Proper Pet Food Storage: How To Keep Food Fresh!

Proper Pet Food Storage is probably not something most pet parents think about when they first adopt a pet. Storing your pet's food properly maintains the product's nutritional value and helps maintain overall freshness. Keep reading to find out some helpful tips and tricks for properly storing your pet's food and treats. 

Wet, Canned and Pouched Foods 

Many pets enjoy wet, canned, and pouched meals. Learning how to properly store these pet foods will help to improve your pet's overall health and quality of life. Before handling pet food, it is essential to wash hands for 20 seconds or more in hot soapy water. 

Once opened, wet and canned foods will begin to spoil within just a few hours at room temperature. Open containers can be sealed and kept in the refrigerator for up to a full week. If you need to keep wet, canned or pouched food for longer than a week, freeze meal sized portions for multiple months and thaw in the fridge when needed.

When storing wet pet food in the refrigerator, make sure temperatures are 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below to avoid contamination. Throw any unused or leftover wet pet food away unless storing inside a fridge at the proper temperature. If food is expired, spoiled, smells "off" or you are in doubt, just throw it out! 

Dry Pet Foods 

Most dogs eat dry pet food, like kibble, and keeping it away from moisture and air can be tricky without proper knowledge of how to store it. If you want to store your pet's food in a container, pick a food storage container that is clean, dry and has a tight-fitting lid. A properly fitting lid is important to keep air out and maintain freshness. Be sure to wash and dry your pet food container after each fill to get residual fat and crumbs off of the outside of container. 

If you choose to throw your pet food bag away and store within a container, cut out the information from your dog food bag and tape it to the container. Important information to keep from your pet food bag include:

• UPC code
• Lot number
• Product Name
• Manufacturer
• "Best By" Date

This information is handy to have in case of a product defect or a recall, and helps the FDA identify where and when the pet food or treat was made. 

Some pet parents prefer to leave their dry dog food in the bag it came in, and this is also fine provided you tightly roll the open bag up after each use and secure with a bag clip. Store dry pet food in a cool and dry place with unopened canned food. The temperature should be less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Excess heat can cause nutrients in the food to break down. Be sure to store your pet food in a secure location, away from children and pet's reach.  

Are plastic containers safe for pet food storage? 

Plastic containers are absolutely safe for pet food storage! Look for BPA free plastic storage options as well as containers made from food-grade plastics.

No matter how you choose to store your pet's food, please remember to follow these safety tips for proper food storage!