When your dog always clamors for a taste of your chicken dinner, why not give them their own dish of dehydrated chicken feet? Not only will they love the taste, but these little snacks are packed with nutrients. In order to dehydrate chicken feet, you can use a food dehydrator at 200°F for 24 hours. Alternatively, you can bake them at 140°F for up to 8 hours in an air fryer or oven. Let’s learn how to make this delicious treat for your dog if you are intrigued!
Why Make Dehydrated Chicken Feet?
There are a number of reasons why dehydrated chicken feet make excellent dog treats.
To begin with, they are completely edible, so choking or indigestion are not a concern.
Dogs with sensitive teeth or teething puppies will enjoy chewing on the soft bones, which are ideal for teething puppies.
Chewing helps remove plaque and tartar, and the chewy texture is gentle on the gums.
It is a healthy and nutritious treat to consume chicken feet because they are high in protein and contain no additives or preservatives.
Additionally, these treats are packed with collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, and natural minerals that are great for the joints of your dog.
Your dog’s joints can be kept healthy with these natural and healthy remedies. They can reduce inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
Besides making an all-natural, sugar-free, and preservative-free dog treat, you can also make it at home by dehydrating chicken feet.
As a result of dehydrating, many of the nutrients and antioxidants found in fresh foods are preserved, making dehydrated chicken feet a healthy choice for dog treats.
Especially if you have a young puppy or an older dog who needs a special diet, check with your veterinarian if you are unsure whether dehydrated chicken feet would be good treats for your dog.
Where To Buy Chicken Feet
You can find chicken feet in specialty supermarkets and butcher shops, since they are not commonly used in households’ cooking.
Fresh, plump chicken feet free of blemishes should be purchased when purchasing chicken feet.
Your local butcher will also ensure they are fresh and juicy, which will make delicious treats for your dog.
How To Prepare Chicken Feet For Dehydration
You need to prepare the chicken feet before cooking them if you’ve never cooked with chicken feet before:
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The first step is to give them a rinse in salt water to remove any bacteria.
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You will next need to clip the toenails on each foot. This is because the toenails are quite sharp, and you don’t want your dog to get injured while enjoying this treat. You can use kitchen scissors to remove the toenails and any sharp bits.
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Finally, pat them dry with a paper towel to minimize moisture on the surface and speed up the dehydrating process.
You’re ready to dehydrate your feet after you’ve prepped them!
How To Dehydrate Chicken Feet In A Food Dehydrator
Food dehydrators are excellent for preparing chicken feet! They will remove moisture from the chicken feet, keeping dangerous bacteria at bay and extending their shelf life.
Here’s how to do it:
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Set your food dehydrator to 200°F for dehydrating chicken feet.
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The chicken feet should be spread out evenly without overlapping on the dehydrator tray.
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For 24 hours, dehydrate the chicken feet.
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Check the chicken feet after 24 hours to see if they are ready. If they feel dry and crispy, they are ready.
Dehydration may take longer if your chicken feet are larger or if you live in a high-humidity environment.
Once they are fully cooked, store them in an airtight container at room temperature, and they should stay fresh for up to two weeks.
How To Dehydrate Chicken Feet Using An Air Fryer
In addition, you can also use an air fryer to dry the chicken feet! It is basically a miniature convection oven, so it works great at drawing moisture from the chicken feet.
Here’s how to do it:
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Spray the basket with cooking oil to keep the chicken feet from sticking, but make sure the oil is safe for your dog.
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Line the air fryer basket with the chicken feet, making sure they do not overlap.
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Fry the chicken feet for up to eight hours at 140°F. Flip them after four hours to ensure that each side dries evenly.
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Let the chicken feet cool to room temperature after 8 hours in the air fryer.
The fruits can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
How To Dehydrate Chicken Feet In The Oven
The last but not least method for dehydrating chicken feet is to bake them in the oven!
Here’s how to do it:
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Set your oven to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
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To prevent chicken feet from sticking to a baking tray, line it with parchment paper.
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Ensure that the chicken feet are evenly distributed across the entire tray.
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The chicken feet should be baked for 8 hours, rotating the pan after 4 hours to ensure even cooking.
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Once all the chicken feet are dry and crispy, remove them from the pan and let them cool down to room temperature before storing them.
How To Store Dehydrated Chicken Feet
When chicken feet are dehydrated, most of the water content is removed, leaving behind a concentrated form that can be stored for a longer period of time.
As long as they are kept in an airtight container, dehydrated chicken feet can be stored at room temperature for a few weeks.
It is possible to store the dehydrated chicken feet in the fridge for up to a month or freeze them for up to a year. The fridge may dry them out further and make their texture chewier.
Related Questions
Here are some additional questions we thought you might have now that you know about dehydrated chicken feet and how to make them at home.
Are dehydrated chicken feet safe for dogs?
Cooked chicken bones are prone to breaking into sharp pieces that can cause choking or intestinal blockages or punctures in dogs.
You don’t have to worry about giving your dog dehydrated chicken bones! The dehydration process makes the bones crispy and crumbly, so your dog can eat them without any problems.
The bones also contain calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for strong teeth and bones.
Those with pancreatitis and weight issues may not benefit from the high fat content of the chicken feet, as well as young puppies with developing teeth.
To prevent digestive issues, give your dog only 1–2 dehydrated chicken feet a day.
How long do dehydrated chicken feet last?
You can expect your dog to finish a whole batch of dehydrated chicken feet within a few days if you give it dehydrated chicken feet.
Dehydrated chicken feet should be stored in an airtight container and kept in a cool and dry area – they will stay fresh for up to two weeks.
Keep them in the fridge during the summer months to prevent dangerous bacteria from growing.
What are some alternatives to dehydrated chicken feet?
Here are a few alternative treats for your dog that you can consider making if you can’t find dehydrated chicken feet in the supermarket.
Also, you can dehydrate chicken necks, which are also delicious and nutritious treats for your dog. Chicken necks also provide lots of nutrition and have crunchy and chewy textures your dog enjoys.
Chicken necks, however, have much bigger bones than chicken feet, so they are better suited to large, mature dogs.
You can find pork ears at your local butcher, and they can also be dehydrated to make delicious dog treats.
Dogs will still enjoy the chewy texture of pig ears, but you won’t have to worry about the bones harming them.
Pig ears have a higher fat content than chicken feet, so overweight or pancreatitis dogs should not eat them.