Tried fresh, human-grade food for your dog yet? 60% Off First Order at Ollie. Redeem Offer

Pet Plate Dog Food Review: Is Fresh Food The Best?

Written by

Mary Nielsen

Reviewed by

Updated on:

Some articles include affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when you make a purchase through these links.
pet plate dog food review

Meet Pet Plate

Pet Plate is a quality dog food that crafts ready-to-eat meals for our furry companions. They even provide doorstep delivery with an easy-to-use subscription service.

Pet Plate has become quite popular because they give pet owners the chance to feed their dogs wholesome, natural recipes with the convenience of delivery.

Each Pet Plate pack is tailor-made based on the information you provide about your pet when you sign up. Your pet’s food is frozen prior to delivery, which ensures its freshness. 

Pet Plate uses fresh ingredients to create cooked food meals designed to improve your pet’s overall health and well-being. But does it really deliver the results it promises? 

Let’s find out in this Pet Plate Dog Food Review.

Brand Quick Look

  • Parent Company: Pet PlatePet Plate Dog Food Review: Is Fresh Food The Best? 1
  • Founded In: 2016
  • Made in: USA
  • Available at:  Pet Plate Website
  • Types of Food: fresh, cooked meals
  • Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
  • Recalled in Past? : No

Behind the Brand

Renaldo Webb & Winston
Renaldo Webb & Winston

Renaldo Webb, the owner/creator of Pet Plate wanted something better for his dog, Winston. After working for several years in the dog food industry, he was appalled by those “standard practices” and rejected the usual kibble diet to find something healthier for his companion. 

In the creation of Pet Plate meals, he uses premium ingredients to provide dogs with nutritionally balanced cooked meals designed for their overall health and well-being.

The recipes are developed in partnership with Dr. Renee Streeter, DVM, DACVN, Veterinary Nutritionist. Her focus is to formulate meals for Pet Plate that are nutritionally balanced and highly palatable to dogs.  These recipes are also enriched with the essential vitamins and minerals that dogs require.  

Get 60% off your first order

 

Each recipe is prepared in the Pet Plate’s kitchens and delivered to your door every two weeks.  Simple to store and ready to serve! And how convenient is it that you’ll never find yourself out of food again, racing to the store to get more before your best buddy needs to be fed again?

Pet Plate has certainly gained recognition and kudos around the country.  Not only from their loyal customers, but they’ve caught the eye of Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Shark Tank, NBC, Fox, General Mills, and Woof Whiskers to name a few.

Pet Plate also understands the need for variety. To that end, they are always developing new recipes and have also expanded their delivery options. 

You can select your meal or meals and delivery right from the website. You can order all the same meals or a variety, and everything arrives at your door in convenient packaging to store and serve later.  Not to worry if it comes when you’re not home.  Their packaging keeps the food cold for a good long time!

We asked Dennis and Alaina to tell us about their experience with Pet Plate.

The Unboxing

Pet Plate Dog Food Review: Is Fresh Food The Best? 2

“Our first Pet Plate arrived in a large blue and white recyclable box on a sunny day. All I could hope for was that the food had not spoiled. After opening, I was impressed that everything was still frozen! But I had no idea that Alaina could smell it.  She got very interested in my unpacking and had to sniff the box, sniff the containers and the more she sniffed, the more that tail wagged!

Included in the box is a variety of information cards. Each card contains some pro-tips in meal handling and how to serve them to your pups. You will want to store the meals in the freezer, but the meals have a 1-week shelf life in the refrigerator. Your pet's pre-portioned meals can be served cold or hot, but Alaina doesn't like warm stuff, so she dined on the cold.

I loved how one of the cards listed out all the benefits! Pet Plate promotes better digestion, healthier & shinier coat, allergy relief and healthier weight. Plus, a transitioning guide is also sent which is helpful!

Pet Plate Dog Food Review: Is Fresh Food The Best? 3

We got the Barkin' Beef recipe which had been pre-portioned just for Alaina. But we could have gotten Chompin Chicken, Tail Waggin Turkey, or Lip Lickin Lamb. I’m pretty sure we’ll be trying them all out in time! That’s one of the things I loved about ordering, it’s so easy to make changes to my subscription!

