Air-Drying

Air-drying is a manufacturing process where raw food is slowly dried in a temperature-controlled chamber over hours or days. The process uses lower temperatures than extrusion (typically below 70 degrees Celsius) and preserves more heat-sensitive nutrients. Air-dried dog food is more calorie-dense than kibble, meaning the same volume contains more calories, so portion calibration matters during the transition to avoid overfeeding. Air-drying produces a chewy, jerky-like texture that many dogs find more palatable than kibble. Brands like ZIWI Peak and Real Meat use air-drying as their core production method.