10 replies to this topic

[Dragoon 45]

Is there a good method to store kibble long term? I have a offer to buy my current brand of kibble at a substancial discount, but there is a minimum quantity involved which is roughly a 9 month supply for my dogs. I don't want to buy that much food if it will go bad before it is all fed.

Thank You

[Mark Billadeau]

Does the food list expiration date (date after which the manufacturer will not warrantee quality)?
Will it expire before your dogs can consume it?
If these are okay then store in the original packaging in a cool dry location out of the sun and not accessible to rodents.

[MrSnappy]

Keep it in a freezer. That's what we do at work

RDM

[Mark Billadeau]

Keep it in a freezer. That's what we do at work

RDM

-20C, -80C, or -150C?
These are the freezer temp choices where I work.

[bcnewe2]

-20C, -80C, or -150C?
These are the freezer temp choices where I work.

And that is why you are the Bill Nye science guy wannabe!

[gcv-border]

It's just kibble - and only for 9 months. -20C should be fine. Not like one needs long-term (decades) storage in liquid nitrogen freezers.

Jovi

[Mark Billadeau]

Typically, manufacturers list "use by", "best by", expiration dates for specific storage conditions listed on the packages. Changing the storage conditions may or may not be beneficial; manufacturers may not have evaluated the impact on product quality of freezing their product. Also, frost free freezers raise the temp slightly above freezing for short periods to melt the frost; these freeze-thaw cycles can impact product quality during long term storage.

[gcv-border]

Typically, manufacturers list "use by", "best by", expiration dates for specific storage conditions listed on the packages. Changing the storage conditions may or may not be beneficial; manufacturers may not have evaluated the impact on product quality of freezing their product. Also, frost free freezers raise the temp slightly above freezing for short periods to melt the frost; these freeze-thaw cycles can impact product quality during long term storage.

Yep, you're right. I had forgotten about the freeze/thaw cycle of frost-free freezers. When I worked in the lab, we stored all our enzymes in non-frost-free freezers. I always hated the once-a-year cleaning of these freezers since we had to move everything to another freezer (it was hard to find room elsewhere), then thaw, then clean, etc.

But I still wouldn't think that kibble is so sensitive to such storage conditions. Maybe raw food? but IMO, kibble should be more stable. But then again, I may be off-base.

Jovi

[Dragoon 45]

I don't have a large freezer for storage, don't have the room for it. I was kind of thinking of the large 5 gal plastic buckets like paint comes in with the resealable lid.

[Mark Billadeau]

There is a lot of science in packaging (to preserve freshness); as long as the bags are intact I would leave the food in the original packaging.

[Cynthia P]

With 25 years of packaging experience I agree with Mark. Keep it in the original package, and look for something with a long best before date. I wouldn't freeze as it can ruin the integrity of the package (although almost all pet food packaging is good between -20C and +60C); i would keep in a cold cellar

Cynthia