How do I dehydrate chicken for dog treats? This is a question that many Aussie pet owners often find themselves asking.
We all want to provide our furry mates with the best, and making homemade dog treats is one way of ensuring they're getting healthy, high-quality snacks.
It may seem overwhelming if you haven't attempted homemade pet treats before. Don't worry, we will guide you through an easy chicken jerky dog treat recipe!
Gather Necessary Supplies
Before we dive into dehydrating chicken for dog treats, let's make sure you've got all your supplies ready.
Oven or Food Dehydrator: A food dehydrator is a food preservation tool designed to remove moisture from foods by circulating warm air around them. It consists of trays or racks on which you place the food you want to dehydrate.
Chicken Meat: Chicken breast makes the best jerky dog treats due to its lean nature and high protein content. Opt for fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The amount you need depends on how many treats you want to make, but remember, the chicken pieces will shrink during dehydration.
Seasonings: You may wish to marinate the chicken in natural dog-friendly ingredients such as parsley, turmeric or rosemary to enhance the flavour. Avoid using seasonings that are toxic to dogs, like onion or garlic. If it's your first time, stick with plain chicken.
Step By Step Guide: Dehydrated Chicken Jerky Dog Treats
1. Slice any larger chicken pieces into thin strips or bite-sized pieces. Thinner slices dehydrate faster, while thicker pieces may take longer. Aim for uniform thickness to ensure even drying.
2. Next, preheat your oven or food dehydrator to a low temperature, approximately 70 degrees. The low temperature helps to slowly remove moisture from the chicken without cooking it.
3. If you are using seasoning for your dog treats, now is the time to add them to the chicken. Sprinkle or brush the desired seasonings onto the chicken pieces.
4. Place the chicken strips onto the oven or dehydrator tray, ensuring they are not touching each other. This allows for proper air circulation and even drying.
5. Slide the tray into the preheated oven or food dehydrator. If you are using an oven, leave the door slightly open to allow moisture to escape during the drying process.
6. Dehydrating should take between 4-12 hours. It's important to monitor the dehydration process and stop dehydrating chicken when it reaches the desired level of dryness. Rotate the trays if necessary to ensure even drying.
7. The chicken strips are done when they become dry and leathery, with no moisture remaining. They should easily break apart or snap when bent. Once the chicken is fully dehydrated, remove the tray and allow them to cool completely.
Storing Homemade Chicken Dog Treats
Once the chicken is bone-dry, it's time to store those homemade dog treats. This step is crucial for keeping them fresh and ensuring your furry friend can enjoy them for a long time.
Store the dehydrated chicken treats in an airtight container or resealable bag in a cool, dry place. When stored correctly, chicken dog treats can maintain their quality for up to six months.
FAQs in Relation to How Do I Dehydrate Chicken for Dog Treats
Can you dehydrate raw chicken for dogs?
Yes, you can dehydrate raw chicken for dogs as homemade dog jerky treats, but make sure to follow proper food safety guidelines.
Do you cook chicken before dehydrating?
It is not necessary to cook chicken before dehydrating it for animal consumption. The purpose of dehydrating is to remove moisture from the chicken while preserving its nutritional value.
How do you dehydrate meat for dog treats?
To dehydrate meat for pet treats, slice meat into thin pieces, and then place them onto dehydrator trays or in the oven on low heat until dry and leathery.
Do dogs like dehydrated chicken?
Ian's Wrap
Creating yummy dehydrated chicken treats for your dog is a simple and rewarding process. By using a food dehydrator or an oven, you can transform fresh chicken into tasty and nutritious pet treats for your furry friend.
What's the beneifit? Making homemade dog treats are not only healthy but also free of any nasty preservatives!
If you're not up for making treats yourself, Zach's Pet Shop has a great range of healthy treats. Our range from Freeze Dry Australia includes many chicken treats such as Chicken Breast, Chicken Heart, Chicken Neck, Chicken Liver and our Chicken Feast bundle!
About Ian
With an impressive track record of nearly 15 years, Ian has been supplying high-quality pet products to Australians, earning their trust and loyalty.
3 comments
Dianne
@kerrie Simpson
I think there must be some moisture still left in the chicken. I cook mine for 17hrs at 70c.
Joe
I place apptox 4 lbs of chicken breasts in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. When done I place it in the refrigerator to cool. I then take it out and cut each breast in small strips and put in the dehydrator at 160 degrees for approx. 5 hours.
Kerrie Simpson
We have been using a dehydrator to make chicken breast cut very thinly in strips on 70 degrees for around 9 hours for treats for our dogs. we find that they are going mouldy within less than 2 weeks , we store in air tight container, we would be very grateful for any advice.
Kind regards