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Ensuring your dog’s food stays fresh and nutritious is just as important as choosing the right food in the first place. Proper storage of dry dog food is essential for maintaining its quality, flavour, and nutritional value. When dry dog food is stored incorrectly, it can lose essential nutrients, become stale, or even spoil.
How To Store Dry Dog Food
In this article, we’ll explore the best practices for storing dry dog food to help you maximize its shelf life and keep your dog’s meals fresh and tasty. For more information on the differences between wet and dry dog food and how to choose the best food for your dog, check out our guide. If you’re looking for high-quality dry food for your dog, explore our full dry dog food range.
Best Ways To Store Dry Dog Food
Storing dry dog food correctly can make a huge difference in how long it stays fresh and nutritious. To start, dry dog food should always be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and humidity. Exposure to heat, moisture, and light can cause the food to spoil more quickly.
Below are some specific tips for keeping your dog’s food in tip-top condition.
Seal Your Dry Dog Food Bag:
After opening a bag of dry dog food, it’s important to seal it properly to minimize exposure to oxygen. Oxygen can cause the food to become stale, degrade the fats in the kibble, and lead to a loss of nutrients.
One of the easiest ways to seal the bag is by using a simple food bag clip. This helps keep air out, preserving the food’s freshness for longer.
Use Airtight Containers To Store Dry Dog Food:
For optimal storage, an airtight container is your best friend. These containers prevent air, moisture, and pests from getting to the food, helping to preserve its freshness and nutritional value. When choosing an airtight container, make sure it is large enough to store the entire bag of food without crushing the kibble. Ideally, you’ll want to store the whole bag inside the container.
Keep Your Dog Food Container Clean:
Just like food storage in your kitchen, cleanliness is crucial when it comes to dog food storage. Before transferring your dry dog food to a storage container, make sure the container is thoroughly cleaned and dried. Any leftover food residue can attract pests, mould, or bacteria, which could spoil the food. Wipe down the inside of the container regularly to prevent any contamination.
Keep Dry Dog Food In Its Original Bag:
While airtight containers are a must, it’s also a good idea to keep the food inside its original packaging. Dog food bags are designed to protect the food and maintain its integrity. By storing the bag inside an airtight container, you get the benefit of both the packaging and the added protection of the container.
How Long Can You Keep Dry Dog Food?
Dry dog food has a relatively long shelf life compared to wet food, but it still has an expiration date. Generally, dry food can last anywhere from six months to a year, depending on the storage conditions and the brand.
To recognize when it’s time to throw away dry dog food, keep an eye on the following signs:
- Smell: If the food has a rancid or unpleasant odour, it’s time to dispose of it. Fresh kibble should have a neutral or slightly appetizing smell.
- Texture: If the kibble feels soft, brittle, or wet, it may have been exposed to moisture and could be unsafe to feed your dog.
- Discoloration: Changes in the colour of the kibble can indicate that the food has degraded or gone stale.
- Expiration date: Always check the expiration date printed on the packaging, and be sure to use the food before it expires to ensure your dog gets the best nutrition.
Takeaway
Proper storage of dry dog food is essential for maintaining the quality, flavour, and nutrition of your dog’s meals. By following these simple tip you can help ensure that your dog’s food stays fresh and nutritious for as long as possible.
If you’re looking for high-quality dry dog food for your pet, Forthglade offers a range of nutritious, easy-to-digest options for every dog. Shop our dry dog food.
Our cold-pressed dry dog food is a great option for dogs of all life stages. Shop Cold Pressed dry dog food.
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