over 70 lbs full grown), have different requirements. Large breed puppies can eat any of our frozen or freeze-dried raw dog food as a complete and balanced diet, with the exception of our Venison Blend and Simply Venison recipes. Learn more about how long to feed your dog puppy food.

Can I mix frozen raw and regular pet foods?

Yes, you can combine frozen raw pet food with one of our broths, or put one of our meal toppers on it. If your dog or cat prefers a mix of kibble and wet food along with some frozen raw food, that’s fine too. Just make sure the frozen food is properly thawed before serving with other products.

Is frozen raw dog and cat food safe?

Feeding Stella & Chewy’s raw food to your dog or cat is safe, as long as you adhere to proper food handling guidelines (see above). We use HPP (high-pressure processing) on all of our raw pet foods to effectively eliminate any harmful pathogens. All batches are tested in a third party lab for pathogenic bacteria, and the results are listed on our website so you can look up your product LOT number for peace of mind. Learn more about our commitment to food safety and quality.

Can you cook frozen raw pet food?

No. Our frozen dog and cat food products should never be cooked, heated, microwaved, nor should they have hot water added. A safe method is a warm water bath: put the product in a zip-top bag or glass bowl and submerge that in warm (not hot) water for a bit. This will slightly raise the temperature of the food and/or defrost the food more quickly.

Can you leave frozen dog or cat food out overnight?

Never leave frozen dog or cat food out overnight. Thaw frozen raw dinner patties or morsels overnight in a covered container in the refrigerator. Thaw frozen gently cooked dog food in the fridge for 24-36 hours. You can also thaw frozen dinner morsels on the countertop, but only for 10-20 minutes. Once thawed, any frozen dog or cat food should sit out no longer than 2 hours (discard the remainder).

How long does frozen raw dog and cat food last?

You can keep frozen raw dog or cat food, or frozen gently cooked dog food, in your freezer for up to 12 months in the original unopened package (up to 4 months frozen after opening). Once thawed, raw dog and cat food will keep for up to two days in the fridge (up to five days for gently cooked dog food).

Which is better, frozen or freeze-dried raw pet food?

In truth, you can’t go wrong with either option! Frozen and freeze-dried raw Stella & Chewy’s products are essentially the same and can be given to your pet interchangeably. The only difference between the two is that freeze-dried raw food has no moisture, making it shelf-stable unlike frozen raw. It is up to your discretion which format you prefer to feed your pets.

Frozen Dog and Cat Food From Stella & Chewy’s

Whether you’re ready to go raw or want to give gently cooked dog food a try, Stella & Chewy’s has you covered. Check out our full selection of frozen and freeze-dried dog food or peruse our selection of frozen and freeze-dried raw cat food to get started!