Where to store dog food. How to store dry dog ​​and cat food

With the advent of a furry friend in the house, everyone tries. Dogs are not as picky eaters as cats. Due to the increased acidity in the stomach, animals can digest most food options. But this ability will not protect your pet from food poisoning.

One of the factors causing disorder in dogs is violation of food storage rules. Simple rules for their preservation, which are indicated in this article, can ensure the freshness of food.

How to store dry food

When your dog prefers to enjoy dry food, you buy several servings for him at once. Although the food has a dry base, it requires the greatest attention to storage conditions.

What happens if you store food incorrectly?

Rodents are not averse to eating food. It has a strong aroma that attracts mice. The worst thing in this case is not that they will eat the dogs' food, but that they will cause leptospirosis. These bacteria are found in mouse secretions.

The aroma of grains in food attracts insects that are not averse to laying their eggs.

Moisture is also detrimental to such feed. It will not only spoil the product, but also provide an opportunity for mites to reproduce. These bugs contribute to the formation of mold, which is harmful to dogs. You can identify it by a white coating similar to dust.

Your dog's food should be kept in a cool place with very low humidity.

Ensure that large portions of feed are sealed. To do this, use a plastic container with a tight lid.

When purchasing, give preference to sealed bags. Their packaging takes place under a certain atmosphere, which means that the fats in the food will not oxidize.

Feed in open packaging during long-term storage is at risk of contamination and spoilage. So don't buy dog ​​food in big bags, just buy a month's supply.

If you still have several packages of food, store them in drawers or on shelves. First of all, open those that have a short deadline. Dry food can be stored in packaging for 12 to 18 months.

How to store wet food

Storing wet food is much easier and does not require much effort on your part. Such food is packaged in pouches, which are hermetically sealed and packaged in small portions.

If you have opened the package, transfer the contents to an airtight container and place in a cool place. It is recommended to store food in this condition for no more than 3 days.

Even if you have transferred juicy pieces of food, you should not throw away the packaging. This way you will save data on expiration date and manufacturer. If you have any doubts about the quality of food, you can get advice from the seller.

Wash the dishes after each feeding of the animal. A humid environment is a good place for bacteria to grow. Wet food in its entire package can be stored for up to 2-3 years.

The health of our four-legged friends depends not only on quality food, but also on shelf life. Therefore, carefully follow these recommendations.

If you feed your pet dry food, it is necessary to comply with the storage conditions of the packaging so that the pet receives all the necessary substances and does not refuse the food because it has spoiled.

Where and how to store dry cat food - I’ll tell you how I do it.

Features of dry food storage

Let's look at how to properly store food if the package is not opened even after it has been opened.

If the package is not opened

If the food packaging has not been opened, then there is no need to come up with anything special. Place it in a dry, dark and cool place. For example, in a cupboard, and thus the food will remain until the expiration date indicated on the label.

When purchasing food, pay attention to the packaging. It should be slightly swollen, which means that the pack contains nitrogen inside. It is added to prevent oxidation of fats and other substances contained in the product. Nitriding acts as a conservation agent. If the packaging is completely deflated and its bag of food can be rolled up freely, it means that it is not airtight and somewhere there is a small hole through which nitrogen has escaped and air has entered. This means that the food began to oxidize and deteriorate. He won't last a whole year.

If the package is opened

After opening the package, the main task is to limit the access of oxygen to the product as much as possible. Therefore, part of the food from a large pack should be poured into a container, and the rest should be left in the original packaging, carefully releasing the air from the bag and rolling it up. I don’t recommend simply closing the food with a zip fastener, as there will be a lot of air left in the empty space of the bag. It is better to twist the bag and secure the food on top with clothespins, plastic food clips or office clips. This way we can slow down the process of product spoilage.

If you buy food in small bags - 250-400 grams, you don’t have to pour it anywhere, as your pet will eat it very quickly. But since it is expensive, and the cat eats much more per month, most people prefer larger packs.

Always store food closed - open food not only deteriorates, fats in it oxidize and it begins to smell unpleasant, and moisture evaporates from it, which is present, although in small quantities. If the food is left open during the day, it will become tough, as the 5-10% moisture it contains will evaporate. Your cat may refuse it altogether. But even if he doesn’t refuse, there will be little benefit from such a product.

Where to store - container and place

As I have already described, it is better to pour part of the food, 500-800 grams, into a container and give it to your pet every day. The rest should be sent for storage in original packaging.

