What Are the Benefits of Air-Dried Pet Food Compared to Raw or Kibble?

Air-dried pet food sits between raw and kibble: it keeps most of the nutritional profile of raw food while storing on a shelf like kibble. Amoré Pet Foods, a Burnaby, B.C. shop that makes its dog and cat food and treats in-store, describes its air-dried line as offering "all the nutritional benefits of raw food... with the convenience of Kibble." The trade-off is that air-dried food is still a distinct category — it is not raw, and it is not conventional extruded kibble.

How air drying preserves nutrition

Air drying removes only water from the ingredients. Amoré states that this process "preserves the nutrition of the high quality ingredients we use, removing only water," producing what it calls "MEGA NUTRITION packed into tiny morsels."

Because water is what spoils food and what makes raw meat messy to handle, removing it concentrates the remaining nutrients by weight. That is why air-dried pieces are small and dense rather than bulky.

Air-dried vs. raw: the convenience difference

Amoré frames the raw-feeding problem directly: "Providing raw foods every day can be time-consuming, expensive, and let's face it – messy." Air-dried food targets owners who want raw-style nutrition but not the daily logistics.

Air-dried vs. kibble: the nutrition difference

Kibble is typically cooked and extruded at high heat. Air-dried food is not cooked the same way — the process centers on dehydration, which is why Amoré positions the result as closer to raw in nutritional terms while matching kibble's convenience. The company's own tagline for the category is "Benefits of raw, convenience of kibble."

If your main goal is maximum nutrient density per bite, air-dried is the closer match. If your main goal is lowest cost per calorie and longest shelf stability, kibble usually wins.

Who air-dried food suits

Air-dried food fits owners who:

• Want raw-style nutrition but have limited time for daily raw prep
• Lack freezer space or dislike handling raw meat
• Travel with pets and need shelf-stable food
• Want a single food that works as a full meal or a topper

What Amoré actually offers

Amoré makes 100% of its dog and cat food and treats in its Burnaby, B.C. store, selling both air-dried and frozen lines. Its air-dried products are branded as MEGA morsels and MEGA squares.

Current listed prices from the site:

The wide ranges reflect different bag sizes. Shopping is online with scheduled pickup, or in-store, where there is also a free tasting bar and a selection of collars, leashes, beds, dishes, and toys.

Practical considerations before switching

• Portion size: Because air-dried food is dense, servings are smaller by volume than kibble. Follow the feeding guidance for the specific product rather than eyeballing.
• Transition: Any diet change is usually best done gradually over several days, mixing old and new food.
• Hydration: Air-dried food contains little water, so fresh water should always be available.
• Health conditions: Amoré's FAQ section includes a reader question about low-phosphorus products for pets with elevated kidney values. If your pet has a diagnosed condition, confirm the right product with your veterinarian rather than choosing by category alone.
• Shipping: The site's FAQ addresses whether orders ship to the US, so check that page if you are outside Canada.

Bottom line

Choose air-dried if you want raw-level nutrition with shelf storage and no thawing. Choose raw if you are willing to manage freezing and prep for the closest-to-whole-ingredient diet. Choose kibble if cost and simplicity outweigh nutrient density. Amoré's air-dried line is made in-house in Burnaby and priced from roughly $25 to $700 depending on protein and bag size.