Anyway, back to the real star of this show:  Alaina- she likes to eat twice a day and all I had to do was split the contents of one container in half to feed her.  It just doesn’t get any easier than that! The plastic tubs are convenient and recyclable.”


 

Quality Check

The Things That We Humans Want to Know

One of Pet Plate's strongest points is their desire to inform and be completely transparent about their ingredients for us humans. For the first time in my life, I am fully aware of every single ingredient Alaina is eating. There’s no mystery products or by-product meals, which we’ve seen listed on typical processed foods.

Our chosen recipe, Barkin' Beef, is human grade and formulated by a Vet Nutritionist to meet the standards set by AAFCO. It is also important to note that this recipe contains real beef and beef liver (full recipe review below)!

This 100% American made company cooks and packages at a USDA approved kitchen in New York. The company guarantees that there are no by-products in their recipes as they are crafted by Vet Nutritionists and cooked in small portions by Pet Chefs to ensure its quality.

pet plate dog food review

Taste Test

The Things Our Dogs Want to Know

Alaina here is a super picky eater! Yes, she is spoiled like that. But…with Pet Plate, it was bowl-licking good! And I bet if it were up to her, she would lick the bowl all day.

“She absolutely loved this product. The quality is apparent at first glance with ingredients that are identifiable. Not that she looked to see what she was eating, it tasted way too good for that! “

Note: Make sure you follow the transition card instructions when you first start ordering to avoid disturbing your dog’s digestion.


 

Pet Plate Dog Food Review

Barkin’ Beef Recipe

Ingredients

The Meats

  • Ground Beef
  • Beef liver

The Veggies

  • Sweet potatoespet plate beef
  • Potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Green peas

The Fruits

  • Apples
  • Pumpkin

The Essential Oils

  • Safflower oil
  • Salmon oil

Nutritional Supplements

  • Dicalcium phosphate, Calcium carbonate, Salt, Taurine, Vitamin E, Ferrous fumarate
  • Zinc oxide, Manganese gluconate, Thiamine mononitrate, Magnesium oxide, Potassium iodide, Sodium selenite, Vitamin D3

With its limited number of ingredients, the Barkin’ Beef recipe is perfect for dogs that are picky or need a dense source of protein for active energy. (Did you notice how there is no grain, no meal, no meal byproducts?)

The whole beef and beef liver are high-quality proteins and healthy fats to give your dog energy all day long. The vegetables and fruits help your dog get enough fiber and receive critical vitamins and minerals to support the immune system and healthy digestion.

Pet Plate Dog Food Review: Is Fresh Food The Best? 4

You will probably find that your dog will eat his Barkin Beef willingly, happily, and consistently! The foods are freshly prepared, full of flavor and smell great! so your dog may be more willing to eat these recipes than standard kibble.

The food is on the expensive side. If you have multiple dogs or a large breed dog, you may have a more significant investment. However, serving portions are smaller than cheap kibble, and you’ll find that you save money on remedies for things like itchy skin, allergies, ear infections, and other costly ailments that can affect dogs on poor quality food. If you can swing the cost, we think you may be pleased.

Delivery is free and happens once every two weeks. You can monitor your meal preferences from your account, and the company also offers a referral program that can help offset the cost of your dog’s food.

Most dogs should see an improvement in their overall health and well-being on fresh foods. If you can manage the budget, it could be a great way to improve your dog’s quality of life.

We are impressed with the quality of the Pet Plate human grade meals.

Pet Plate Dog Food Review: Is Fresh Food The Best? 5

What Type of Dog Food Does The Company Offer?

The company uses limited ingredient formulas to provide dogs with dense nutrition. The meals are made with human grade ingredients and wholesome protein sources. Healthy fats help keep up your dog’s energy throughout the day while balanced carbohydrates and fiber ease digestion.

The foods are made for all life stages but be sure to check with your veterinarian before you feed them to your puppy, especially a large breed puppy. Your vet can help you decide the best course of action for your growing puppy.

Seniors could benefit from the texture of the food, receiving better nutrition with fewer empty calories. The meals have no artificial colors or flavors and no cheap fillers such as corn or soy. The foods are made fresh each week and shipped in easy to serve portioned containers for easy serving sizes and a lot less mess.

