Gently cooked means the food is prepared using controlled time and temperature conditions defined by recognised food-safety standards to kill harmful bacteria, while being gentle enough to preserve the quality, flavour, and nutritional integrity of the ingredients.
Freeze-dried is a preservation process called sublimation. After cooking, the food is frozen and placed under vacuum. As it is slowly warmed, the frozen moisture turns directly into vapour without becoming liquid, removing moisture without the use of high heat.
The finished food has very low moisture content, typically below 5%, as verified through routine moisture testing. Without moisture, bacteria and mould cannot grow, allowing the food to be stored safely without artificial preservatives.
Because no high heat is used during drying, the taste, texture, and nutrition of the gently cooked food are retained. When you add hot water at home, the food rehydrates and cools, becoming fresh, gently cooked food again.