Understanding All Provide Dog Food: What Is It?
All Provide is a growing name in the pet nutrition industry, known for offering fresh, human-grade dog food made with high-quality, whole-food ingredients. Unlike conventional kibble that often includes fillers, artificial preservatives, and heavily processed components, All Provide focuses on transparency, using simple recipes with real meat, vegetables, and beneficial supplements. Their products are typically shipped frozen or refrigerated and designed to be fed as a complete and balanced diet.
But here’s the big question pet owners are asking: Do you have to cook All Provide dog food before feeding it to your dog? The short answer is — no, you don’t. But to fully understand why, let’s dive into what All Provide offers, the broader context of raw and fresh diets, and the science behind feeding uncooked dog food safely and effectively.
What Forms Does All Provide Dog Food Come In?
All Provide offers its dog food in two primary forms: raw and gently cooked. This variation allows pet owners to choose the best fit based on their dog’s digestive needs, lifestyle, and personal comfort level with handling raw food.
Raw All Provide Diets
Their raw food line is made from uncooked, minimally processed ingredients. It includes raw muscle meat, organ meat (such as liver and heart), ground bones, and a blend of vegetables. This formulation mimics what dogs would eat in the wild — a biologically appropriate diet.
Because All Provide sources ingredients following human-grade standards and uses strict manufacturing processes, their raw food is safe to serve immediately from the freezer or after a quick thaw.
Important: Never cook All Provide’s raw diet. Heating raw food can alter nutrient profiles, potentially destroying essential enzymes and vitamins that contribute to its health benefits. It can also make ground bones dangerous by causing them to splinter.
Gently Cooked All Provide Diets
For pet parents who are hesitant about feeding raw, All Provide offers gently cooked recipes. These meals are heated to a precise temperature that eliminates harmful bacteria while preserving nutritional integrity. The cooking process used is delicate — not the high-heat extrusion seen in kibble manufacturing — so the nutrients remain bioavailable.
With these gently cooked formulas, the food is ready to serve straight from the fridge or after softening with warm (not boiling) water. Reheating is optional, and overheating should be avoided.
Why Don’t You Have to Cook All Provide Dog Food?
The primary reason you do not need to cook All Provide dog food lies in its formulation and safety protocols.
Formulated for Immediate Feeding
All Provide meals — whether raw or gently cooked — are designed to be nutritionally complete. The brand adheres to rigorous safety standards, and each batch undergoes testing for pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. This means you can serve the food confidently without additional cooking.
Additionally, the nutritional balance of All Provide’s recipes has been formulated in accordance with guidelines from entities like the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), ensuring that dogs receive all essential nutrients without any supplementation or modification.
Preservation of Nutrients
Cooking food at home, especially at high temperatures, can degrade heat-sensitive nutrients like certain B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and natural enzymes. All Provide aims to retain these benefits by either keeping the food raw or using gentle, lab-controlled cooking methods.
For example:
- Raw food retains natural digestive enzymes that may aid in breaking down proteins and fats.
- Gently cooked food preserves protein structure and amino acid profiles better than high-temperature processing.
By skipping additional cooking at home, you preserve these benefits, supporting your dog’s overall health, coat condition, and digestion.
Convenience Factor
One of the main selling points of All Provide is convenience. Unlike traditional raw food preparation — which requires sourcing meat, grinding bones, measuring supplements, and storing large quantities — All Provide delivers ready-to-serve meals. The idea is to make high-quality feeding as easy as opening a package and portioning a serving.
For busy pet owners, this eliminates the need to pre-cook or prepare food, making it a true “feed and go” option.
The Myth of Cooking Raw Dog Food for Safety
Many people assume that raw food must be cooked before feeding to kill bacteria. While this is sound logic when considering human food safety, it doesn’t always apply to canine digestive systems.
Dogs Are Biologically Equipped for Raw Diets
Canines have evolved with highly acidic stomachs (pH around 1–2), short digestive tracts, and powerful enzymes designed to handle raw meat, bones, and even bacteria that humans cannot tolerate. This allows them to efficiently digest and utilize raw food while minimizing the risk of certain pathogens.
