How to Store Dog Food Safely

How important is the method you use to store your best friend’s food? You're careful how you store your own food, and the same consideration should be given to your dog’s food.

The days of using artificial preservatives in high-quality dog foods have passed. The vast majority of the premium dry dog foods on the market today are made using natural preservatives such as mixed tocopherols, which is a form of vitamin E. Because of this use of natural preservatives, proper storage of your buddy’s food is crucial, both from a nutrition and safety standpoint and to maintain optimum palatability for your dog’s enjoyment. So, let’s talk about how to store dog food.

How to Store Dry Dog Food

To make sure you have plenty of time to feed the food to your dog, check the best-before date on the bag before you purchase it. This is usually stamped in a visible area on the back or side of the bag.

Believe it or not, the best container in which to store your dog’s food is its own bag, with the seal engaged and placed in a cool dry place in your house.

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Avoid garages, crawl spaces, or basements as they tend to be damp, and havens for creepy crawlies and vermin. Storing in a damp area can also encourage the growth of mold, especially if there are variances in temperature, and nobody wants that. Storing the food in its own bag also ensures that you have the lot code available should it ever be needed.

If you really prefer to store your dry dog food in a secondary container, then choose one made of food grade plastic, or glass or stainless steel.

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It should have an airtight lid and be large enough to accommodate the entire bag of food, which can be placed inside the container in its own bag. This is important as the packaging itself often helps to ensure product freshness and quality.

Some folks like to pour the contents of the bag into a container. If you decide this is what you want to do, make sure the container is thoroughly washed and dried between each bag. This helps prevent the oils in the food from permeating the plastic and going rancid. And again, remember to keep the bag, or tape the date and lot code to the lid. These codes provide important tracking information.

Can I Freeze Dry Dog Food?

Did you know that kibble can also be frozen to preserve freshness? Sometimes purchasing a larger bag is more economical and if you have freezer space, you can freeze portions of the bag in airtight containers or bags until you need them. You can freeze kibble for as long as you would keep your own food in the freezer.

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How to Store Wet Dog Food After Opening

Lots of dogs enjoy wet food as a topper or even as the main component of their diets. The newest way to package wet foods is in Tetra Pak cartons. They are cooked inside the carton using a method called ‘retort’. This process preserves the contents, prevents contaminants from entering the carton, and rids the product of pathogens. Once you have opened a Tetra Pak product, you should fold the top back down and over, and store it in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days if you're not using the whole carton at once. For any other packaging, place its container inside a plastic storage bag to keep it fresh and from drying out.

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Much like dry kibble, wet food can also be frozen to preserve its nutritional integrity and flavor. Remove the product from its original container and freeze it in an airtight container, or even in ice cube trays.

In Conclusion

As you can surmise from the information here, proper storage of your dog’s food is not rocket science, just common sense. But if you have any questions, feel free to contact our team who are here to help you.