Is there a right and wrong way to store pet food? The answer is yes! Follow these tips to make sure your fur babe’s meals aren’t stale by the time she eats them.

In order to prolong the freshness of pet food and preserve its flavor and scent, it’s important to store it properly. By following a few simple rules, you can minimize its exposure to moisture and air, and ensure that your dog or cat is served safe, delicious products!

Store dry food indoors

Keeping bags of dry food in a garage or storage shed is a bad idea because you can’t control the environment (temperature and moisture). Instead, choose a dry, dark place in the house. Do your best to keep the temperature lower than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38˚C), and keep the food out of direct sunlight. The sun can heat up the bag and its contents, which may lead to the destruction of vital nutrients.

What if the food has been opened?

Once your pet’s dry food has been opened, it’s okay to leave it in the original packaging as long as it’s resealable. The same does not apply to wet food, however. Rather than leaving it in the can, store opened wet food in a sealed plastic container to prevent contact with air and bacteria. And of course, be sure to keep it refrigerated! If you accidentally leave an open can of wet food unrefrigerated for more than half an hour, discard it – it’s no longer safe for your pet.

Check the label to see how long opened food can be stored before it goes bad. As a general rule of thumb, wet food should be tossed after four or five days, and dry food typically starts to lose nutritional value and freshness after a month. And of course, don’t forget to check the expiration date! Never serve outdated food to your animal companion.

Additional tip: keep bowls clean

Especially if your animal eats wet or raw food, always clean his bowls after mealtimes. This will keep bacteria at bay and prevent bad smells, not to mention that your cat or dog will eat more willingly out of a clean bowl.

Bottom Line

Keeping your pet’s food fresh and safe is easy when you abide by these simple rules. Remember, you wouldn’t want to eat stale or spoiled food, and neither does your pet! Keep it fresh and safe by making sure it’s stored in proper conditions. Not only will it prevent food poisoning and stomach upset – it’ll make her mealtime much more enjoyable!