Freeze-Dried Dog Food Review
Smallbatch Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Review: Turkey Small Bites Recipe
- Author: Samuel James
- Published: September 30, 2026
No. of Recipes
11
Recipe Reviewed
1
Line Rating
5.0 / 5
Rating Range
5 to 5
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Ingredient Analysis
Nutrient Analysis
Cost Analysis
Recall Check
On This Page
Products List
Recipe Reviewed
This dog food line has 11 recipes. For detailed ingredient and nutrient analysis, we selected Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey Small Bites Recipe as the focus of this Smallbatch Freeze-Dried Recipe Review. The analysis below applies only to this recipe and does not represent the ingredients or formulation of the other products in the line.
Ingredients
Turkey, Turkey (with ground bone), Turkey Liver, Turkey Gizzards, Turkey Heart, Organic Butternut Squash, Organic Bok Choy, Organic Green Beans, Organic Blueberries, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Organic Kelp, Cod Liver Oil, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Broccoli, Organic Spinach, Organic Kale, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Shiitake Mushroom, Vitamin E Supplement
Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. Because fresh ingredients contain different amounts of moisture, their position on the list may not reflect their proportion after freeze-drying.
Ingredient Analysis
This Smallbatch Freeze-dried Raw Dog Food Review highlights the first five items as the formula’s primary ingredients.
Primary Ingredients
Turkey
Turkey is a named poultry ingredient. It can provide protein that helps build and renew body tissues, along with fat that helps supply energy. Because it is a fresh poultry ingredient, its place on the label may look stronger than its final dry share after freeze-drying.
Why It Matters
A high spot suggests real turkey content.
Turkey (with ground bone)
Turkey with ground bone combines turkey tissue with explicitly included ground bone. It can contribute animal protein and fat along with naturally occurring minerals associated with bone, particularly calcium and phosphorus.
Why It Matters
Its high placement adds another substantial named turkey ingredient, while the ground bone can contribute to the recipe’s mineral content.
Turkey Liver
Why It Matters
Turkey Gizzards
Why It Matters
Turkey Heart
Turkey heart is a clearly named animal tissue ingredient. Although the heart is an organ anatomically, it consists largely of muscular tissue. It can contribute animal protein, fat, flavor, and naturally occurring nutrients, depending on the amount used in the formula.
Why It Matters
It adds another clearly identified turkey tissue and may contribute meaningful animal-based nutrition.
Secondary Ingredients
This Smallbatch Freeze-dried Raw Dog Food Review looks at the next four items as the formula’s secondary ingredients.
Note: Throughout this ingredient list, “organic” refers to the production method and does not necessarily indicate greater nutritional value.
Organic Butternut Squash
Organic butternut squash is a vegetable grown under organic production standards. It can add carbohydrates, fiber, moisture, and naturally occurring plant compounds such as carotenoids. Fresh squash contains substantial water, so its label position may look stronger than its final dry contribution.
Organic Bok Choy
Organic bok choy is a leafy vegetable grown under organic production standards. It can add moisture, fiber, and small amounts of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. Because fresh bok choy contains considerable water, its label position may look stronger than its final dry contribution.
Organic Green Beans
Organic green beans are vegetable pods grown under organic production standards. They can add moisture, carbohydrates, fiber, and small amounts of plant nutrients. Fresh green beans contain considerable water, which can affect how their label position is interpreted.
Organic Blueberries
Organic blueberries are fruit ingredients grown under organic production standards. They can add natural flavor, fiber, and plant compounds, including antioxidant-related pigments. Their effect depends on the amount used, and lower placement usually indicates a supporting role.
Other Notable Ingredients
This review of Smallbatch Freeze-dried Raw Dog Food also notes several ingredients appearing further down the list.
Mixed Tocopherols
Mixed tocopherols are a mixture of vitamin E-related compounds commonly used to help preserve fats. They can slow oxidation and help protect flavor and freshness during storage. Although tocopherols are related to vitamin E, their main purpose in an ingredient list is usually preservation rather than serving as a major nutrient source.Organic Kelp
Organic kelp is seaweed grown and processed according to organic production standards. It may help supply iodine and small amounts of other minerals from marine plant material. Kelp can vary in mineral content, so its value depends on the source, amount, and complete mineral balance.
Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil is a fat ingredient extracted from cod liver. It can provide concentrated energy and may contribute marine omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA, along with naturally occurring vitamins A and D. It contributes fat rather than protein, and its value depends on the amount used and the recipe’s complete nutrient balance.Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Organic apple cider vinegar is an acidic liquid produced by fermenting apple-derived material under organic standards. It may help adjust acidity, add flavor, or support preservation. It is normally used in small amounts as a functional ingredient rather than a meaningful nutrient source.
Ingredients Takeaway
This recipe builds its animal-based foundation around turkey, turkey with ground bone, liver, gizzards, and heart, with organic vegetables and seeds playing supporting roles. For this Smallbatch Freeze-Dried Dog Food Review, cod liver oil stands out as a named additional fat source, while kelp and vitamin E supplement contribute more targeted nutrient sources. Overall, the formula is strongly animal-focused.
Nutrient Sources
We analyzed this Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey Small Bites Recipe to identify the likely ingredient sources of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber, along with its likely vitamin and mineral contributors.
Protein Sources
Protein appears to come mainly from the early turkey ingredients, including turkey, turkey with ground bone, liver, gizzards, and heart. These named animal ingredients likely provide the dominant protein contribution, while vegetables and seeds may add smaller amounts.
Turkey
Turkey (with ground bone)
Turkey Liver
Turkey Gizzards
+ others
Fat Sources
Fat is likely supplied mainly by turkey and its organ ingredients, with cod liver oil providing a clearly named additional fat source. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds may contribute smaller amounts.
Turkey
Turkey (with ground bone)
Turkey Liver
Cod Liver Oil
+ others
Carbohydrate Sources
Butternut Squash
Bok Choy
Green Beans
Blueberries
+ others
Fiber Sources
Butternut Squash
Green Beans
Bok Choy
Pumpkin Seeds
+ others
Vitamins: Likely Food-Based Sources
Likely food-based vitamin contributors include turkey liver, other turkey tissues, cod liver oil, and the assortment of vegetables, blueberries, and seeds. The ingredient list also includes a vitamin E supplement, so the formula does not appear to rely on food ingredients alone for its vitamin content.
Minerals: Likely Food-Based Sources
Likely food-based mineral contributors include turkey with ground bone, turkey liver, other turkey tissues, kelp, seeds and green vegetables. No added mineral supplement is identified in the provided ingredient list, so minerals appear to come primarily from these animal, vegetable, and seed ingredients.
Ingredient Concerns
Things to consider
What Stands Out Positively
What May Concern Some Owners
Some owners may note the use of mixed tocopherols as a preservative and the addition of a vitamin E supplement, particularly if they prefer formulas made almost entirely from unsupplemented whole-food ingredients.
Overall Concern Level: Smallbatch Freeze-dried Raw Dog Food Review
From an ingredient-list perspective, we rate the overall concern level as Minor. The formula is built around clearly named turkey ingredients with a clear meat-and-produce structure. The considerations noted above do not necessarily indicate lower product quality and are mainly relevant to owners with specific ingredient or supplementation preferences.
Nutrient Analysis
For this Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Review, we analyzed the recipe using guaranteed analysis, dry matter basis, and calorie basis to better understand its macronutrient profile.
Protein (Dry Matter Basis)
60.5%
Fat (Dry Matter Basis)
23.7%
Estimated Carbs (Dry Matter Basis)
5.9%
Fiber (Dry Matter Basis)
1.5%
Method of Analysis | Protein | Fat | Estimated Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|
Guaranteed Analysis | 57.5% | 22.5% | 5.6% |
Dry Matter Basis | 60.5% | 23.7% | 5.9% |
Calorie Basis | 48.8% | 46.4% | 4.8% |
This interpretation is based on our editorial comparison tool and is intended for general review purposes only. It is not an official product claim or a statement from the manufacturer.
AAFCO and FEDIAF Comparison
This section compares the recipe’s estimated dry matter protein and fat levels with AAFCO and FEDIAF minimums.
Adult Maintenance
Standard | Protein (min.) | Fat (min.) |
|---|---|---|
AAFCO | 18.0% | 5.5% |
FEDIAF (MER 110 kcal/kg^0.75) | 18.0% | 5.5% |
FEDIAF (MER 95 kcal/kg^0.75) | 21.0% | 5.5% |
Recipe Estimate | 60.5% | 23.7% |
Based on the estimated dry matter values, this recipe appears to exceed both the AAFCO and FEDIAF adult maintenance minimums for protein and fat.
