Dry Dog Food Storage - How Long Does Dry Food Last? | Pooch & Mutt | Pooch & Mutt (2024)

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Dry Dog Food Storage - How Long Does Dry Food Last? | Pooch & Mutt | Pooch & Mutt? ›

Unopened dry dog food tends to have a shelf life of around 12-18 months, but once you open it, you should aim to use it up in about 6 weeks. After that, it will start to go stale.

If stored properly, bags of unopened dried dog food will generally last up to 18 months after manufacture. Once dried dog food has been opened, you should generally aim to use it within 6 weeks. Storing your dog food properly will help to preserve its freshness for as long as possible.

Unopened and stored in a cool dry place, dry dog food can keep between 18 and 36 months.

Pet food manufacturers establish expiration or “best by” dates to ensure the safety of your dog. In general, unopened dry pet foods have a shelf life of 12-18 months, while unopened canned foods are good for two years from the date of manufacture.

Store dry pet food and unopened canned food in a cool and dry place. The temperature should be less than 80 F. Excess heat or moisture may cause the nutrients to break down. If your pet is overly persistent or clever at getting into her pet food, store it in a secure location that she can't access.

While it is important to focus on your pet's daily nutritional intake, you should also make sure that the food packets are still fresh. So, to answer your question, 'can dogs eat expired food', the answer is certainly no!

Dry dog food can sit out for up to 8 hours before it may become unsafe to eat. The food may become contaminated with air pollutants, such as bacteria, spores, viruses, dust, pollen, or others, or may become moldy, which can cause gastrointestinal problems in dogs.

Flour and sugar, for example, may last up to six months in the pantry, but storing them with a vacuum sealer increases that range to about one to two years. Rice and pasta may have the same results — both may last up to six months when conventionally stored, but that number jumps to one to two years when vacuum sealed.

How should I store my pet food? Freezing any pet food, once it has been opened, will not do much in the way of extending its shelf life. The biggest problem pet food suffers from when stored is rancidity.

Plastic food containers are a safe way to store pet foods. Look for BPA-free options made from food-grade plastic. For an extra layer of protection, place the bag of food directly into the container rather than dumping the food directly out and having it come into contact with the plastic.

How long does blue buffalo dry dog food last? ›

Ideally, dry food and treats should be consumed within 6-8 weeks of opening the bag. Exposure to air, light, hot temperatures and humidity speeds up the rate at which foods degrade. To limit these effects, keep dry foods in their original packaging and store in a cool, dry location.

The type of dog food - As a general guideline, dry food, once opened, should be used within two-to-three months if properly stored, while wet food should be used within three days if sealed and refrigerated.

Keep Dry Pet Food In The Bag It Came In

Also, be sure to wash the storage container regularly and dry completely before adding in another bag as moisture can prompt mold and mildew growth on the food.

Store unopened wet and dry pet food in a cool, dry location. It is not recommended to leave the bag on the floor in the garage or outside. Clean containers: Wash and dry the storage container between each bag of food and check for damage and insect activity.

Dried foods, like beans and grains, can last 20 to 30 years when stored correctly in sealed foil bags. Because storing dried foods in mylar bags sealed inside a food-grade bucket is the best storage method, foods stored in this manner can reach their maximum shelf lives.

Easy answer: yes, your sack of dry dog food will go stale much faster if you leave it open. Unopened dry dog food tends to have a shelf life of around 12-18 months, but once you open it, you should aim to use it up in about 6 weeks. After that, it will start to go stale.

The expiration date can be found on the bottom of the back side of the bag. Purina's dry dog food have a shelf life of 18 months unopened. Once opened, best used by the expiration date printed.

Is there an expiration date on Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food? An unopened bag of food will last until the expiration date stamped on the bag. Ideally, dry food and treats should be consumed within 6-8 weeks of opening the bag.