How to Store Dry Dog Food So It Stays Fresh

Big bags of kibble are cheaper per kilo, so most of us buy the big bag. Then it sits open in the laundry room for six weeks, and by the end the dog is a lot less excited about dinner.

That is not your dog being picky. The food really has changed.

What happens once the bag is open

Kibble is coated in fats, which is a big part of what makes it smell good to your dog. Once air gets in, those fats start to oxidise. That is the same thing that makes cooking oil go rancid. The smell fades first, then the taste, and eventually the food can go off.

Humidity is the other problem. Damp kibble can grow mould, and a basement or a laundry room is often the most humid spot in the house.

The mistakes most people make

• Rolling the top of the bag down. It keeps the kibble in. It does not keep the air out.
• Pouring the kibble into a bin and throwing the bag away. This one surprises people. More on it below.
• Topping up the bin without washing it. Old crumbs and fat stuck to the sides go stale and mix into each fresh batch.
• Storing it in the garage. Temperature swings and damp are both hard on food, and mice love a garage.

Keep the original bag

Pet food bags are made with a lining meant to hold the fats in and keep air out. They also carry the lot number and best before date. If there is ever a recall, that lot number is how you find out if your bag is affected.

The best setup is to put the whole bag, folded shut, inside an airtight container. If you do pour it out, cut off the part of the bag with the lot number and best before date and tape it to the container.

The container

What you want is a lid that actually seals. A vacuum sealed food container goes a step further and pulls the air out, so the food is sitting in much less oxygen between meals. It also keeps the smell in the container instead of all through your pantry, and keeps the food away from a dog who has figured out how to open a cupboard.

Whatever you use, wash and fully dry it between bags.

Where to keep it

Somewhere cool, dry and off the floor. A pantry or a closet on the main floor is usually better than a basement or garage.

How long does an open bag last?

Many pet food makers suggest using an open bag within about six weeks. That is a good rule even if the best before date is months away, because that date is for a sealed bag.

If a big bag takes you longer than that, a smaller bag may actually be better value once you count the food that goes stale.

Signs the food has gone off

• It smells sour, like old oil or paint
• You see mould, clumping or a damp texture
• Your dog, who normally eats anything, sniffs it and walks away

When in doubt, throw it out. A stomach upset costs more than a bag of kibble.

Fresh food is half of mealtime. The other half is how they eat it. Our honest look at whether elevated bowls are actually better covers that, and if your dog finishes dinner in thirty seconds flat, a snuffle mat slows them down.