There’s a lot to think about when making meals for your pooch from scratch. From finding recipes approved by animal nutritionists to buying high-quality ingredients, each factor is important for your pet’s health. And it doesn’t end when you finish cooking! You also need to know how to store homemade dog food safely. Which is where today’s article comes in. We’ve got top tips on how to keep your pup’s grub fresh, whether that’s in the fridge or the freezer. Plus, we discuss which type of containers to use and how to dish up a dinner your mutt will love.
Why proper homemade dog food storage matters
There are several reasons why it’s important to know how to store homemade dog food correctly. Unlike kibble, it doesn’t contain any added preservatives. And unlike wet food you buy in cans or pouches, it doesn't go through a process of sterilisation and sealing. That means it has a far shorter shelf life than both these types of grub.
A lot can go wrong if you don’t know how to store homemade dog food properly. Most obviously, there’s the risk of spoilage. When your pet’s food is exposed to air, heat, and moisture, it may become contaminated with bacteria or mould spores. Eating mouldy meals could be extremely harmful for your pup because of substances called mycotoxins.(1) These produce symptoms ranging from vomiting and abdominal pain to seizures and liver damage.
Knowing how to store homemade dog food is also key to ensuring it retains its nutritional value. Exposure to sunlight, warmth, air and moisture can cause the vitamins and fats in food to degrade.(2) That means your canine companion might not get all the nutrients they require from their meals. Such nutritional deficiencies may lead to problems like skin conditions, lethargy, an unhealthy coat, and poor wound healing.
There’s also the simple fact that improper homemade dog food storage can make your pup’s chow less palatable. If their dinner smells or tastes stale, your furry friend is probably going to be reluctant to eat it. Along similar lines, if you don’t know how to store homemade dog food, it won’t last as long. This may mean you end up throwing it in the bin.
So, to avoid wasting the effort you put into making it, let’s look at how to store homemade dog food.
Tips for refrigerating homemade dog food
For most of us, keeping pet food in the fridge is an easy and convenient option. How long does homemade dog food last in the fridge? The exact length of time will vary according to the specifics of the recipe. However, it should be good for at least three days and a maximum of five. Of course, this is only true if you store it correctly.
For example, it’s crucial to allow your homemade dog food to cool completely before you refrigerate it. Putting warm food in the fridge (yours or your pooch’s!) raises the risk of bacterial contamination. That’s because it increases the ambient temperature inside, creating condensation that may lead to mould growth.
To speed up the cooling of your freshly cooked pet food, pop it into small, shallow containers. Dividing the grub into individual portions like this also makes it easier to serve when dinnertime rolls around. Plus, because you won’t be opening and closing the same box multiple times, it reduces the risk of spoilage.
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to how to store homemade dog food is to use airtight containers. This helps to keep the meals fresh and free from contamination. If you’re putting grub in resealable bags, make sure you squeeze out as much air as possible before closing them.
When talking about how to store homemade dog food, many people recommend keeping it in the coolest part of the refrigerator. This is usually the bottom shelf or drawer. It’s also a good idea to label each individual container of grub with the date on which you made it. That way, it’s easy to make sure you use the oldest meals first.
Can you freeze homemade dog food?
If you make your homemade dog food in large batches, storing it in the fridge might not be sufficient. For meals you plan to use in more than 3-5 days, freezing is a better option. Again, the exact amount of time you can freeze homemade dog food for will depend on the ingredients in it. However, as a general guideline, it should be ok for up to three months.
Curious about how to store homemade dog food in the freezer? A lot of the advice is the same as for the fridge. Portion the chow out into individual meals, allow them to cool, and seal them in airtight freezer-safe containers. Label each one with the date you made the food inside, so you know how long they’ve been frozen for.
A key factor to consider when thinking about how to store homemade dog food in the freezer is freezer burn. This is where frozen food loses moisture as a result of being exposed to air within the appliance. You might notice ice crystals on the food, as well as discoloured patches and a rougher or shrivelled texture. Although not dangerous, freezer burn affects the quality of food and means it won’t taste as nice for your pooch. To avoid it, remove as much air as possible from the containers you store your mutt’s chow in.
Before serving your pup meals you’ve frozen, you need to thaw them thoroughly. To do so, move the container into the fridge where it can defrost slowly. This will probably take 12-24 hours, so this method of how to store homemade dog food does require forward planning! Don’t leave the grub to thaw at room temperature, as it raises the risk of bacterial growth.
