Gently Cooked Pet Food: How to Sous-Vide RDBK Raw Meals for Picky Eaters and Transitions
- Dr. Jules Mantler, BSc(Ag), BSc(Vet Biol), BVMS
- Jul 24, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Is your pet struggling to transition to a raw diet, or are you dealing with a particularly picky eater? Did you know you can safely and healthily create gently cooked pet food using the sous-vide method right in your own kitchen using select RDBK raw meals?
Gently cooked meals are a wonderful, soft-textured option for pets who need a little encouragement. While we always recommend feeding raw, this guide provides a nutrient-preserving alternative for select Red Dog Blue Kat meals when prepared correctly.
Table of Contents
Why We Recommend Sous-Vide for Gently Cooking
The specific technique we recommend for gently cooking our meals is called sous vide (French for "under vacuum"). It is the cleanest and safest way to prepare a cooked meal at home.
Locks in Moisture: Cooking in a sealed bag in a temperature-controlled water bath prevents natural moisture and juices from evaporating. The result is a softer, more palatable texture.
Retains Nutrients: Unlike boiling or pan-searing, sous vide uses precise, low temperatures (we recommend 135°F). This process significantly minimizes nutrient degradation and helps mostly preserve essential water-soluble vitamins.
No Fillers Needed: Because our method retains volume, you get a full, nutritious meal without the need for unnecessary carbohydrate fillers.
Why You Should Avoid Store-Bought Gently Cooked Meals
When meat cooks, it naturally shrinks and loses moisture. Store-bought, gently cooked meals often compensate for this lost volume by adding high-starch fillers like rice, pasta, or potatoes.
These fillers add empty calories, similar to low-quality kibble.
They lower the overall protein density of the meal.
By using RDBK raw meals, you control the quality and ensure your pet receives only pure, healthy ingredients.
RDBK Sous-Vide Friendly Meal Options
For your pet's safety, it is essential that you only cook meals that do not contain ground bone pieces (like turkey and chicken recipes). Please refer to the lists below for our specific meals that are safe to gently cook:
🐕 Sous-Vide Friendly Options for Dogs
Product Line | Sous-Vide Friendly Dog Recipes |
Beef, Beef & Tripe, Bison, Lamb, Venison, Kangaroo, Herring, Salmon & Tripe | |
Reef n' Beef | |
Beef, Pork, Fish | |
Beef & Tripe, Beef Tripe |
🐈 Sous-Vide Friendly Options for Cats
Product Line | Sous-Vide Friendly Cat Recipes |
Beef, Bison, Lamb, Venison, Kangaroo | |
Beef, Boneless Chicken, Lamb, Venison, Kangaroo, Elk, Salmon | |
Beef & Tripe |
🚨Safety & Product Cautions
Meals NOT Safe to Cook: DO NOT COOK any meals that contain whole ground bone pieces (e.g., most poultry recipes). Cooking bone makes it brittle, creating a serious choking hazard and potential digestive damage.
Special Note on Fish Recipes: While our fish recipes are gently cooking-friendly, they contain soft fish bones. To ensure maximum safety visually inspect the meal for any larger or sharp bone pieces before serving.
Do Not Overcook: Overcooking leads to excessive nutrient loss and can damage the packaging.
5 Easy Steps to Gently Cook RDBK Raw Pet Food
Step | Action | Pro Tip |
Step 1. Thaw | Refrigerate the package to fully thaw for at least 12 hours or until fully thawed. | Keep the tray sealed. The packaging is designed to withstand sous-vide cooking. |
Step 2. Heat Water | Warm a pot of water, slow cooker, or sous vide machine to 135°F | The water should be steaming, never boiling or vigorously bubbling. |
Step 3. Sous-Vide Cook | Fully submerge the sealed, thawed package in the water bath for 30–45 minutes to achieve a fully warmed through soft, and consistent texture. | Decrease cooking time based on your pet's texture preference. Do Not Overcook. |
Step 4. Plate | Allow to cool and carefully remove the tray. Open using the easy-peel tab, and thoroughly mix the meat with all the retained juices. | Do not drain the juices—they contain valuable moisture and nutrients! |
Step 5. Supplement | Add a high-quality vitamin/mineral supplement if desired. | See our supplement recommendations below for maximum nutritional integrity. |
Why Supplementation is Recommended
While our sous vide method preserves more nutrients than traditional cooking, any heat applied will cause some nutrient loss, particularly of water-soluble B vitamins and certain minerals.
The following supplementation is optional, but we recommend it if you desire to maintain optimal nutritional integrity in regularly cooked meals:
For Dogs: We recommend adding Soul Food Multivitamin by Dr. Peter Dobias to replenish vitamins and minerals that may be depleted by heat.
For Dogs and Cats (Alternative): Alternatively, adding some high-quality nutritional yeast can help boost those B vitamins that may be lost during the gentle cooking process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is gently cooked pet food as healthy as raw food?
A: Raw food provides the purest, most bio-available form of nutrition and is always our top recommendation. However, gently cooking using the sous-vide method is the next best choice, as it significantly preserves nutrients compared to high-heat methods.
Q: Can I use a regular pot of water instead of a sous-vide machine?
A: Yes. You can use a pot on the stovetop or a slow cooker. The key is to closely monitor the temperature with a thermometer to ensure it stays near 135°F and does not boil.
Q: How do I know if the meal is fully cooked?
A: A gently cooked RDBK meal should feel warm throughout and the color should have changed from raw red to a cooked, brownish-pink. The texture should be soft and moist, not hard or dry.
Q: How long can I store the gently cooked meals?
A: Once the meal has been gently cooked and cooled, you should treat it like any other prepared food. Store any leftovers immediately in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use them within 3–4 days. Do not leave the cooked food out at room temperature for longer than two hours.
Flexibility Meets Nutrition
The gentle sous-vide method offers the perfect solution when a fully raw meal isn't an option. It's safe, customizable, and ensures your pet receives the highest quality, most nutrient-dense food possible—without the fillers and often without the higher price tag associated with pre-made cooked meals.
Choose RDBK and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you're feeding the very best.
Find your pet's next favorite meal now!