However, this does not mean all raw food is automatically safe — the quality, sourcing, and handling are critical. All Provide mitigates risk by using certified facilities, strict hygiene protocols, and third-party testing.
Safety Measures at All Provide
All Provide employs High-Pressure Processing (HPP) in some of its raw products. HPP is a non-thermal pasteurization technique that uses extreme pressure to eliminate harmful bacteria while preserving nutrients, flavor, and texture. This method is considered superior to cooking when it comes to maintaining food quality and safety.
Without access to HPP at home, attempting to cook raw dog food might reduce safety while significantly diminishing nutritional value.
When Should You Cook or Heat All Provide Dog Food?
While not necessary, there are specific circumstances when slightly warming or modifying All Provide food may be beneficial.
For Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs
Some dogs — especially those with chronic digestive issues or weakened immune systems — may tolerate gently warmed food better than cold or raw meals. Warming the food to body temperature (about 98–100°F) can help release aromas, improve palatability, and make digestion easier.
To do this safely:
- Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator overnight.
- Place the portion in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat on low power for 10–15 seconds, stirring well to avoid hot spots.
- Test the temperature before serving.
Never boil or fry All Provide meals. High heat can break down proteins and create harmful compounds, especially in animal-based products.
Picky Eaters May Prefer Warm Food
Many dogs find warmed food more appealing. The natural fats and meat scents become more pronounced when slightly heated, encouraging better appetite and food intake — especially in older dogs or those recovering from illness.
Warming is safe for the gently cooked line and can be done cautiously with raw food (without cooking it). However, don’t overheat, as you may destroy the nutritional advantages raw feeding provides.
Comparing All Provide to DIY Raw and Kibble Diets
To truly appreciate why All Provide food doesn’t need cooking, it helps to compare it to other common feeding methods.
vs. Homemade Raw Diets
Pet owners who prepare their dog’s meals at home using raw meat, organs, and bones often debate whether to cook. While some choose to cook for peace of mind, cooking at home can lead to nutritional imbalances unless handled by a veterinary nutritionist.
All Provide bypasses these issues by:
- Providing pre-balanced ratios of calcium to phosphorus.
- Ensuring adequate levels of essential nutrients like taurine, vitamin D, and omega fatty acids.
- Offering variety packs to prevent long-term deficiencies.
With All Provide, you get the benefits of raw feeding — improved coat, better breath, smaller stools — without the guesswork of homemade preparation.
vs. Commercial Kibble
Traditional kibble is cooked at extremely high temperatures and pressures. While this makes it shelf-stable and kills bacteria, it also denatures proteins, reduces vitamin content, and often requires synthetic supplementation.
All Provide avoids these pitfalls by using fresh, whole ingredients and minimal processing. The result? Higher digestibility, better nutrient absorption, and fewer allergens — especially beneficial for dogs with food sensitivities.
Potential Risks of Cooking All Provide Food at Home
Though feeding options are personal, it’s important to recognize the downsides of cooking All Provide meals yourself.
Nutrient Degradation
High temperatures can break down:
– Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), essential for nerve function.
– Vitamin C and E, which support immunity.
– Enzymes like protease and lipase, which aid digestion.
While some nutrients are heat-stable, others are lost in cooking — defeating the purpose of choosing a fresh, nutrient-rich food.
Texture and Palatability Changes
Cooking can dry out meat, make vegetables overly soft, and alter the natural consistency that dogs enjoy. Some dogs may reject overcooked food, leading to reduced intake and potential weight loss.
Structural Risks with Bone-In Recipes
All Provide includes ground bone in many raw recipes to provide natural calcium. When raw or gently processed, ground bone is soft and digestible. But cooking meat with bone content can cause bones to become hard and brittle, increasing the risk of dental damage or gastrointestinal injury.
This makes cooking particularly dangerous for bone-in All Provide formulas.