"This product is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for adult maintenance."
What that statement means
This statement indicates that the food is formulated to meet the AAFCO nutrient profile for adult maintenance. It is intended for adult dogs and is not identified as suitable for growth, reproduction, or all life stages. The claim is based on formulation to the nutrient profile rather than an animal feeding test. In practical terms, this recipe is designed for adult dogs, while puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, and dogs with other life-stage needs should use a food with an adequacy statement that specifically covers those stages.
Cost Analysis
We compared the available buying options to understand upfront cost, cost per pound, cost per serving, and overall value.
For the cost analysis in this Smallbatch Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Review, one serving is based on one standard 8-fluid-ounce measuring cup of the Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey Small Bites.
Best Value Highlight
The 20-oz bag appears to offer the strongest long-term value based on the available pricing. Its cost is $42.39 per pound and $11.06 per serving, compared with $47.98 per pound and $12.51 per serving for the 7-oz bag. It requires a higher upfront payment of $52.99, but the larger size has the lower ongoing cost.
Price Interpretation
The pricing structure shows a lower ongoing cost with the larger bag, while the 7-oz size requires less upfront spending. The difference appears at both the per-pound and per-serving levels, making the 20-oz bag the more economical option for regular use based on the prices available at the time of review.
Autoship Note
At the time of review, Chewy listed a first-order Autoship discount of 35% (up to $50), with future Autoship orders priced about 5% below the one-time purchase price.
Promotions may change, so shoppers should check the retailer for current pricing, Autoship savings, and availability.
Pros and Considerations
Pros
• Named turkey, ground bone, liver, gizzards, and hearts provide a clearly animal-focused ingredient foundation.
• The recipe has a clearly high-protein profile for buyers prioritizing animal-based nutrition.
• Cod liver oil supplies a specifically identified fat and marine omega-3 source.
• No grains, legumes, or potatoes appear in the supplied ingredient list.
• It can be served dry, rehydrated, as a meal, or as a topper.
Cons
• The AAFCO statement limits the formula to adult maintenance rather than all life stages.
• Expensive
Recall and Safety
Recall History
We found no FDA recall notices for Smallbatch in the FDA Recalls & Withdrawals records reviewed from 2019 to present.
Last Checked
September 30, 2026
Recall Monitoring Note
Recall status may change over time as new FDA notices are announced.
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Our Rating
Reviewed Recipe Rating
5/5
Editorial score for the specific recipe reviewed on this page.
Editorial Verdict: Excellent
100 / 100
Ingredient Quality
5/5
Ingredient Safety
5/5
Processing
5/5
What influenced this recipe score
• Multiple named animal proteins appear near the top of the ingredient list, supporting a favorable assessment of ingredient quality.
• No major ingredient safety concerns were identified from the available label information, supporting the recipe’s favorable overall assessment.
• Protein appears strong on a dry matter basis, while the relatively modest carbohydrate load supported the nutritional assessment.
• Freeze-dried processing was viewed favorably and contributed positively to the recipe’s overall evaluation.
This rating reflects our independent editorial opinion of the specific recipe reviewed, based on the information available at the time of publication. It is not intended to disparage the brand or company, and other reviewers may reasonably reach different conclusions.
Final Verdict
Who This Food May Suit
Smallbatch Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey Small Bites may suit adult-dog owners seeking a freeze-dried raw food built around clearly named turkey ingredients. It may also appeal to buyers who value a high-protein, animal-focused recipe that can be served dry, rehydrated, or used as a topper.
Who May Want an Alternative
Owners choosing food for puppies or other life stages may want to compare formulas with broader AAFCO suitability. Buyers who prefer a protein source other than turkey may also want to look for an alternative recipe.
Overall Editorial Verdict
Overall, this recipe receives an Excellent 5/5 editorial assessment and a 100/100 score, supported by its clearly named turkey ingredients, high-protein profile, favorable ingredient and processing findings, and absence of major formula-specific concerns. Its adult-maintenance-only positioning is the main limitation. Based on the available information, it appears to be a strong freeze-dried raw option for adult dogs.
This review is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for individual veterinary advice.
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Editorial Note
Samuel James
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