How to Store Wet and Dry Dog Food: Vet's Guide to Freshness

The golden rule for storing dry dog food is simple: keep it in a cool, dry place, sealed tight, and away from pests!

Why the original bag matters for dry food storage

Surprisingly, the best place to keep your dog's dry food is actually inside its original bag. Then, you simply place the entire bag inside a sturdy, sealed container.

Here's why keeping the food in the bag is essential:

• It preserves the flavour: Most high-quality dry food bags have a special oil- and fat-resistant liner. This liner helps prevent the healthy fats and oils in the kibble from escaping. If you pour the kibble directly into a plastic container, the plastic can draw these oils out, causing them to oxidise (go rancid) much faster. This makes the food taste stale, and your dog might even turn up their nose at it!
• It keeps the batch details handy: The original bag contains the batch number and expiry date. This is crucial information to have if you ever need to contact the manufacturer with a concern, or if there is a food recall. If you absolutely must pour the food out of the bag, always snap a quick photo of the batch number and expiry date first.

Why you need to put the bag in a container

While the original bag is great, it needs backup! Rolling the bag over isn't enough to keep the food fresh and safe. A sturdy, airtight container adds a layer of protection against:

• Air exposure: When fats in the food are exposed to oxygen, they start to go rancid. This not only tastes horrible (making the food less appealing) but can also cause tummy upsets like diarrhoea or vomiting. Always squeeze out excess air and secure the bag with its built-in seal or a bag clip before sealing the container.
• Pests: Critters like mice, storage mites, and meal moths can easily chew through or sneak past a rolled-up bag. A sealed, pest-proof container keeps their dinner exactly where it should be - safe and clean!

Pro tip for easy feeding

To make meal times easier, you can keep a smaller portion of kibble (enough for about a week) in a smaller, sealed container right next to your dog's bowl.

A crucial word of caution: Make sure this smaller container is completely empty and washed with warm, soapy water between batches. A common mistake is just topping up a near-empty container. The older food at the bottom will be oily and can go off, potentially spoiling the fresh food you add on top.

Here is the rewritten section on where to store dry dog food:

Where is the best place to store dry dog food?

It’s tempting to tuck that big bag of dog food away out of sight to reduce clutter, but where you store it is just as important as how you store it!

You need to avoid places with excess heat and moisture. If the food gets too hot, the healthy nutrients can break down, and the fats in the food can start to oxidise.

The simple rule is: Store your pet food in the same kind of environment you would store your own pantry food.

• Avoid the garage or laundry: These areas often experience wide swings in temperature and humidity, which can quickly degrade the quality of the kibble.
• Keep it off the floor: Storing your container slightly off the floor can also help reduce the potential for infestation by insects or rodents.

Ultimately, a cool, dry spot inside the main part of your home - like a cupboard or pantry - is the ideal location to keep your pup's kibble fresh and tasty.