For storing homemade dog food, it is essential to cool it down to room temperature before placing the food in food-grade or heavy-duty freezer bags, labeling them with the dates of preparation. While you can refrigerate portions for 3 to 4 days, freezing is helpful for extended storage. It’s helpful if you divide the food into individual servings for thawing only the required quantities. For optimal freshness, the food is best used within a few months or up to six months for optimal quality. 

Tips for Storing Homemade Dog Food 

Storage and Prep for homemade dog food are just as important as the time and effort you spend making it for your pet. However, storing food can become complicated because it lacks artificial preservatives commonly found in commercial dog food brands. With all the extra effort and work you put into setting aside a budget for homemade dog food recipes, you wouldn’t want the effort to go to waste because you didn’t think of storing or freezing the food before preparing it. 

The type of food you prepare, and your recipe will determine how you store your homemade dog food. Some foods can be left outside for a short while, but others may not allow for this option. However, there are some basic steps to follow to store and freeze any homemade dog food. Below, we provide six tips to satisfy your needs. Please read on: 

Six Tips on How to Store Homemade Dog Food 

1. Preparation 

As is often said, preparation is crucial for success. It’s helpful if you determine what ingredients you will need and how much food you want to prepare before you start cooking. Even more important is the requirement for storage space to keep leftovers after they have been prepared. 

If you have a huge freezer, it makes storage easier. Unfortunately, if you don’t and rely on a refrigerator, you may need to consider options like preparing less food and storing it for several days in the fridge, as it is often easier to feed (no thawing required). Therefore, many people store dog food in the refrigerator, while others freeze it depending on the available space. 

If you plan to cook a large batch to store, it’s helpful to start with a smaller trial quantity. You wouldn’t want to have a freezer full of food that your dog doesn’t want to eat, would you? 

2. Freezing the Homemade Dog Food 

Freezing dog food does not mean merely shoving the leftover food into the freezer, hoping the freezer will take care of it. If you intend to freeze dog food safely, ensure it is completely cool before storing it. Many storage containers may leak chemicals into the food if added before cooling. Additionally, hot food requires more time to cool in the fridge. Therefore, to ensure you have planned everything, allow the food to cool entirely after making it before considering freezing. 

3. Refrigeration 

To refrigerate homemade dog food, divide the food into individual portions and place them in sealed containers or resealable bags. You must ensure that you eliminate as much air as possible, squeezing the bags before closing them. 

Write the dates of each bag or container to ensure you use the oldest food first. After that, store the food in the coolest part of the refrigerator. Do not assume the food will last for a week, as the recipe determines its shelf life. However, you can rely on at least three days. 

4. Freezing 

If you don’t plan to use the food for a few days, consider freezing it for the dog. There are no new steps involved in freezing except for dividing the food into individual portions and remembering that any food should never be refrozen. Here again, the quantity of food you can safely store in the freezer will depend on the ingredients and your recipe. However, most meat-based recipes will last for approximately 3 to 6 months. 

5. Thawing 

Your dog will not sniff at the frozen food unless you thaw it for feeding. For thawing, you can move the frozen food into the fridge for a few days before using it or using the microwave for thawing. Do not consider thawing the food at room temperature, as it can promote bacterial growth. When using a microwave, ensure that the food does not get too hot. Stirring is essential before serving, in addition to checking the temperature. If it is hot on your finger, it is too hot for your dog. 

6. Feeding 

After thawing the food, you can invite your dog for a treat. However, if your dog doesn’t eat for any reason, do not consider refreezing the leftovers. Ensure that you feed your dog only what you think they are likely to eat. 

Conclusion 

Embarking on a culinary journey to prepare home food for dogs resembles an adventure, making you figure out a lot as you start, but most of the basic principles of cooking and storing remain the same. You can store the food in the fridge for several days if you intend to use it earlier. However, you can also consider freezing the food to keep you and your dog company for several months. 

The option you choose depends on how much food you want to prepare at once and how much freezer space you have. If you are short on freezer space, pushing homemade dog food in isn’t a good option. 

However, if you have a large freezer, why not take the time and effort to cook some delicious homemade dog food that you can store, and thaw as needed? Ensure your dog is fed with a nutritionally balanced diet.