Croquettes pressées à froid: Qu’est-ce que c’est ?

Cold-pressed croquettes: What are they?

September 04, 2019

Pressed dog kibble: what is it?

Are you familiar with pressed dog food? A food that few people know about, cold-pressed kibble is often of higher quality than traditional kibble. It retains many of its benefits even after cooking. But are there real differences compared to more conventional kibble? Read on!

What is a "normal" (extruded) kibble?

Before discussing pressed kibble, you need to understand the manufacturing process of most kibble. Today, the majority of kibble on the market falls into the category of extruded kibble. Extruded kibble is made using an extruder. The principle is to place the ingredients in this extruder, which can be compared to a pressure cooker. The machine raises the pressure and temperature to cook the ingredients, such as meat and starches. The cooking temperature generally exceeds 90°C (194°F) to cook the raw materials used to make the kibble. This also ensures that the starch in the kibble is thoroughly cooked, making it more digestible for dogs. But here's what is often criticized about this process:

The destruction of micronutrients such as vitamins and enzymes. The product is therefore partially devitalized.
Proteins, lipids and carbohydrates also undergo significant transformations that denature the products.
We are therefore obliged to add synthetic vitamins and enzymes to compensate for the deficiencies imposed by extrusion cooking.
Kibble contains neither good nor bad bacteria . This prevents the gut from developing a healthy microbiota. Yet, this microbiota is the essential balance between bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and other microorganisms for your dog's health. (If you feed this type of kibble, consider supplementing with our probiotics .)

This is why we now have the option of choosing kibble made in different ways. Note that the cooking method alone is not responsible for a product's quality. Indeed, the first thing to consider is the quality of the ingredients chosen for the kibble's composition. The kibble must contain an adequate fat content to maintain an ideal weight for the dog, and it must have highly digestible proteins to facilitate digestion.

What are cold-pressed kibble?

Cold-pressed kibble is not made with an extruder. Instead, it's produced by pressing the mixture of ingredients that will make up the kibble. Then, it's cooked at a temperature below 70°C , whereas conventional kibble is cooked at temperatures reaching at least 90°C. This is a crucial difference, as it allows the ingredients to retain as much of their natural qualities as possible despite the processing.

The advantages of pressed dog kibble

This technique preserves the vitamins and enzymes of the raw materials used. The advantages are therefore numerous, including:

The food is of better quality and less spoiled. No synthetic vitamins or enzymes are added.

This manufacturing process reduces the size of the kibble and concentrates it, so there is no air inside.

They therefore take up less space in the dog's stomach. This is an advantage for dogs naturally prone to gastric torsion .

Digestion is therefore facilitated, which further preserves the dog's health .

If the food is more beneficial to the dog, it will help him have healthier skin and coat.

Keep in mind that, aside from a different cooking method, cold-pressed kibble boasts superior quality because its ingredients are less damaged. This makes the kibble more easily digestible for your dog. This is essential for a carnivore's diet, as they aren't designed to digest food all day long. They need food that digests quickly. A well-fed dog with quality food will have more vitality!