Keep opened dry pet food in its original bag, with the top rolled down tight, and put the whole bag inside a clean container with a lid. Store it somewhere dry and below 80F (27C). Opened cans and pouches go in the fridge, covered, at 40F (4C) or colder, and get used up within the time the label gives.
Those numbers come from the FDA's pet food storage guidance, and the advice that surprises most people is the first part: keep the bag. Don't pour the kibble straight into the bin.
Why keep dry food in the original bag?#
Two reasons. The first is freshness. The bag was made to hold oily food, and kibble poured loose into a bin leaves its fat coating on the walls, where it goes rancid and taints the next batch.
The second reason is recalls. The bag carries the lot number, the UPC, the product name and the best-by date. If there's a recall, or your pet gets sick and you need to report the food, that lot number is the first thing anyone will ask for. The FDA says the lot number is the most useful detail when reporting a pet food complaint. If you do decant, cut that panel off the bag and tape it to the container.
Pet food storage at a glance#
| Food |
Where to store it |
After opening |
| Dry kibble |
Original bag, rolled shut, inside a lidded container; dry and below 80F |
Use by the best-by date; buy a bag size you'll finish in about a month |
| Unopened cans and pouches |
Cool, dry cupboard |
Until the best-by date |
| Opened cans and pouches |
Fridge at 40F or below, covered tightly |
Per the label; limits vary by brand |
| Food left in the bowl |
Not out all day |
Refrigerate promptly or throw it out |
| Treats |
Sealed, somewhere your pet can't reach |
Per the label |
| Frozen raw food |
Freezer; thaw in the fridge |
Handle like raw meat, per the label |
Where to keep the food#
Somewhere cool, dry and indoors. A kitchen or pantry cupboard is ideal. The FDA warns that excess heat or moisture breaks down nutrients. That rules out most garages and sheds, which can easily pass 80F in summer and get damp in winter. A bag in the garage is also an open invitation to mice.
Keep the container closed and out of your pet's reach. A determined dog will get into a paper bag on the floor, and the FDA's advice for treats is the same: store them somewhere secure so your pet can't eat a whole supply in one go.
How long does dry food last once opened?#
The bag's best-by date assumes it's unopened. Once you open it, air gets in and the fats start oxidizing. Manufacturers vary on exactly how long an open bag stays at its best, so check the bag or the brand's website. The simplest approach is to buy a bag size your pet will finish in about a month. A giant discount bag isn't a bargain if the last third goes stale.
Write the date you opened it on the bag with a marker. It takes two seconds and ends the "when did we open this?" question.
Don't top up old food with new#
When a bag runs out, finish it, then wash and fully dry the container before the next bag goes in. Pouring new kibble on top of the old leaves a layer of crumbs and fat at the bottom that never gets used up and slowly goes rancid. It also mixes lot numbers, so if one gets recalled you can't tell which food you're feeding.
Storing opened wet food#
The FDA's handling tips are short: promptly refrigerate or throw out leftover canned and pouched food, with the fridge set to 40F or below. Cover it tightly. A silicone can lid or a small lidded container works better than foil, which lets the smell spread through the fridge.
How long it keeps after that depends on the brand, and brands don't all agree, so go by the label or the maker's website for the food you actually buy. If there's no guidance, err on the short side and throw out anything that smells off.
Don't leave wet food sitting in the bowl for hours. Pick up what's left after the meal and either refrigerate it or throw it away. Some pets won't eat food straight from the fridge; letting a portion sit for a few minutes, or stirring in a little warm water, usually fixes that.
Use a dedicated spoon or scoop, and wash it after each use along with the bowl. Our guide on how often to wash pet bowls covers the rest.
Signs pet food has gone off#
- Dry food smells sour, like old cooking oil, or like paint. That's rancid fat.
- Visible mold, clumping from moisture, or a dusty, musty smell.
- Bugs or webbing in the bag. Pantry moths love pet food.
- A can that's bulging, leaking, badly dented along the seam, or spurts when opened.
- Your pet suddenly refuses a food it normally eats.
If you see any of these, don't feed it. If your pet gets sick after eating a food, stop feeding it, call your vet, keep the packaging, and report it through the FDA's Safety Reporting Portal. Your vet can file the report for you.
Make it part of your pantry routine#
Pet food is easiest to manage when it's part of the household stock check: one opened bag in use, one sealed bag in reserve, and a note of when to reorder. Add it to your pantry organization schedule, and give the fridge shelf where open cans live a wipe when you clean the refrigerator.
A recurring ChoreLists.com reminder to wash out the food container when a bag runs out, or every month if you go through bags slowly, keeps that step from being skipped.