Air-Dried Dog Food Brands: Compare Nutrition and Cost

• Air-dried foods are calorie-dense, shelf-stable and often made from raw meat dried at low heat. "Air-dried" isn't a regulated term, and the name doesn't tell you whether bacteria were killed.
• Most brands market their air-dried food as a meal, topper or treat. Only the AAFCO statement on the specific recipe tells you whether it's a complete diet, and for which life stages.
• Per calorie, the cheapest air-dried food we priced cost more than the cheapest Freshpet roll and around 15 times as much as a big bag of basic kibble.

What "air-dried" means, and how it differs from other formats

Air-drying removes water by moving warm air over food for a long time. The brands describe it in similar words. ZIWI says its process "gently circulates warm air to protect raw ingredient nutrition." Sundays for Dogs says air-drying "uses gentle, low heat over time to remove moisture while preserving natural nutrients and flavor." Open Farm calls its recipes "jerky-like" and "gently air dried to preserve nutrition." Redbarn says it removes moisture "without high heat, slow roasting" its food. None of the brand pages we read gave drying temperatures or times.

The result is a dense, low-moisture food, usually 12 to 18% moisture on the guaranteed analysis, that keeps at room temperature and scoops like kibble. That's its main practical appeal. It's also why it's so different from fresh food in daily use: no fridge, no thawing and a much smaller bowl for the same calories.

We didn't find an AAFCO or FDA definition of "air-dried" for pet food. In practice, the word describes how water was removed, not whether the meat was cooked first, how hot it got or whether the process kills bacteria. The four formats people most often confuse:

Freeze-dried brands such as Stella & Chewy's and Primal didn't show an air-dried line on the home pages we checked, so we left them out. The Honest Kitchen describes its food as "gently dehydrated," which is a related but separate format, and its product pages didn't load for us. If you're comparing processing methods more broadly, our guide to minimally processed dog food puts air-drying next to kibble, canning, gentle cooking, high-pressure processing and raw.

Five air-dried brands, label by label

We focused on brands that sell air-dried food meant to be fed as a full meal and whose labels we could read. That gave us five: ZIWI Peak, Sundays for Dogs, Open Farm, Redbarn and Pawstruck. Real Meat Company, another long-running air-dried brand, blocks automated access to its site, so we couldn't read its labels. Badlands Ranch's product page showed prices but not the bag weight, calories, guaranteed analysis or AAFCO statement, so we couldn't compare it fairly.

All details from each brand's product pages, read October 29, 2026. Guarantees are minimums for protein and fat and maximums for moisture.

Complete meals vs. toppers: the label decides

Almost every air-dried brand markets its food three ways at once: as a meal, a topper and a treat. Redbarn's collection page uses exactly that phrase. Open Farm says its recipes can be served "as toppers, or as complete and balanced meals." That flexibility is convenient for the brand and confusing for owners, because a food can only be a complete diet if its label says so.

The line to find is the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement. Here's what it said on the recipes we checked:

• ZIWI Peak Beef and Chicken: "formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lbs. or more as an adult)."
• Redbarn High Protein Chicken: the same life-stage coverage, all life stages except growth of large-size dogs.
• Open Farm Pollock & Lamb: all life stages "including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult)."
• Sundays Beef: formulated for all life stages, including growth of large-size dogs, according to the product page. For the Chicken recipe, we could read only the start of the statement, so the life stage is unconfirmed.
• Open Farm Harvest Chicken and Pawstruck Chicken: we didn't find a printed AAFCO statement on the product pages. Pawstruck's FAQ says the food "is complete and balanced, so it can be fed as a full meal."

All the statements we could read use the formulation method, meaning the recipes were designed on paper to meet AAFCO's nutrient profiles. None mentioned a feeding trial. That's common across pet food, but it's worth knowing if you're comparing these foods with brands that do run trials.

The "except growth of large size dogs" line matters if you have a puppy that will weigh 70 pounds or more as an adult. Large-breed puppies have tighter calcium limits, and AAFCO sets separate limits for them. ZIWI and Redbarn's statements exclude those puppies, so for a Lab, Shepherd or Golden puppy you'd choose a different recipe or use these only as a small topper. Our guide to high-protein puppy food explains the growth profiles in more detail.

