What does "Fresh-Pressed" really mean?

At Oscar’s Farm, we’re proud to say that our food is “fresh-pressed”. But what does that really mean? 

Fresh-pressed refers to the cooking methods we use to create our kibbles. 

Normal dry food is “extruded” - cooked at high heat (up to 80 degrees Celsius) over a long period of time. To facilitate this, high levels of starchy carbohydrates, such as corn are required in the recipe. 

Fresh-pressed food is cooked at lower temperatures for a shorter period and then “pressed” into a kibble shape. This decreases the need for excessively starchy carbohydrates and means we can pack way more nutritionally dense whole foods into our kibbles. More high-quality ingredients cooked at a lower temperature retain more natural enzymes, amino acids and other great nutrients than extruded kibble, which often requires additional vitamin supplementation throughout the manufacturing process. 

You may notice that our kibbles look a little different from other dry food brands. This is due to the difference in preparation mentioned above. The little brown balls we’re used to seeing are coated in a variety of different preservatives and, because of this, don’t soften up very well in water. Our kibble will soften in cold water to become a more “wet-food” consistency, making it an ideal choice for puppies, pooches who have undergone dental surgery and for golden oldies who may be struggling to manage their usual dry food. 

If you are trying to decide between raw feeding or a dry food diet, fresh-pressed might be the best option for you. Our food can be stored at room temperature (no need to make room in your fridge) and can be handled and portioned like dry food while maintaining the benefits of whole-food ingredients. 

All in all, “fresh-pressed” is a brilliant middle ground, with all the benefits of both raw feeding and dry food, with none of the inconveniences of either. If you have any further questions on fresh-pressed food or if our food will suit your pup, feel free to email us, and one of our team will get back to you