Best Practices for Serving All Provide Dog Food
To maximize benefits and ensure safety, follow these recommended guidelines:
Defrosting Raw Meals
If the food is frozen:
– Move it to the refrigerator 24 hours before feeding.
– Thaw in its original packaging to prevent cross-contamination.
– Do not thaw at room temperature or in warm water, which encourages bacterial growth.
Serving Sizes and Portion Control
All Provide recommends feeding 2–3% of your dog’s ideal body weight per day, split into two meals. Smaller breeds, senior dogs, or less active dogs may need the lower end of the range, while active or working dogs may need more.
Use a kitchen scale for precision — accuracy ensures balanced nutrition over time.
Transitioning Your Dog
Switching to All Provide should be gradual, especially if your dog has been on kibble:
– Days 1–2: 25% All Provide, 75% old food.
– Days 3–4: 50% All Provide, 50% old food.
– Days 5–6: 75% All Provide, 25% old food.
– Day 7: 100% All Provide.
This prevents digestive upset and allows gut flora to adapt.
Understanding Label Claims: “Ready to Serve” Explained
On All Provide packaging, you may see the phrase “Ready to Serve.” This means the food has been safety-tested, balanced for nutrition, and does not require any further preparation.
It’s similar to opening a container of organic baby food or a pre-made human meal kit — nothing needs to be added, removed, or cooked. The brand’s commitment is to deliver “farm-to-bowl” freshness with minimal intervention.
Some consumers confuse “raw” with “unsafe” or “unprepared,” but in the context of high-quality, commercially produced raw pet food like All Provide, **raw equals ready**.
The Role of Veterinary Nutrition in All Provide’s Formulations
All Provide works with veterinary nutritionists to formulate diets that meet the specific life-stage needs of dogs. Whether your pet is a puppy, adult, or senior, the brand offers tailored blends with:
– Higher protein for puppies and active dogs.
– Controlled fat levels for weight management.
– Added joint support (like glucosamine) for seniors.
Because these formulas are scientifically balanced, altering them by cooking or mixing with other foods can disrupt nutrient ratios — especially concerning fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and trace minerals.
Environmental and Ethical Considerations
All Provide uses ethically sourced ingredients, including grass-fed beef, free-range poultry, and wild-caught fish. They avoid factory farming practices and prioritize sustainability. By choosing not to cook the food additional times, you’re also reducing energy usage and carbon footprint at home.
The brand’s packaging is recyclable in many areas, and their shipping uses insulated liners and dry ice to maintain freshness — minimizing waste compared to daily cooking and cleanup.
Real Owner Experiences: What Pet Parents Say
Thousands of dog owners who have switched to All Provide report noticeable improvements:
– Smaller, less odorous stools. This is common with highly digestible fresh diets.
– Increased energy and playfulness. Especially in dogs previously on lower-quality kibble.
– Healthier skin and shinier coats. Linked to natural omega fatty acids in uncooked ingredients.
– Better dental health. Many owners notice less plaque buildup, though raw bones should be given under supervision.
Not one of these benefits requires cooking the food — in fact, cooking could diminish them.
Expert Opinions on Cooking Commercial Raw Diets
Leading veterinary nutritionists, including those from UC Davis and Tufts University, caution against modifying commercial raw diets at home.
Dr. Cailin Heinze, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, notes: “High-quality commercial raw diets are formulated to be fed as-is. Cooking them can degrade nutrients and may not improve safety if the product is already tested for pathogens.”
Similarly, the American Kennel Club (AKC) acknowledges that raw diets can be safe when sourced from reputable companies — without the need for additional preparation.
Final Verdict: Should You Cook All Provide Dog Food?
After analyzing the science, safety protocols, and nutritional benefits, the answer remains clear: No, you do not have to cook All Provide dog food.
In fact, cooking it at home is discouraged for the following reasons:
– It may destroy beneficial nutrients and enzymes.
– It increases the risk of bone splintering if the recipe contains ground bone.
– It offers no added safety if the food has undergone HPP or rigorous pathogen testing.
– It undermines the convenience and freshness the brand was designed to provide.