I have had luck getting kibbles to absorb water by using very warm water and a metal dish. By the time the dish has cooled, most of the water is absorbed and I can usually stir up and then shake around the softened kibble without any excess liquid. I don’t use too much water with kibble though and usually don’t have to wait long.
I figure the water could wash off any nutritional coatings on the kibble, so I wouldn’t pour it off either. If excess liquid remains and your dog won’t lick it up, throw a few pieces of kibble in and put it in the fridge overnight. Those pieces should absorb whatever is left by morning and can be fed regularly.