Does air-drying kill pathogens? Who says what

This is the question most brand pages skip, and it's the one we'd want answered before feeding a food made from raw meat. Drying removes water, which stops bacteria from multiplying. Stopping growth is not the same as killing what's already there.

What the brands claim

Of the five brands we read, only Sundays for Dogs makes a specific claim. Its safety FAQ says: "Our air-drying process includes a validated time-and-temperature lethality step designed to eliminate pathogens." It adds that every lot is held until it clears Salmonella testing at a third-party lab. Sundays doesn't publish the temperatures or times, so you're relying on its validation, but it's a clear, checkable promise.

ZIWI describes raw ingredients that are "gently processed" without saying whether that process is designed to kill bacteria. Redbarn talks about removing moisture "without high heat" and highlights its SQF certification. Open Farm's air-dried pages mention "safety test results" in general terms. Pawstruck says its food is prepared in USDA-certified facilities. None of those is a statement that the drying step kills pathogens. That doesn't mean the products are unsafe; it means the pages don't tell you.

What independent sources say

We didn't find an FDA or AAFCO statement specifically about air-dried pet food. The closest official guidance is the USDA's advice on homemade jerky for people. It warns that "pathogenic bacteria are likely to survive the dry heat of a warm oven," that pathogenic E. coli "could survive drying times of up to 10 hours and temperatures of up to 145°F," and recommends heating meat to 160°F, or poultry to 165°F, before dehydrating it. That's guidance for kitchen jerky, not commercial pet food made under a validated process, but it shows why "dried" and "safe" aren't the same word.

Tufts' clinical nutrition team lists "Freezing or freeze-drying raw diets kills bacteria" as a myth, noting that most bacteria in raw meat diets "can survive freezing (and freeze-drying)." In an October 2025 research update, Tufts' Cailin Heinze wrote that "all forms of raw pet food and treats carry the risk of bacterial, viral, or parasitic contamination" and that feeding cooked foods "will reduce infection risk."

The FDA's own testing found that raw pet food was more likely than other types to carry disease-causing bacteria. Of 196 raw samples, 15 were positive for Salmonella and 32 for Listeria monocytogenes. In the published version of that FDA study (Nemser and colleagues, 2014), pathogens were isolated from raw foods and jerky-type treats. The AVMA "discourages feeding any raw or undercooked animal-sourced proteins," while supporting foods processed with cooking, pasteurization or "other scientifically validated technologies" that reduce or eliminate the risk.

Calories, density and what's in a cup

Air-dried foods are among the most calorie-dense dog foods you can buy. The products we checked range from about 3,400 to 5,400 kcal per kilogram, compared with roughly 3,500 for a basic kibble like Purina Dog Chow and about 1,400 for a Freshpet roll. That density changes how much food goes in the bowl.

Grams per day for a 30-lb neutered adult at about 744 kcal (AAHA 2021 formula, 1.5 × resting energy). Our calculation from each label's kcal/kg.

For a 10-pound dog, the same math gives about 60 to 100 grams of air-dried food a day, often less than a level cup. Small scooping errors add up quickly at that density. An extra quarter cup of ZIWI is about 116 kcal, more than a third of a 10-pound dog's daily need. If you feed air-dried as the main diet, a kitchen scale is worth more than a measuring cup.

Protein and fat per 1,000 calories

Our calculation from guaranteed minimums and kcal/kg. Sundays' kcal/kg is derived from its stated 650 kcal per 120-g cup. AAFCO's adult minimum is 45 g protein per 1,000 kcal.

Every recipe clears AAFCO's adult protein minimum comfortably, and the Pollock & Lamb recipe is unusually high in protein for its calories. Fat is the number to watch. Most of these foods carry 60 grams or more of fat per 1,000 kcal on their minimum guarantee, about twice what a basic kibble shows. That's part of why dogs like them and why they're so energy-dense. For a dog with a history of pancreatitis or a fat limit from your vet, ask before switching; our low-fat dog food guide explains how fat limits are usually set. For more on reading protein this way, see our dog food protein guide.