Handling and serving homemade dog food safely
As well as knowing how to store homemade dog food, we need to understand how to dish it up safely. For instance, some pet parents like to warm their pooch’s meals up in the microwave before serving. This is a handy option if you forgot to leave their dinner in the fridge to defrost the night before! If you do so, always stir the food and check the temperature before offering it to your pup. If it feels hot to your finger, it’s too hot for them to eat.
In fact, it’s preferable to stir your mutt’s meal before giving it to them whether you heated it or not. This distributes the ingredients evenly throughout the food, plus gives you the opportunity to check it hasn’t gone off. And, of course, always ensure your pet’s food and water bowls are clean before dishing up their grub. This both lowers the chance of contamination and helps make sure the food tastes its best.
Thinking back to how to store homemade dog food in the freezer, you should never re-freeze meals after thawing them. This can reduce the flavour and nutritional value of the food, and it also increases the risk of spoilage. If your pooch doesn’t finish their dinner, it’s better to just throw the rest away.
Speaking of throwing food away, keep an eye on the dates you’ve written on the containers. If you spot a meal that’s been in the fridge or freezer for too long, discard it. Even if it looks and smells ok, there’s a chance it could be contaminated. Safety has to be your top priority when it comes to how to store homemade dog food. Our furry friends deserve only the best!
The top containers for homemade dog food
Regardless of whether you put them in the fridge or the freezer, using airtight containers to keep food in is key. But what’s the best type for preserving the freshness of your pet’s meals? You actually have several safe and practical options for what to store homemade dog food in.
Plastic containers are popular thanks to the material’s convenience and durability. However, it’s important to buy food-grade ones that are free from potentially harmful chemicals like BPA.(3) You should also make sure they’re ok to put in the freezer if you plan to freeze your dog food.
Alternatively, you could go for a heavy-duty freezer bag. Remember to squeeze any excess air out of them and seal them tightly to prevent the food inside from spoiling. One downside to these is that they’re trickier to clean compared to the other materials discussed here. As such, they’re more likely to become smelly or stained.
Glass jars and containers are fantastic choices too, because they’re non-toxic and easy to wash. Plus, they’re unlikely to become discoloured or retain smells from the food. And the fact that they’re clear makes it easier to keep an eye on the condition of the grub inside. Just take care not to drop them! And again, opt for those marked as safe to put in the freezer if relevant.
Finally, stainless steel containers are another viable option for how to store homemade dog food. These are durable, safe to pop in the freezer, non-toxic, and resistant to smells and stains. The only potential disadvantage is that you can’t use them in the microwave.
Whichever type of container you pick, they’re only as good as their seal – so always close them properly!
Maximising the nutritional value of homemade dog food
Knowing how to store homemade dog food is only one aspect of creating healthy meals for your beloved pup. You also need to ensure you’re providing them with a balanced, nutrient-rich diet. That involves finding vet-approved recipes, following them precisely, and using top-quality ingredients. We recommend consulting a specialist before you start, to make sure that you’re meeting all your pet’s nutritional requirements.
Another option is to add toppings to commercial dog food as a way to enhance its nutritional value. For instance, that could be cooked and unseasoned meat, fish, eggs, beans, or brown rice. There are also a number of vegetables which are safe for our pups. These include broccoli, carrots, peas, celery, courgette, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. Alternatively, your pooch might enjoy fresh blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, cranberries, and raspberries. In moderation, ingredients like these may help bring extra vitamins and minerals to your homemade dog food.
Just as we season our meals with herbs and spices, you can do the same for your dog. Curly parsley, cinnamon, mint, ginger and turmeric are all suitable for canine consumption in small amounts. And here at Boosie, we offer functional ingredients that could help to support specific aspects of your pet’s wellbeing.
For example, our Jerusalem artichoke powder is rich in a type of dietary fibre called inulin. This acts as a prebiotic, nourishing the good bacteria in your pooch’s gut.(4) Meanwhile, medicinal mushrooms like lion’s mane may support their immune system.(5) Alternatively, sea buckthorn oil is a great choice for looking after skin, eye, and coat health. This is thanks to the omega-7 and beta-carotene the berry contains. Whichever ingredient you pick, simply mix a little into your pup’s normal wet food.
How to store homemade dog food: key takeaways
Hopefully, this post has given you the information you need to feel confident about storing homemade pet food safely. A lot of the key principles are the same as storing food for the human members of your family. Keep it in airtight containers, cool it before refrigerating or freezing, thaw it slowly, and label it clearly. And if something doesn't look right, don’t risk it – throw the grub away. How long is homemade dog food good for when you store it correctly? Approximately three to five days in the fridge, or up to three months in the freezer. Sticking to this advice should help ensure that the meals you make for your pooch are safe, delicious, and wholesome.
