What are considered wet foods? A comprehensive nutrition guide

October 21, 2025 •

4 min read

Foods are typically categorized by their moisture content, with wet foods containing a high percentage of water, often exceeding 60%. So, what are considered wet foods, and how do they fit into a healthy nutrition diet?

Quick Summary

Wet foods are defined by their high moisture content, including soups, ripe fruits, and cooked vegetables for humans, and canned meals for pets. They offer benefits such as improved hydration and palatability, but are often more perishable and costly.

Key Points

Defining Feature: Wet foods are characterized by their high moisture content, a key factor that influences texture and provides hydration benefits.
Human Variety: For humans, the category is broad, encompassing ripe fruits, cooked vegetables, soups, dairy products, and canned items.
Pet Palatability: High moisture and aroma make wet foods especially appealing to pets, particularly those who are picky eaters.
Enhanced Hydration: The high water content in wet foods is a simple and effective way to increase fluid intake for both humans and pets.
Dental Considerations: Unlike dry foods, wet foods do not assist with dental cleaning and may necessitate additional hygiene measures for pets.
Cost and Convenience Trade-offs: Wet foods often cost more per calorie and are more perishable than dry alternatives, requiring refrigeration after opening.
Dietary Versatility: Wet foods are valuable for managing weight due to lower calorie density and can be crucial for individuals with chewing or swallowing difficulties.

The Defining Characteristics of Wet Foods

Wet foods are simply any food with a significantly high moisture content. This category is not limited to a specific type of cuisine or product but is defined by the physical composition of the food itself. For humans, this includes a vast array of fresh, cooked, and processed items. For pets, the term most often refers to commercially prepared canned, pouched, or tray-packaged food. The high water percentage distinguishes it from dry foods, which contain very little moisture. Understanding this fundamental difference is key to appreciating the role wet foods play in various dietary needs and preferences.

Wet Foods for Human Nutrition

For humans, what are considered wet foods can range from simple ingredients to complex dishes. They are often central to diets for hydration, ease of digestion, or for those with specific health conditions requiring softer textures, such as after surgery.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits: Naturally juicy and soft fruits are classic examples of wet foods. This includes ripe bananas, mangoes, melons, and papayas. Applesauce and canned fruits (packed in juice or water) also fall into this category.
Vegetables: Many vegetables become wet foods once cooked. Examples include well-cooked carrots, spinach, zucchini, and mashed or baked potatoes. Pureed vegetables and vegetable soups are also excellent choices.

Proteins and Dairy

Proteins: Soft protein sources are crucial for those with dental or chewing issues. Examples include finely chopped or ground poultry, soft baked or broiled fish, scrambled eggs, and tofu. Legumes and beans, especially canned varieties, are also considered wet foods.
Dairy Products: Dairy items like yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding, and custards have a naturally high moisture content. Ice cream and other frozen yogurts are also included.

Soups, Grains, and Miscellaneous

Soups: Broth-based, cream, or pureed soups are a primary example of wet food, providing both hydration and nutrients.
Grains and Starches: Cooked cereals like oatmeal or Cream of Wheat, soft-cooked pasta and noodles, and moist rice dishes such as risotto are all wet food options.
Miscellaneous: Sauces, gravies, smooth nut butters, and gelatin are other common examples. Smoothies and protein shakes are also excellent liquid food options.

The Role of Wet Pet Foods

For pets, especially cats and dogs, wet food provides a different set of considerations. Canned or pouched wet food typically contains 70-85% moisture. It is often more palatable for picky eaters due to its strong aroma and texture.

Benefits and Considerations for Pets

Hydration: The most significant benefit of wet pet food is increased hydration, which is especially important for cats and can help support kidney and urinary tract health.
Weight Management: Wet food often has a lower caloric density per serving compared to dry kibble, which can be useful for managing a pet's weight.
Palatability: The strong smell and soft texture of wet food can encourage finicky or unwell pets to eat.
Dental Health: A notable downside is that wet food does not provide the abrasive action that dry kibble offers, which can help clean teeth and prevent dental disease. Regular dental care is therefore vital for pets on an exclusive wet food diet.

Wet vs. Dry: A Nutritional Comparison


Feature	Wet Food	Dry Food	Notes
Moisture Content	High (e.g., 60-85%)	Low (e.g., ~10%)	Key distinguishing factor affecting hydration and calorie density.
Palatability	Higher, thanks to stronger aroma and softer texture	Lower, can be less appealing to picky eaters	Important for encouraging food intake in some individuals.
Cost	Often more expensive per calorie	Generally more affordable per calorie	A major consideration for budget-conscious buyers.
Perishability	Spoils quickly once opened; requires refrigeration	Long shelf life, both opened and unopened	Affects convenience and potential food waste.
Dental Health	Does not help prevent plaque; can contribute to tartar buildup	Abrasive action can help clean teeth in pets	Wet food diets often require additional dental hygiene measures.
Weight Management	Lower calorie density per volume can aid in weight control	Higher calorie density means smaller portions are needed	Can help create a feeling of fullness without excess calories.

Strategies for Adding Wet Foods to Your Diet

Incorporating wet foods into a diet can be done in a variety of ways, whether for humans or pets. For humans, adding canned beans to a salad, incorporating more pureed vegetable soups, or enjoying soft fruits as snacks are simple methods.

For pet owners, combining wet and dry food is a popular approach. One vet-recommended method involves mixing a portion of wet food with the usual dry kibble or feeding them separately at different meal times. When transitioning a pet's diet, it's best to do so gradually over about a week by slowly increasing the proportion of new food to prevent digestive upset. For a mix, you can use half the recommended amount of wet food and half the recommended amount of dry food to maintain a balanced nutritional intake.

Conclusion

Understanding what are considered wet foods is about recognizing a category of items defined by their moisture content, with specific implications for diet and nutrition. From the ripe fruits and creamy puddings that aid human digestion to the canned pates that encourage a finicky pet to eat, wet foods serve diverse and valuable purposes. While they offer distinct advantages like enhanced hydration and palatability, it's crucial to consider their potential drawbacks, such as cost and perishability, in the context of your overall nutritional goals. By making informed choices, you can effectively integrate wet foods to meet specific dietary needs, whether for yourself or your beloved pets.

Explore more about dietary guidelines on the National Institutes of Health website.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference is moisture content. Wet food typically contains 60-85% moisture, while dry food, like kibble, has very little, often around 10%.

Wet food often has a lower calorie density, meaning it contains fewer calories per volume. This can help promote a feeling of fullness, which can be beneficial for managing weight in pets and humans.

Yes, commercially canned foods like beans, fish, and vegetables are typically packed in liquid, giving them a high moisture content that classifies them as wet foods.

Yes, the high moisture content of wet food is an excellent way to increase your or your pet's daily water intake, which is crucial for overall health.

Examples of human wet foods include soups, ripe fruits (like bananas and melons), cooked vegetables, mashed potatoes, yogurt, and scrambled eggs.

Wet foods can be more costly per calorie and, in the case of pets, do not provide the dental cleaning benefits of chewing dry kibble. They are also more perishable and require refrigeration after opening.

For both human and pet food, any uneaten portion of wet food must be refrigerated and used within a few days to prevent spoilage and maintain freshness.