You can choose different containers for storage - glass, porcelain, plastic, tin. The main condition is that each container must have a tightly closing ground or screw-on lid.

Do not use containers that are too large - the larger the volume, the more air will enter the feed each time. The smaller the volume, the faster the pet will eat it, the fresher the food will be. It simply won't have time to deteriorate.

Let's look at the pros and cons of different container options.

Plastic containers. The main advantages are that it is light, comfortable and cheap. You won’t break it, it’s convenient to take it with you if, for example, you go with your cat to the country for a few days in the summer. For a long time I used plastic containers, but over time I replaced them. The fact is that a plastic jar quickly gets dirty and is also saturated with the smell of food, which is difficult to clean. I also noticed that food is stored worse in plastic than, for example, in glass. This was detected both by the smell of the food and by the cat’s reaction. Yes, yes, my cat categorically refuses to eat rancid, oxidized food. You can easily check the quality of the product on it.

If you do choose plastic, it must be food grade. Do not store food in containers intended for storing household items and other inedible items. To make sure that the plastic in front of you is food grade, look at the bottom of the container - there should be a spoon and fork icon there - either on the plastic itself or on the label. Non-food grade plastic can leach toxic compounds into food.

Tin containers. Tin containers, in particular aluminum, have the following disadvantage - aluminum reacts with food and can change the taste of the product (the same applies to dishes for people). If you choose a tin container with oxidation protection (all modern metal utensils for people have this protective layer and are therefore safe), then this problem will disappear by itself.

Glass or porcelain containers. Both options are considered the most preferable. Now I use glass containers with a plastic lid. Such containers can be bought in any dishware department - these are jars for storing cereals. In glass and porcelain, food is stored longer, it does not lose its smell, the smell does not eat into the walls of the dish, and the animal is full and satisfied.

Store the containerized food in a dark and dry place, away from sunlight, to avoid overdrying and mold formation (in case of high humidity).

How much to store

According to my observations, the maximum adequate storage time for food after opening the package and subject to the above storage recommendations is 2 months. During this time, it does not dry out, does not go rancid, and the cat eats it with pleasure.

Based on this, calculate the size of the pack of food. For example, if you have one pet, then do not buy a package weighing more than 3 kg.

If there are more cats, then you can buy both 5 and 10 kg - options for breeders or for those who have 2,3 or more cats.

Health to your cats.

If you are going to choose high quality food for your pet, you should remember that it should be stored properly to preserve its nutritional value and taste.

How long can the shelf life of food be?

Before purchasing, be sure to check its expiration date. For high quality food, this date is legibly and clearly indicated on the packaging. Canned foods typically have a shelf life of about two years, while the vast majority of dry foods are good for up to a year. Be sure to make sure that the product you are purchasing has not expired.

Do the types of preservatives matter?

The type of preservative used by the manufacturer is of great importance for the shelf life of the feed. Artificial types of preservatives (BHA, BHT or ethoxykin) are able to preserve for a longer period of time than natural ones, for example, vitamin E. In this regard, you should not be surprised if you see that the shelf life of food containing artificial preservatives is several months more than those feeds that use natural preservatives. This difference can be compensated by purchasing food in smaller bags, but more often.

How to properly store food at home?

It must be remembered that the main sources of danger to feed are humidity, heat, oxygen and light. Open packaging, into which oxygen penetrates, as well as high temperature in the apartment, lead to the oxidation of fats in food products. Oxidation is a chemical process that makes food taste rancid and destroys nutrients and vitamins, which can ultimately result in poisoning or serious illness. The air temperature in the room in which canned or dry animal food is stored should not exceed thirty-two degrees Celsius. If you store canned food for a long time at a temperature below ten degrees, this will slightly deteriorate the taste, but will not affect the nutritional value of the product. After opening a can of canned food, close it with a tight lid and place it in a cool place. The food must be used within three days. Dry food should not be stored in the bathroom or other damp areas, as they can absorb moisture very quickly, as a result of which they become moldy. The food must be stored in its original packaging, placed in a dry and clean container, tightly closed with a lid that protects the product from air, light, insects and small rodents.

Dogs, unlike cats, are not as picky about food. And they can easily afford it - they have a fairly “strong” stomach, thanks to the high acidity of gastric juice. However, this natural feature does not protect your dog from food poisoning, one of the reasons for which may be improper storage of dog food. Meanwhile, it is enough to follow simple safety measures so that food does not become a source of trouble for your pet.

How to store dry food?

