Dog Food Storage

Best practices

If you’re like a lot of pet parents, you probably spend a lot of time and money making sure you feed your dog the very best. In fact, you may look at your dog’s food sometimes and think that they eat better than you.

But have you put as much thought into how you store their food?

As you might imagine, the best storage options vary depending on whether you give your dog dry or fresh food. However, if you follow these general guidelines, they should ensure maximum freshness at mealtime. And remember, if food doesn’t look safe or smell right, don’t feed it to your dog – even if it’s brand new.

Unopened Food

First, store any unopened food in a dry, cool place. If your dog (or other resident animals) have a knack for getting into containers, make sure to choose a secure location that doesn’t get warmer than 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Opened Dry Food & Treats

The secret to keeping dry items fresh involves protecting it from air. And, even if you have a cute storage container, it’s ideal to store the entire bag of kibble instead of dumping it inside. This ensures you have the brand and manufacturer, lot number, UPC code, and “best by” date in case issues arise, like a defect or recall.

If you have to store the dry products without their packaging, make sure your container is dry and has a secure lid. You should also save the information from the original packaging in a safe place, like taped to the storage container.

Worried your dog’s kibble will lose freshness before they can finish it? Store some in the freezer and use within 6-9 months!

Best Containers for Dry Food & Treats

Your dog’s food may have a “best by” date, but products lose freshness once it gets exposed to air. To avoid this problem, choose plastic or stainless steal containers with tight lids. And thoroughly wash and dry them between each refill – excess moisture can cause mold and mildew growth.

Similarly, avoid “topping off” their container of food. This can increase your chances of having old food contaminate fresh food.

Opened Wet Food Containers

If you feed your dog web food, check the label for storage recommendations. This often involves covering the container with an airtight cover and putting it in the fridge but can vary from product to product.

Finally, proper storage will leave your dog’s food in peak condition. But don’t forget their delivery systems! Make sure to wash your dog’s food bowls and serving utensils after each use and their water bowl at least once daily.