Storing Dog Food and Cat Food Properly Tips for Freshness

Zera’s Simple Tips for Keeping Your Pet Food Fresh

Pet food, whether in pellet form or canned, is meant to be convenient and easy to use – but a few small mistakes can cause it to lose its freshness or even go bad. With these simple tips from Zera, you can make sure your furry friend’s food stays fresh and tasty!

1. Store pet food in appropriate containers

It’s tempting to transfer pet food into smaller containers for easy access, but think twice before discarding the original bag. Pet food bags are specially designed with oil-resistant liners to maintain freshness and flavor. Plastic storage containers, while convenient, can develop scratches that can lead to grease residue, odors, and may even make your pet sick.

What is the ideal solution? Place the dog food in the original bag and place the entire bag in an airtight storage container. This setup protects the food from air, moisture and pests while keeping it fresh.Zera recommends using BPA-free plastic bins or sealed containers. If space is limited, simply transfer a week’s worth of dog food into smaller, sealed glass or metal containers. Avoid filling old food with new food – this can mix fresh, coarsely ground food with spoiled leftovers, causing the entire batch to go bad. Always wash the container thoroughly before each addition of food to keep it clean and fresh.

2. Store pet food in the right place

Where and how you store your pet food is equally important. It may seem convenient to store large containers in the garage or basement, but these places usually have high variations in temperature and humidity, which can lead to food spoilage.

Instead, Zera recommends storing pet food in a cool, dry environment with controlled temperatures, just as you would store your own. A kitchen cabinet or pantry is an ideal place to keep pet food fresh and easily accessible.

If you’re curious about how environmental factors like temperature can affect your pet’s health, check out our guide to understanding how long your dog’s heat period lasts.

3. Don’t leave pet food out too long

Wet pet food doesn’t last long at room temperature. To avoid spoilage, only feed your pet one serving size at a time. Any leftovers should be discarded after 1-2 hours as bacteria can multiply quickly. For pets that prefer to graze, consider dividing wet food into smaller portions or switching to dry food.

Dry food, while it has a longer shelf life, has its limitations. zera advises that after 6-8 hours, the oils and fats in dog food begin to break down, which can affect its flavor and quality. Make it a habit to clean up uneaten dog food every night.

4. Clean food and water bowls regularly

It’s easy to overlook your pet’s food and water bowls, but they are vital to keeping food fresh. Food and grease stains can build up quickly, causing food to spoil, affecting your pet’s appetite and even posing a potential threat to their health.

Zera recommends washing the food bowl after every meal and cleaning the water bowl at least once a day. While this may seem like overkill, by making it a habit, it will become second nature to you and help keep your pet happy and healthy.

By following these simple tips from Zera, you can ensure that your pet’s food is fresh, tasty and safe – because your furry friend deserves the best!

Keep Your Pet Safe with These Food Tips

5. Check the Shelf Life of Pet Food

Did you know that every bag of pet food and every can of pet food has a shelf life? Be sure to double-check that your pet’s food is fresh so they can finish it. Unlike human food, where an expiration date may just be a suggestion, pet food is a completely different story! Even if the food looks and smells good, expired pet food may lack essential nutrients. Over time, preservatives and vitamins break down, leading to an unbalanced diet for your furry friend.

6. Buy only what you need

Just like your own groceries, pet food loses its freshness when opened. Even if the expiration date printed on the package is still far away, pet food can go bad within 1-2 months of opening it. To keep pet food fresh and nutritious, it’s best to buy only as much as you can eat in 4-6 weeks. While large bags of pet food may seem like a good deal, they can be wasteful if your pet can’t finish them in time. For those who prefer to buy in bulk, don’t worry – there are ways around it!

7. Freeze pet food to keep it fresh for a long time

If you buy more pet food than your furry friend can eat before it goes bad, freezing it is not a bad way to keep it fresh! Whether it’s dry pet food or open wet or fresh food, it can be stored in the freezer to extend its shelf life by 6-9 months. Simply portion the food into airtight containers or self-sealing bags and thaw in the refrigerator when you’re ready to serve. This method also works for pet snacks, so your pet can enjoy a fresh, flavorful snack every time!

By following these tips from Zera, your pet will enjoy fresh and nutritious treats. Plus, you’ll get great value for your money every time you buy food. Fresh food means happy, healthy pets, which is always worth it!

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