Hi Green Spot Pet Parents! In this blog post, we'll discuss ways to store dry pet food and the "whys" of safe storage.
Why do we care how food is stored?
Beyond the obvious of keeping dry food safe from pests and wandering pet noses, oxidization is one BIG reason to store dry food carefully! Pet food bags are specifically designed to keep oxygen out and freshness in. Once the bag's seal is breached by opening it, dry food begins to degrade via oxidization of the oils in the bag of food. In doing this, the oils can go rancid, the food quality degrades, and nutrients are lost. Once the bag is opened, the food is also exposed to moisture in the air.
Here are a few tips to minimize freshness loss in dry foods:
1) Store the dry food in the bag you bought it in. The original bag is designed to keep oxygen out as much as possible and keep oils in the food contained. Roll down the top of the bag and secure it with a clip to help keep air out. When food is removed from the bag and stored in a plastic container, two things can happen: 1. The oils in the food will coat and build up on the plastic surface, and eventually, the oils will go rancid. 2. Chemicals from the plastic container can leach into the food. If removing food from the original bag, we recommend storing the food in a glass or stainless steel air-tight container. Another critical factor in keeping the food in its original bag is that if there is something wrong with the food when opened (or after your pet eats some of it), having the original bag on hand enables The Green Spot to contact the manufacturer with the lot code and UPC information so they may solve the problem.
2) The best storage method we recommend is storing the food in its original bag and then placing it into an air-tight container. With this method, the container could be plastic, metal, stainless steel, or glass, as the food will be in contact with the bag, not the container. Air-tight is critical; be sure the container has a rubber, silicone, or foam seal. With the air-tight container, we can help reduce oxygen from contacting the food and reduce exposure to moisture.
3) Store your pet's food in a cool, dry place, away from extreme hot temperatures (and pests!) that can happen in areas such as the garage.
If you can, store the bag of food in a freezer to further preserve the food. (We know this is not always possible!) Once you place dry food in the freezer, we do not recommend removing it from the freezer except for meal portions. If you remove the bag from the freezer, moisture will build up inside the bag and spoil the food.
4) When possible, buy the size bag that only lasts your pet about two weeks. Dry food starts to degrade as soon as the bag is open, so it is best to use it within two weeks. Are you worried you won't save as much money when buying small or medium bags as the big ones? Enrolling in our Astro Frequent Buyer Program gives you a free bag after purchasing a certain number of bags of the same brand and size (the number of bags required varies by brand; some rules and restrictions apply). Learn more about our Frequent Buyer Programs here.
To learn more about your pet's dry food, schedule a personalized nutritional consultation with one of our nutrition-certified team members here. We'll dig into how the food is manufactured, the ingredients, nutrients, and more with you! Thanks for reading along, Green Spotters!