Is your dog’s food stinking up the kitchen or pantry? Are you worried that sometimes it’s stale?
Well, if you aren’t storing their kibble properly, you will certainly notice some issues.
By Allison Salonko.
Allison is a Veterinary Technician in the state of Indiana. She graduated from International Business College and Vet Tech Institute of Indianapolis with a degree in Animal Science and Technology in 2011.
Not only does dog food have a strong smell sometimes, but it can degrade or oxidize the container it’s kept in much quicker than you could ever imagine. YUCK!
Don’t worry, if you’re starting to feel unsure, I have the answers on exactly how to store your pet’s food!
How Do You Store Dog Food To Keep It Fresh And Smell Free?
When it comes to pet food storage, you only need to consider a few things. What kind of food are you trying to keep fresh and what kind of container should you use?
Most of the time I think keeping it simple is best.
Metal Dog Food Storage Containers
Using an airtight metal container is the best way to go. This will help to keep the food fresh, dry and free from your dog’s nose or any other critters lurking in the pantry or closet.
I think that most dry dog foods have a relatively low smell, unless you’re up close that is.
Plastic dog food containers are a NO-NO!
Do not use them. Overtime, the pores in the plastic will trap residual fats and oils from the kibble and cause oxidation.
These fats and oils will eventually grow nasty invisible molds that can cause harm to your precious doggo’s sensitive gastrointestinal tract.
Glass storage containers are also a great option but obviously more fragile than metal. They are very similar to metal in the sense that they are not porous and less likely to harbor nasty molds or bacterias than a plastic container.
In this article about metal dog food containers, I give a list of my top 6 that you can find online.
How Do I Store Wet Or Premade Dog Food?
It will be a similar story as the dry dog food. It is, once again, crucial that you have the food covered with a lid, preferably one that seals well and not just plastic wrap. Wet food can be kept in the refrigerator for only two or three days before it should be thrown away.
Premade food, whether it’s wet or dry, can be stored in a well-sealed container in the fridge as well.
You can also leave your dog’s food in the original bag and just store that inside the metal container.
Can You Freeze Dog Food?
For most dry foods, you can certainly freeze it. Not only will this help with freshness and preservation but it will also keep the smell down too. I would make sure that it was kept in a container that minimizes the amount of freezer burn it accumulates though.
Freezing dog food is also a good way to preserve a large amount of food that you worry will go stale.
If you have a small dog I always recommend purchasing a smaller bag of food, considering they don’t eat as much as a lab.
You do run the risk of your dog’s food going stale if you buy in bulk.
So if you really want to get that 30 lb bag of food for your 12 lb cockapoo then you should probably look into freezing some of it.
Airtight Containers: The Answer To Stinky Dog Food
Keeping your dog’s kibble inside an airtight metal or glass storage container is the safest and easiest way to preserve your pet’s food while also keeping away that funky smell.
Buying enough to keep in the one container or freezing their diet is best so you don’t have open bags sitting out, getting stale and smelly.
After all, keeping our dog’s food safe and smell free is best for everyone in the household!
Photo by M Burke.