What air-dried dog food costs per day

Prices below are one-time prices shown on each brand's own website on October 29, 2026, before shipping and tax. Kroger's site didn't list any of these brands when we searched, and the large pet retailers' sites weren't available to our tools.

Our calculation: price ÷ (pounds × 0.4536 × kcal/kg) × 1,000. ZIWI's product page showed $29.98 without a size label; trial-size pricing elsewhere on the site points to the 16-oz bag, but we couldn't confirm it. Subscription prices may change after the first order.

Sundays for Dogs prices by plan rather than by bag. On October 29, 2026, its home page said "Plans from $2.82–$9.15/day," with 30% off the first box. Without the calories per plan, we can't convert that to a per-calorie figure, but it gives you a daily range to compare against the numbers below.

Our calculation at the one-time prices above and the AAHA 2021 formula (1.5 × resting energy). Real needs vary; inactive dogs often need less.

Two things stand out. First, the spread inside the category is large: the same 30-pound dog costs about $5 a day on one brand and nearly $12 on another. Second, bag size changes the math a lot. A 16-oz bag of ZIWI holds about 2,200 kcal, three days of food for a 30-pound dog. ZIWI also sells 2.2, 5.5 and 8.8-lb bags, and larger bags usually cost less per pound, but we couldn't see those prices on the page.

For context, Tufts' Petfoodology team compared costs across dog food types in 2022 and found daily costs ranging "from 55 cents to nearly $20 for the same amount of calories," adding that "there is a good quality diet available at nearly every price point for a healthy pet." Air-dried foods sit near the top of that range. If cost is the main constraint, see our budget-friendly dog food guide; if you're weighing air-dried against refrigerated or frozen fresh food, our fresh dog food guide compares those formats per calorie.

How much to feed

Feeding charts for air-dried food are short because the food is so dense. Redbarn's chart suggests 1⅓ to 1¾ cups a day for a 20- to 30-pound dog and 2¼ to 2⅔ cups for a 40- to 50-pound dog, using an 8-oz cup. At 435 kcal per cup, that's about 580 to 761 kcal and 979 to 1,160 kcal. Sundays suggests 1 to 1¾ cups for a 26- to 50-pound dog, about 650 to 1,138 kcal at 650 kcal per cup. ZIWI doesn't publish a fixed chart on its site; it points owners to an online calculator.

Those ranges line up reasonably well with the 2021 AAHA guideline estimate, which multiplies a dog's resting energy (70 × body weight in kg^0.75) by about 1.4 to 1.6 for a typical neutered adult. A 30-pound dog comes out at about 694 to 794 kcal a day, and a 50-pound dog at about 1,018 to 1,164 kcal. Inactive or weight-prone dogs often need closer to 1.0 to 1.2 times resting energy.

Because a cup weighs only about 90 to 100 grams for these foods, small differences in how you scoop make a real difference. A level cup of ZIWI weighs about 95 grams by our math, and a level cup of Redbarn about 91. One more caution: Redbarn's page says a 2-lb bag holds "about 11.8 cups," but its own calorie figures work out to about 10 cups. Don't use cups-per-bag numbers for budgeting; use calories.

Weigh your dog every two weeks for the first couple of months on a new food. If the scale or the waistline moves, adjust by about a tenth of the portion and recheck. That habit matters more with dense food than with anything else.

Using air-dried food as a topper

For most households, the most affordable way to use air-dried food is on top of a complete kibble. A common guideline for treats, which Tufts also uses, is to keep extras to about 10% of daily calories. Applying the same limit to a topper keeps the main food in charge of the nutrition.

For a 30-pound dog at about 744 kcal a day, 10% is about 74 kcal: roughly 15 grams of ZIWI, or a sixth of a cup. At the prices we found, that costs about $1.00 a day with ZIWI or about 52 cents with Pawstruck. For a 50-pound dog, the same 10% is about 109 kcal, which costs about $1.47 with ZIWI or 76 cents with Pawstruck. Remember to take the same calories out of the kibble. If you add a topper and keep the kibble portion the same, the dog simply eats more.

A topper doesn't need to be complete and balanced, but if you use a product as a topper and later decide to feed it as the main diet, check its AAFCO statement first. Our dog food toppers guide compares other ways to make kibble more appealing.

