Tips for Storing Your Dog’s Food

Dog food can be expensive, especially when you only want to feed your furry friend the best of the best. This means that properly storing your dog’s food is very important both for their health and your wallet. Here are our tips for storing dog food:

Check the Dates

The first, and probably most obvious, tip that we can give you involves simply checking the expiration dates. This should be a no-brainer, but with your busy schedule and a hungry hound to feed, periodically checking expiration dates can get more difficult to remember. Expiration dates aren’t always correct, but they serve as a great guide for feeding your pup.

Storing Dry Food

Dry food manufacturers do their best to design bags that can keep food fresh. This means storing food in its original bag is a great option to preserve your dog’s food if you can tightly reseal is after opening it. Otherwise, we recommend putting food in an airtight container that will prevent oxidation from prematurely rotting your dog’s food. All food should be kept in a cool, dry place out of the light. This will also help Fido’s food stay extra fresh.

Storing Canned Food

Canned foods generally last pretty long, but ingredients and different canning methods can slightly impact how long canned food lasts. Those packed in actual cans will always last longer than those in plastic tubs, so keep this in mind when purchasing canned food. Again, you should be aware of expiration dates. We recommend placing older cans near the front of your pantry and moving the newer cans to the back to make sure you’re using them in order.

Freeze-Dried or Dehydrated Foods

Freeze-dried foods have shorter shelf lives than many other types of food. To keep food fresh and safe to eat, you should avoid moisture at all costs; store your food in cool, dry places so bacteria and mold don’t form. Without repackaging these foods, you have about 6 months to feed your dog their dehydrated or freeze-dried food. Otherwise, repackaging can add about 2-5 years to food’s shelf life if you keep it in an airtight container!

Raw Food

If you’re looking for food that can be stored for a while, raw food is not your best bet. Raw food is primarily intended to be eaten within 1-2 days of opening or thawing. If you do freeze it, raw food can stay good for about 6 months, but you should make sure it’s sealed and properly wrapped. While it’s a healthy option for your dog, raw food diets take a lot of maintenance, so be mindful of this if you’re contemplating switching!

Storing dog food can be easy if you follow expiration dates and remember to always keep it dry and sealed. We hope these tips help you keep your dog’s food fresh and healthy!