Get 60% off your first order

 

The Pet Plate’s Recall History

No Recalls Found at this Time.

Pet Plate has a clean track record for production. The company has a high potential for contamination because of freshly cooked ingredients, but they follow rigorous safety standards to make sure that both you and your pet are safe. We have confidence in their methods.

How To Get Started

Simply go to their page and click the “Start Now” button at the top right corner of the page. Answer a couple of questions to customize your dog’s needs, choose your recipe and plan, and then check out! It’s that simple.

Oh, and don’t forget, you’ll be getting a nice 30% discount on your first order! It’s applied automatically.


 

A Quick Look at The Recipes

pet plate dog food review

They currently have a limited number of recipes, but they do have some outstanding ones. We think your dog would be thrilled with one of the following recipes.

Lip Lickin’ Lamb

Lamb is an excellent source of protein for dogs who have allergies to poultry and beef (more common than you think). Lamb is a dense protein that’s very palatable and also suitable for dogs that have picky tendencies. It’s great for dull skin and itchiness.

Quinoa and veggies like broccoli provide balanced sources of carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins essential for your dog’s health and well-being.

Tail Waggin’ Turkey

Turkey is a good option for dogs that have trouble maintaining their waistlines. It provides dogs with protein without all the extra calories and can aid in weight loss for dogs on restricted calorie diets.

Fresh veggies and fruit provide fiber and critical sources of vitamins and minerals. Healthy fats help condition the skin and coat while the supplement blend fills in any nutritional gaps.

Barkin’ Beef

This one right here is the Best Seller. If you’ve got a super picky dog, you can usually entice them to eat beef. It’s familiar and great for dogs that require good protein with plenty of balanced carbohydrates.

Chewy Online Dog Supplies


30% Off at Chewy.com

+ Free Shipping

Save Now

The nutrient blend gives them critical vitamins and minerals with healthy fats for conditioning the skin and coat. It uses only limited ingredients and has no artificial colors or flavors and no cheap fillers.

As you saw above, the nutrient blend gives them critical vitamins and minerals with healthy fats for conditioning the skin and coat. It uses only limited ingredients and has no artificial colors or flavors and no cheap fillers.

Chompin’ Chicken

Pet Plate’s chicken recipe is one of their most popular and all around has an amazing nutrient profile. It has the second highest protein among their available recipes along with the second highest carbs. But don’t let that scare you – the carbs used come from some great ingredients such as sweet potatoes.

What Customers Say

Pet Plate’s customers appreciate the recipes with the fine quality and limited ingredients. Customers with picky dogs usually don’t have any trouble getting dogs to eat, and customers also liked that the food comes right to their door on schedule.

Some of the best parts of the recipes are human grade ingredients and freshly cooked recipes. They can feed their dogs things they would practically feed themselves, helping to cut down on allergic responses and poor digestion and energy levels.

This is a top tier, premium food, so it is expected that there will be some complaints about the price. But if you can swing the budget, you may notice a reduction in your veterinarian costs and the cost of supplements and remedies for things like chronic itchy skin.

Complaints also included some dogs not liking some of the recipes, but that’s to be expected because not all dogs have the same tastes.

To sum up this review, we give Pet Plate four paws up! Pet Plate Dog Food Review: Is Fresh Food The Best? 6

Is Pet plate good for dogs?

Absolutely! The meals they've formulated are nutritionally balanced and highly palatable to dogs. Most dogs respond really well to a fresh diet comprised of high quality ingredients and vitamins & minerals.

Who owns pet plate?

Renaldo Webb, Founder Of Pet Plate. Renaldo Webb used to work as a consultant in the pet food industry.

Where is pet plate located?

Pet Plate headquarters is located at 450 W 33rd St 12th floor, New York.

What happened to Pet Plate after shark tank?

Since appearing on Shark Tank, Pet Plate has grown from a few subscriptions in the New York area, to now shipping hundreds of boxes each week throughout the country. In confirmation of their success, Pet Plate raised $4 million in a seed round earlier in May 2018.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 1

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

As you found this post useful...

Follow us on social media!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Scroll to Top