Storage and shelf life

One real advantage of air-dried food over fresh food is storage. None of the brands we checked asks you to refrigerate it. Redbarn and Pawstruck both list an 18-month shelf life. Sundays says its food stays fresh for about 12 months before opening and needs no refrigeration. ZIWI asks owners to use the food within 8 weeks of opening the package and calls that a guideline. Open Farm's air-dried pages didn't state a storage rule.

The open-bag window matters for small dogs. A 10-pound dog eating about 67 grams of ZIWI a day takes about a week to finish a 16-oz bag, well within ZIWI's 8-week guideline. A 5.5-lb bag would last the same dog about five and a half weeks by our math, still inside the window. Keep the bag sealed, store it somewhere cool and dry, and use a clean scoop.

Storage is also where the safety question comes back. If the food started as raw meat and the brand doesn't claim a kill step, treat it the way you'd treat any raw-derived product: scoop with a dedicated utensil, wash your hands afterward and wash the bowl after each meal. The FDA and AVMA both recommend hot, soapy water for pet bowls and scoops.

How to choose an air-dried brand

If you've decided air-dried food fits your dog and your budget, these questions narrow the field quickly:

1. Is it a complete diet for your dog's life stage? Find the AAFCO statement on the recipe, not the brand page. For large-breed puppies, look for "including growth of large size dogs."
2. Does the brand claim a kill step? If it doesn't, ask. Sundays was the only brand we checked that states one.
3. What does it cost per 1,000 kcal, not per pound? Calorie density ranges from about 3,400 to 5,400 kcal/kg, so per-pound prices mislead.
4. How much fat per calorie? Most of these foods are high-fat. That suits some dogs and not others.
5. Can you get the size you need? Big bags save money but must be finished within the brand's open-bag window.
6. Will you use it as a meal or a topper? As a topper, almost any of these is affordable. As a full diet for a large dog, expect $10 a day or more with several brands.

Air-dried food isn't proven to be healthier than a well-made complete kibble or canned food. What it offers is a particular format: dense, shelf-stable, meat-forward and very palatable. Tufts' nutritionists have pointed out that there's little scientific evidence that any one diet type beats the others for healthy dogs. If your dog does well on what it eats now, a switch is a choice, not a fix. If you're comparing air-dried with refrigerated fresh food, our Freshpet review shows how a lower-cost fresh option stacks up.

Sources

• ZIWI: Air-Dried Beef, Air-Dried Chicken, Z-TWINTECH air-dried technology, dog food collection
• Sundays for Dogs: home page, Beef, Chicken, safety and sourcing FAQ
• Open Farm: air-dried collection, Pollock & Lamb, Harvest Chicken
• Redbarn: Air Dried Powerfood collection, High Protein Chicken
• Pawstruck: Air Dried Dog Food, Chicken Recipe and Badlands Ranch: Superfood Complete
• USDA FSIS: Jerky and Food Safety
• FDA: Get the Facts! Raw Pet Food Diets can be Dangerous to You and Your Pet; Nemser SM et al. (2014), Investigation of Listeria, Salmonella, and toxigenic Escherichia coli in various pet foods, Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, doi:10.1089/fpd.2014.1748
• AVMA policy: Raw or undercooked animal-source protein in cat and dog diets
• Tufts Petfoodology: Raw Diets: A Healthy Choice or a Raw Deal? (2016), Raw Pet Food Risks: A Research Update (Heinze, 2025), Comparing the costs of different types of dog food (Heinze, 2022), What are safe and healthy treats for my pet?
• WSAVA Global Nutrition Toolkit: Selecting a pet food for your pet
• AAHA 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines: energy requirement box
• AAFCO: Reading Labels

Compiled by the Patify Editorial Research Team from brand, government, veterinary and university sources, checked October 29, 2026. We didn't buy, test or receive any of these foods, and a veterinarian has not reviewed this article. Prices are the brands' listed prices on one day; cost and portion figures are our calculations. If your dog has a medical condition, or someone in your home is at higher risk from foodborne illness, ask your veterinarian before feeding foods made from raw ingredients.