Freeze-drying is a special form of drying that removes moisture at very low temperatures. In freeze-drying, raw ingredients are initially frozen and then placed in a strong vacuum that converts the water in the food into vapor. Freeze-drying preserves more of the nutritional content of the raw ingredients as compared to other methods such as cooking or dehydrating pet food. Because the raw meat ingredients are freeze-dried, it helps to leave in tact the wholesome nutrition that is naturally present.