How long is dry dog food good for once opened?

Most pet owners understand the importance of providing their pet with a healthy, balanced diet, and pet food manufacturers make it easy for us to do just that. Dry dog food is a popular choice for many pet owners because of its convenience, but how long is dry dog food good for once it has been opened? This is an important question to consider as pet owners want to ensure their pet is receiving fresh and nutritious food for their meals. In this blog post, we will explore the answer to this question by looking at best practices for storing opened dry dog food and how long it can be expected to remain safe and nutritious for your pet to eat. We will also provide some tips for ensuring that your pet’s dry food always remains in top quality condition.

How Long Can Canned Food Remain in My Dog’s Bowl?

When canned food is placed in your dog’s bowl, it has a much smaller window of opportunity. After four hours, food that is at room temperature should be thrown out.

If it’s hot outside, it should be consumed right away or thrown away. Bacteria can grow more quickly in higher temperatures, which could make your dog sick. Additionally, the food degrades more quickly and becomes quickly repulsive.

Bottom Line: How Long Does Dog Food Last?

Depending on how they are prepared and preserved, various types of food remain tasty and fresh for varying lengths of time. Here are some general guidelines on how long each type of Fido food should last.

Standard Kibble — Generally speaking, unopened dry food can last about 12 to 18 months. After opening the dry food bag, kibbles should last a few weeks so long as they are stored properly and kept closed tightly.

Canned Food — Unopened canned food can keep for up to 2 years. Once opened, canned or wet foods require refrigeration and will last an additional day or two in the fridge (and a lid will help keep it from getting dry and grody). You don’t want to leave wet food out at room temperature for more than a few minutes, and you’ll want to toss out any leftovers from the bowl that your furry friend doesn’t consume.

Fresh Dog Food — Fresh dog food needs to be kept frozen or refrigerated until ready to serve. Because they typically don’t include preservatives, these foods remain safe and fresh for a shorter amount of time than kibbles. However, you’re unlikely to have any leftovers as most dogs love the taste of these premium mutt meals. If your furry friend does leave behind any meal morsels, you’ll want to toss them as you would with canned wet food.

It may make more sense to purchase food in smaller quantities and sign up for an “autoship and save” program rather than buying food in bulk to take advantage of price reductions. By purchasing in smaller quantities, you’ll be able to keep your dog’s food as fresh as possible while also removing the need to order it every month.

For instance, if your pet is smaller, you probably don’t want to buy the biggest bag of kibble you can find because it will take your dog a while to finish it. Make sure you buy food that is appropriate for your dog’s eating habits to avoid the food over time becoming unappetizing or unsafe.

How about canned dog food? Well, just like many of our own groceries, you should keep unopened cans in a cool, dry place. Like with our own food, if you open a can and don’t use it all, you can store the remainder in the refrigerator for a few days. Just be sure to seal it tightly with a reusable lid or cling wrap.

Examining the best by date printed on the packaging is one of the first steps you should take to determine how fresh the food is for your dog. Dry dog food typically has an expiration date of up to 18 months, while wet canned food has a two-year shelf life. Naturally, the shelf life of any food decreases once it has been consumed, going from months to weeks or even days (depending on whether it is wet or dry).

As the Dog People by Rover explained, it is possible for dog food to go rancid or spoil, even if there are some things we can do to keep our pet’s food fresher for longer. Depending on the type of food you feed your dog, you may have a longer shelf life on a product than you thought. It is all about paying attention to everything from the expiration dates to the proper storage techniques.

It’s crucial to know how fresh the food you’re giving your pet is, whether you choose dry dog food, wet food, or a combination of both. And even though we occasionally overlook the fact that even dog food has a “best by” date, it can be crucial for our dogs’ health.

Both wet and dry foods are designed to last for a while, but that does not guarantee that they will always remain fresh. And that is something we must always keep in mind because it is unjust to our puppies to feed them stale food, just as we do not want to feed them bad food.

FAQ

How long can you store open dry dog food?

Choose your bag sizes wisely because dry food should ideally be consumed within six weeks of opening the bag. You can leave out bowls of kibble for about a day, but make sure you don’t provide more than what should be consumed in that time frame.

Does dog food go stale if left open?

When it’s opened and air and moisture can enter, dog food may begin to deteriorate. Some experts advise using food that has been opened within a couple of weeks. Buy dog food in smaller quantities if you’re worried about finishing an opened bag before it spoils.

How do you store opened dry dog food?

“Oils that break down and turn rancid once the food is exposed to air are sprayed on dry dog food after it is extruded,” Dr. Nelson says. “So, kibble needs to be kept in an airtight container. ”.

Can dry dog food go rancid?

Keep it cool and sealed to avoid spoilage. Seal the dog food bag tightly. Utilize a bag clip and an airtight container together. Kibble should also be kept in a cool, dry environment. Food fat begins to oxidize at high temperatures, resulting in rancidity.