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The short answer: Tie at A (90/100). Same brand, same G.A.P. Step 2 certified humanely-raised chicken, same per-batch ingredient traceability. The structural difference is format: Rustic Stew is canned wet kettle-cooked in chicken bone broth; Freeze-Dried Raw is raw chicken with water sublimated out under vacuum (no cooking heat). Both AAFCO complete-and-balanced. The choice is format philosophy plus practical use case.

The scores

Open Farm Rustic Stew Harvest Chicken Rustic Stew Wet Dog Food: A (90/100) — Humanely Raised Chicken, Chicken Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Carrots, Spinach.

Open Farm Harvest Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Harvest Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food: A (90/100) — Cage-Free Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, Chicken Gizzard, Whole Eggs.

How the ingredients compare

The top-five ingredients reveal the formulation split between these two products:

Open Farm Rustic Stew: Humanely Raised Chicken, Chicken Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Carrots, Spinach

Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw: Cage-Free Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, Chicken Gizzard, Whole Eggs

Both products earn effectively the same v15 score, but the ingredient lineups tell different stories about how they got there — that is where the actual pick decision lives.

Where Open Farm Rustic Stew pulls ahead

High moisture density (82% water): Rustic Stew delivers substantial hydration with every serving — structurally important for older dogs, dogs on diuretics, dogs with kidney concerns, or any dog that doesn’t drink enough water. The freeze-dried raw line requires rehydration with separately-provided water to deliver comparable hydration. Shop on Amazon →

Tender soft texture: Kettle-cooked stew with vegetables creates a soft texture that’s easier to chew than rehydrated freeze-dried raw chunks. For older dogs with reduced jaw strength, dogs with dental issues or missing teeth, this texture is structurally important.

Ready-to-serve convenience: Open the can, pour in the bowl. No rehydration step, no waiting time, no measuring water-to-raw ratios. For owners feeding multiple times daily or in time-constrained situations, this convenience matters.

Where Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw holds its own

Closest-to-fresh nutrient preservation: Freeze-drying removes water at low temperature under vacuum — the original animal protein structure, enzymes, and most heat-sensitive vitamins remain intact. The Rustic Stew kettle-cooking applies moderate heat that denatures some enzymes and reduces vitamin C and some B-vitamins. Shop on Amazon →

Higher animal-protein density: Freeze-Dried Raw leads with five named animal sources in the top five (cage-free chicken, chicken liver, chicken heart, chicken gizzard, whole eggs) plus chicken bone — closer to 80%+ animal-derived. Rustic Stew leads with chicken + chicken bone broth + four whole vegetables in the top six.

Better per-calorie economics: Calorie-for-calorie, freeze-dried raw is more cost-efficient than wet stew (the 82% moisture in Rustic Stew means roughly 5x the package weight for the same calories). For long-term standalone feeding without subscription pricing, freeze-dried raw is more economical.

The bottom line

Open Farm Rustic Stew and Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw both earn A/90 with the same humane-sourcing credentials. The format choice is structural and use-case-driven, not score-driven. Pick Rustic Stew for: hydration density (older dogs, kidney concerns, picky drinkers), tender texture (dental-compromised, older dogs), ready-to-serve convenience. Pick Freeze-Dried Raw for: closest-to-fresh nutrient preservation, higher animal-protein density, better per-calorie economics for long-term standalone feeding. Many owners use both rotationally — stew at one meal, freeze-dried raw at another.