Freeze-drying is a method in which food is first frozen and then dried under vacuum by sublimating the ice (turning it directly from solid to vapor). Foods made this way are called freeze-dried.
[Why do we recommend it?]
Pellets were once commonly recommended to make up about 70% of the diet, but that view has been shifting. Today, many recommend keeping pellets around 30% and making 70% or more of the diet from whole foods—vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, herbs, coconut, and mealworms.
A range of expert opinions and research in Europe and North America has fueled a growing movement among some bird keepers to reduce pellet ratios and favor whole foods.
Many people find it burdensome to buy several kinds of organic whole foods every day and prepare them (washing and chopping). In those cases, freeze-dried foods are a practical alternative.
[Nutritional value of freeze-drying]
Freeze-drying can retain about 95% of a food’s original nutrients. If fresh produce is considered 100%, only about 5% is lost. Recent advances also allow these foods to be made without additives, and because little heat is used, nutrient and flavor loss is minimal. Color, aroma, and nutritional value are well preserved, so you can feed with confidence.
[Palatability]
Individual responses vary, but we’ve received many reports of birds that dislike fresh vegetables enjoying the texture of freeze-dried foods. Birds often need time to recognize a new item as “food,” so introduce it gradually. Try offering it powdered or lightly moistened to find what your bird prefers.