How to Store Fresh Dog Food Properly

Making the transition from dry and processed food to fresh is one of the smartest decisions you can make as a pet owner. It’s made of whole ingredients, which increases its nutritional value, and it can also prevent allergies and contribute to better hydration.

Still, the question many pet owners ask is: "How to store fresh dog food?"

In most cases, you can do it by using watertight food boxes, and that should keep your furry friend’s meal fresh. Still, other factors influence the storage process, which is why our Pawy team will show you how to keep dog food fresh in more detail.

Why Storage Matters

Making the fresh dog food transition takes some time and patience, and there’s a learning curve for both pets and owners.

Since it’s easier to have your pet get used to fresh meals one bite at a time, proper storage can extend the freshness of each meal to two to three days, and it also helps with preparing daily portions. The best way to go is to use an airtight container and place it in the fridge. 

Adequate storage prevents spoilage and the growth of bacteria that could cause health issues. 

Fresh dog food storage also differs from the methods we use for safely keeping dry food and kibble. The latter can be stored at room temperature (around 80°F), and it doesn’t need to be refrigerated like fresh food.

We understand all this may sound a bit overwhelming. Luckily, our team of pet nutritionists and Swiss veterinarians will help you confidently store and serve fresh dog food. You can get in touch for a free consultation, and we’ll be happy to give you a meal prep plan recommendation according to your dog’s needs.

Best Practices for Storing Fresh Dog Food 

To help you maintain a healthy diet for your pet, we’ve decided to share a few expert fresh dog food storage tips. You can use these pieces of advice to properly store fresh pet food:

• Keep food rations refrigerated: The first and most important thing is to keep fresh dog food refrigerated by storing it at a temperature below 40°F. Once you open the original package, you can place the food in a sealed container for further use.

• Use airtight containers: It’s also extremely important to use airtight containers to prevent food from getting spoiled. Also, sealed containers like these keep your furry friend’s meals safe from bacteria and mould.

• Keep the food in its original packaging: At Pawy, our experts have designed a sealed package in which all of our meals are delivered. You can use it to properly store and refrigerate each meal.

• Don’t keep the food out for too long: If you’ve taken out a large bowl of fresh food only to see your pet eat a tiny bit, make sure to return it to the refrigerator. In most cases (and especially during summertime), you should avoid leaving the food out for more than an hour or two. 

• Always properly clean the containers: As our final piece of advice, you should always properly clean your sealed food containers. Make sure to regularly wash the bowls that your pet frequently uses.

Signs Food May Have Gone Bad

While it definitely helps, dog food fridge storage can't keep food fresh forever. So, if you’re looking for some tips on how to recognise spoiled dog food, here’s our guide:

• Look for changes in colour and smell: One of the most obvious signs of spoiled fresh dog food is a distinctive, almost sour odour. If it’s intense, chances are that you’ll have to get another meal for your pet. It’s just as important to inspect the food visually to see if there are any colour changes.

• Check the texture: You can also look at the texture of the food and compare it with the one it had on delivery day. In most cases, food going bad will become more slimy, which might also lead to some moisture within the packaging or the bowl.

• Keep track of expiration dates: Always check the packaging for expiration dates on each meal.

• You’ve already been keeping it for too long: At Pawy, all of our meal packages are prepared only with natural and whole ingredients, without any additives. The downside is that it only takes a few days for a meal to get spoiled if you don’t use it by then. In case that happens, discard the food immediately.

• Your dog refuses to eat it: If natural and fresh food is going to waste, you won’t be the only one able to sense it. Your dog has a much more expressed sense of smell, and it’s possible it will refuse to eat if the smell indicates food going bad. 

Pawy’s Extra Fresh Food Box

As soon as you start with Pawy’s plan of meals, we’ll also reward you with one free takeaway bag. With it, you can keep your pet’s meals fresh even during a day out, making it much easier on you as an owner, too.

Most of our ingredients are fresh, steam-cooked, and locally sourced. Thanks to all that, you’ll be able to keep our food fresh for a day or two, as long as you stick by the tips we’ve laid out in this guide.

Conclusion 

Overall, making the fresh dog food transition can be the best thing you’ll do for your pet’s health and well-being. Here at Pawy, we’ve got a unique system of crafting natural and healthy meals to suit the taste buds of your pet. 

With them, you’ll also be getting instructions from our expert team on how to properly handle and store fresh dog food. Make sure to always refrigerate it and feel free to reach out to our friendly customer support to inquire about tailored fresh meal plans.