Dry food is one of the more popular varieties for many pet
owners. Although it does not spoil nearly as quickly as an open can of
wet food, dry food still requires attention to proper storage in order
to ensure it remains a healthy and enjoyable diet for your pet. Dry pet food suffers from negative effects from heat, direct light, moisture, and oxygen. Keeping these elements away from your dry pet's food storage container will ensure that your pets are well-nourished, and that you are getting what you paid for.
First, keep in mind that no food storage method is perfect, and that the longer food is stored, the more its quality will degrade. As inconvenient as it may be, you are best off buying only one week's supply of food at a time. Also, when purchasing food, look for the Best Buy date, which should be marked on all quality pet food brands. Try to find a bag with the longest remaining shelf life possible.
Next, you'll want to identify the ideal area of your house to store the food in. You are looking for an area that is cool, dry, and shady. Bathrooms and kitchens are a poor choice, as these are areas that tend to be filled with steam from showers or dishwater. The garage may be a good choice, provided that it stays cool throughout the day and year- if the temperature fluctuates wildly in your garage, find another spot. Basements and cellars may work, provided they stay dry year-round. Try to store food a few feet above the ground, where moisture will be less likely to condense.
Next, consider your method of storage. Your goal is to expose the food to as little air and light as possible, so don't pour the food out of its original packaging- just place the entire ball of wax into another container. Hopefully, your container will have an air-tight lid. If you have the ability and inclination, vacuum-sealing is a great way to extend the life of your pet's food. Otherwise, use the smallest container possible for the quantity of food you want to store. You can help to keep moisture out by placing some kind of dessicant in the container (not in with the food!). You've seen dessicants before, packed into little bags that come with many consumer products- shoes, for instance. You can reuse these packets if you save them, or use regular table salt, between the food packaging and your container.
Temperature will begin to affect the pet food whenever it is above 70 degrees. Refrigeration is an option, and will maintain the nutritional value of the food- however, it may change the texture or flavor in such a way as to make it less enjoyable for your pet. If you want to refrigerate your pet's food, try it with a small portion first to ensure that a pup with a sensitive palate won't reject his kibble.
By carefully controlling the environment you use for pet food storage, and by buying only a few days worth of pet food at a time, you can prevent the loss of nutrients due to oxidization. Pet food is expensive, so get the most for your money with smart pet food storage!
First, keep in mind that no food storage method is perfect, and that the longer food is stored, the more its quality will degrade. As inconvenient as it may be, you are best off buying only one week's supply of food at a time. Also, when purchasing food, look for the Best Buy date, which should be marked on all quality pet food brands. Try to find a bag with the longest remaining shelf life possible.
Next, you'll want to identify the ideal area of your house to store the food in. You are looking for an area that is cool, dry, and shady. Bathrooms and kitchens are a poor choice, as these are areas that tend to be filled with steam from showers or dishwater. The garage may be a good choice, provided that it stays cool throughout the day and year- if the temperature fluctuates wildly in your garage, find another spot. Basements and cellars may work, provided they stay dry year-round. Try to store food a few feet above the ground, where moisture will be less likely to condense.
Next, consider your method of storage. Your goal is to expose the food to as little air and light as possible, so don't pour the food out of its original packaging- just place the entire ball of wax into another container. Hopefully, your container will have an air-tight lid. If you have the ability and inclination, vacuum-sealing is a great way to extend the life of your pet's food. Otherwise, use the smallest container possible for the quantity of food you want to store. You can help to keep moisture out by placing some kind of dessicant in the container (not in with the food!). You've seen dessicants before, packed into little bags that come with many consumer products- shoes, for instance. You can reuse these packets if you save them, or use regular table salt, between the food packaging and your container.
Temperature will begin to affect the pet food whenever it is above 70 degrees. Refrigeration is an option, and will maintain the nutritional value of the food- however, it may change the texture or flavor in such a way as to make it less enjoyable for your pet. If you want to refrigerate your pet's food, try it with a small portion first to ensure that a pup with a sensitive palate won't reject his kibble.
By carefully controlling the environment you use for pet food storage, and by buying only a few days worth of pet food at a time, you can prevent the loss of nutrients due to oxidization. Pet food is expensive, so get the most for your money with smart pet food storage!
When storing your pet food you should always go with a quality pet food storage containers. These storage containers
are designed to keep your pet's food fresh and tasty and to keep other
animals, both wild and domestic, out of the food. The quality of the dog food storage and cat food storage containers make all the difference.
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