How to Increase the Shelf Life of Homemade Dog Treat
Many pet parents are turning to homemade dog food for greater control over ingredients. Well, homemade dog treats are no exception. Cooking and baking your dog’s treats is a great way to save money while also spending quality time with your best friend. They are simple to make, allow you to tailor your pup’s diet to their specific needs, and let you avoid filler ingredients as well as harmful preservatives.
The best way to do it is to cook a large batch and then store it for use over the next few weeks. Simply by improving your storage methods, you can significantly extend the life of your homemade treats.
The main reason why food of any kind goes bad is a lack of proper storage. If you follow these best practices, your dog will be able to enjoy his treats for a longer period of time. All fresh and healthy!:
Cool Treats Completely Before Storing
Condensation can form inside a storage container if there is any residual heat in your baked goods. This will create ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria and mold. It will remove the crunch from your treats and reduce their usable shelf life. With that in mind, make sure the treats are completely cooled down before getting stored.
Store Dry Food In An Airtight Container
Keep your dry baked food crunchy and free of moisture for up to 10 days after it has cooled. This can be done by storing it in an airtight container. Most likely, your dog will eat them all before that. The airtight container will work as a mig welding robot, sealing the food perfectly just like this robot welds stuff firmly.
Nothing Beats The Fridge
Your refrigerator is the best place in your home to store homemade dog treats. Whether it’s leftover meat, homemade soft treats for a hike, or a large batch of biscuits. Keeping the food cold will alleviate a lot of concerns and significantly increase the amount of time before your treats are no longer edible.
Also, the fridge will make sure no added bacteria can reach your dog’s treat which is quite possible when you store it somewhere else.
Track Local Weather
Depending on where you live, the weather and temperature may play a significant role in how you store your treats. You’re good to go if you have a great AC system and your home stays consistent throughout the year. For those who experience extreme weather, modify your practices accounting for especially hot days or seasons, which may shorten the life of your treats.
Finally, light can play a role in treat storage. This is because direct sunlight will cause those treats to spoil faster than they would otherwise. This is why, outside of the refrigerator, keeping your treats in an airtight container in the larder or pantry (which is naturally dark most of the time) is the best option.
Avoid Additional Moisture During Storage and Handling
As mentioned above, it is also critical to allow the finished treats to cool completely before storing them. Placing warm treats in a container will trap residual steam and/or moisture, resulting in soggy treats that will spoil faster. Transfer the treats to a suitable container once they have cooled and remove added moisture. Reduce your exposure to new contaminants during cooling by following the right steps.
Similarly, if treats are being defrosted from frozen, as mentioned below, make sure they defrost dry before being transferred to sealed storage in either ambient or refrigerated conditions. You can keep them all dry and fresh by using the right packaging. The right pet food bag manufacturer will help you with this.
Use Natural Preservatives
In addition to these methods, natural preservatives (as ingredients) can be used to make long-lasting dog treats. Nutrients such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E are extremely effective at keeping things fresh. Similarly, spices such as cinnamon, rosemary, and sage can be used to preserve baked goods.
Ingredients Matter
Recipes with fruits and/or vegetables tend to stay softer even after completely cooling. This type of treat, as well as soft dog treats in general, will have a shorter shelf life. Treats made with gluten-free flour, on the other hand, tend to stay soft. They also don’t store as well or for as long as those made with whole-grain flour.
Refrigerate gluten-free treats in an airtight container for up to a week (depending on the recipe). Make sure you inspect them regularly to ensure they aren’t going soggy or showing signs of spoilage. If you use butter or margarine in a dog treat recipe, the treats will spoil more quickly and should be refrigerated.
Using Vacuum Sealer
Using a vacuum sealer is also an excellent way to extend the shelf life of various dog treats. Filling vacuum-sealed bags with treats and freezing them can keep them fresh for up to a year. Always double-wrap uncooked dough before freezing it, and let it defrost completely in the refrigerator before using.
Making frozen or dehydrated dog treats is a great way to ensure you always have some tasty treats on hand. This is because they stay fresh for long periods of time.
Conclusion
In general, the drier and crunchier the dog treat, the better it will store and last longer. Most dog treat recipes can be made crunchier by drying them out a little more at the end of their recommended baking time.
Give your dogs your love in the form of delectable homemade treats that will last for weeks. They will not only love you more, but you will also ensure that they get all of the nutrients they need. Plus, none of the bad stuff. Being a good dog parent takes time and patience, but it is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have.