The main rule for storing dry food is protection from uninvited guests: rodents, insects and dust mites. Mice and rats are not averse to tasting the food itself, but this is not the main danger: rodent secretions may contain bacteria that cause leptospirosis in dogs.

Dry food contains grains, which attracts insects. If the food is not put away in a cool place, then insects are likely to choose it to lay eggs.

If moisture gets into the food, it can harbor mites and form mold that is toxic to dogs. You will immediately notice if the food is infested with mites: the food seems to be covered with dust.

It is enough to follow a few simple rules for storing dry dog ​​food, which will help keep it safe and sound:

• Store food in a cool, dry place.
• An airtight plastic or metal container is the best way to store food.
• Best Buying Choice: Sealed packages, packaged under a controlled atmosphere. In this case, the fats that are necessarily included in the diet will not oxidize.
• Don't buy too much food at once, just buy a portion for a month. The longer food is stored open, the greater the risk of contamination.
• If you have several bags of food, store them on shelves rather than on the floor, and always look at the expiration date and open the oldest bags first.

How to store wet food?

Wet food is stored hermetically sealed and in small portions, so it has a long shelf life and there is no danger of contamination from the outside. But after opening, its lifespan is short, and moisture attracts insects.

Wet food is stored for 2-3 years, and dry food is stored for only 1-1.5 years.

Storing wet food is even easier than dry food:

• If you open wet food, store it in the refrigerator in a closed plastic or metal container for no more than 2-3 days.
• Wash your dog's bowl thoroughly and regularly after wet food - bacteria can easily develop in leftover food.

And one more universal tip: save food labels, even if you are used to putting it in containers. Firstly, this way you will not forget the expiration date of the food. Secondly, if you have any doubts about the quality of the food, you can get advice from its manufacturer.

The undoubted advantage of dry food is that it has a long shelf life and does not spoil without refrigeration. You can stock up on them for future use, which is very convenient for busy people and residents of remote settlements. However, there are certain storage conditions for dry food that every cat or dog owner should know.

Shelf life of dry food

If the packaging is not opened, it can be stored until the expiration date specified by the manufacturer after the words “Best before...”. Of course, after this date, dry food does not immediately turn into poison, but the indicators of the guaranteed analysis may change, for example, the content of some vitamins will decrease, and most importantly, fats will become rancid, which already threatens with unpleasant consequences. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to dates and deadlines when purchasing.

Some manufacturers indicate only the date of manufacture and the period during which the food will remain fresh - in this case, you need to calculate the maximum shelf life yourself.

There are different types of preservatives

As a rule, dry food is stored no longer than 18 months, during which the effect of natural antioxidants (sources of tocopherols), which are usually used to preserve high-quality food, lasts. If a longer shelf life is provided, dry food of this brand most likely contains artificial preservatives.

They reliably protect products from bacterial growth and oxidation, but are considered less safe compared to antioxidants of natural origin.

How long dry food can be stored after opening the package depends on the manufacturer’s recommendations. Usually this period is no more than 3 months. If during this period your pet does not have time to eat the contents of the package, it is worth considering other packaging options.

Dry food should be stored, as most manufacturers advise, in a dark, dry and cool place, with special emphasis on the tightness of the packaging. Direct sunlight and access to air sharply accelerate the process of fat oxidation, reducing the shelf life of the product.

Excess moisture provokes the formation of mold and also creates an excellent breeding ground for saprophytic mites. When these invisible pests infest the bag, the granules look as if they are covered in dust and become unfit for consumption.

In country houses, these scourges can also be supplemented by rodents, which not only significantly reduce your supplies, but are also carriers of dangerous infections. The latter can also be attributed to flies, which not only spread harmful bacteria, but also lay eggs in food products.

To make food storage convenient and airtight, it is best to buy a special tank with a lid made of food-grade plastic or stainless steel. If you simply poured the granules into a container, save the information from the package or write down the day you opened it. This way you will always remember how long dry food can be stored and by what date it needs to be used.

But it’s still better to put the entire bag in the container, releasing the air from it, carefully wrapping the top edge and securing it with paper clips or clothespins. Sometimes manufacturers equip feed bags with a zipper - a special fastener that allows you to open and close the packaging multiple times, maintaining its integrity.

This is convenient when the bag of food is small and will not be stored for long. In other cases, it is better to play it safe and wrap the package as we outlined above. Following these simple rules will help maintain the nutritional value of the food and its attractiveness to pets.