Last Updated: 07/05/2025
How to Store Wet and Dry Dog Food
Learn how to optimally store your pet food to keep it tasty and fresh and your dog looking for more!
Author: Dr Samantha Wycherley BVSc
Reading Time: 26 minutes - medium read
It's so easy these days to find a tasty, balanced, commercially made diet for our fur babies and it makes life even easier that we are able to buy these diets in large quantities! However, to ensure that your pet's food stays tasty and safe to eat it's important to store it in the correct way. Food that has been improperly stored can be a risk to your pet's health. Dog food containers are a popular option for lots of pet parents to help keep their pet's food at its best.
In this guide we'll break down:
How long you can leave dog food out for
How to store dry dog food
The best way to store dry dog food is in a low humidity environment, in a well sealed container, away from pests!
The original bag is actually a great place to keep your pet's dry food, however it's recommended to keep this bag in a sealed container.
Why should I keep dry dog food in the bag?
Dry dog food bags will often have an oil and fat resistant liner, which helps to retain the flavour in the food. Plastic containers will draw oil out of the food, causing it to oxidise which not only reduces the flavour, but also makes the dry food go stale much more quickly.
Another benefit of keeping the dry food in it's original bag is that you will always have the details of that particular batch of food, which is important information to have if you are ever concerned about the quality of the food or concerned it may have made your dog sick. If you do decide to pour your dog food out of the bag for storage then it's a good idea to take a photo of the batch number and expiry date of the food for future reference.
To make life easier and the food more accessible you can always store a smaller portion of food (e.g. a week at a time) in a smaller container for easy access near the dog bowl. If you do decide to use this method, make sure the container is completely empty before you refill it (and give it a wash before refilling). The mistake some people make is continuing to top up a near empty container meaning the food at the bottom can end up going off.
Why do I need to put the bag in a container?
An open bag that has been rolled over for protection is unfortunately not enough to keep your pup's food tasty fresh. Exposure to oxygen can make the fats in the food start to go rancid. This won't taste very nice at all and you may find your dog or cat starts refusing their food - it can also cause gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhoea and vomiting. After feeding, it's recommended to squeeze out as much of the remaining air as possible, and close the bag securely, using either the bag's inbuilt seal, or a bag clip.
Determined pests such as rodents can also chew through bags, and other critters such as storage mites and meal moths can easily sneak through defective seals (and contribute to allergies in some dogs) so a sturdy, air-tight, pest-proof container is an ideal way to keep your pet's food safe and fresh.
Here are some great dry food storage options:
Where to store dry dog food
Many people like to store pet food out of the way to reduce clutter in the home, however it's important to avoid storing food in places with excess heat and moisture. If food is allowed to get too hot it can lead to the breakdown of nutrients, and oxidation of fats, in the food.
Try to store pet food in the same environment you would store your own food and avoid locking it away in a garage where temperature and humidity levels can fluctuate more widely.
It's also recommended to store the pet food off the floor, to help reduce potential infestation.
Best way to store wet canned food
Unopened canned food will keep for a long time (refer to the best before date on the can) however once it's opened it should be refrigerated to retain moisture and minimise exposure to air. Place a lid over the can and keep it in the fridge. It should be consumed within 5 - 7 days.
There are a number of can covers available which are easy to use, easy to wash, and come in some great colours too!
How long can you leave dog food out for?
Wet food should be consumed within 4 hours - so if your pet has decided they've had enough for the day it's best to empty the bowl and offer fresh food for their next meal. If wet food is left out for too long, particularly in warm weather, there is the risk of bacterial contamination, as well as the risk of flies or other insects having access and laying eggs.
Dry food can be left out for a day, any longer and it's recommended to refill the bowl and serve a fresh portion the next day.
How to keep your dog food container clean
Regular cleaning of your dog food storage container is essential to maintain fresh food for your pup. It's recommended that you wash your food storage container with warm, soapy water once it is empty, between batches of food, to remove any oil and fat build up (which can cause food to taste rancid) and any remaining food crumbs which may have oxidised. Scrubbing the container with a brush can help to remove oily build up and give you the container a deep clean.
It's crucial to ensure that your dog food container is completely dry prior to adding your next batch of food into it (whether you empty the food into the container or add the food in the bag into the container). Any remaining water left in the container will create a moist, humid environment, leading to nutrient breakdown, and potential mould and bacterial growth.
FAQs
Can you freeze dog food?
No. Dog food, whether wet or dry, should not be frozen. Freezing pet food will change the texture and taste, and can affect the nutritional value of the food.
How do you know the right amount of food to buy?
In order to keep your pet's food as fresh as possible, once opened, dry food should be consumed within 6 weeks (unopened bags generally have a shelf life of 12-18 months). So, we recommend buying no more than 6 weeks worth of food (in a single package) at a time. Of course, the size of bag you choose will depend on the size of your dog, and whether you feed exclusively dry food, or a combination of wet and dry. Take a read through our Pet Feeding Guide to find out how to calculate how much food your dog should consume each day. Alternatively, take a look at the products on our website - most products will have a feeding guide image which is a good place to start to get an idea how much your dog will eat per day.
Our in-house Vet team are available 7 days a week to help if you need further assistance in calculating your pet's daily requirements. You can contact them via chat, email or our Vet Pet Plan service.
In conclusion
If you follow these guidelines, your pet's food will stay tasty and fresh and keep your furry friends healthy and coming back for more!
Further Reading
Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips from our expert vets on keeping your pets happy and healthy.
