The freeze drying process of pet food freeze dryer involves several distinct steps.
1. Pre-Treatment: This step involves cleaning and rendering the pet food to remove any dirt, grease, or impurities. It also involves conditioning and adding any preservatives, colorings, or flavorings, as needed.
2. Freezing: The food is then quickly frozen to around -30°C to -80°C to preserve the food’s structure, texture, and nutritional content.
3. Freezing Vacuum: The food is moved to a freeze dryer which removes the moisture by creating a powerful vacuum inside the chamber. The food is exposed to low vacuum, sublimation, and a high-intensity heat source. This vacuum drew moisture out of the food, which is then collected as vapor and stored in a collection tank.
4. Final Drying: This step takes place in the freeze dryer and involves increasing the temperature and vacuum to remove the last traces of moisture.
5. Packing: The freeze dried food is then packed in either hard vacuum packs or foil pouches which then seals the food. This helps prolong the shelf life and ensures the food stays fresh and tasty.
