Food storage question

[momPaws]

Well my new little girl rejected the Science Diet but she likes Purina Naturals. But I have a question - I could only get a larger bag which will take a long time for my little muchkin to eat. The expiration date is 8/09, but if you keep the bag closed up can you keep feeding this food for months? It says it has no preservatives.

[Tambrey]

My 20# bag of food only lasts a little over a week with my crew, but I got a tall bin at WalMart that holds the entire bag nicely, it has a hinged lid and there is a rubber seal around it...I got it in the Pet Department...

I think Traci got something that looks like a pail...if I remember right, she got it from WalMArt as well...

[momPaws]

But is the food ok for a long time...I mean doesn't it go bad after awhile? Especially cause this brand has no preservatives?

[E's]

I also have one of those big WalMart bins on rollers, but use it for the recycle LOL... just seems to me like chow stored that way gets exposed to too much air before it's used up, unless one is feeding a number of cats like Tambrey does. I demand feed my cat(s) their chow so it spends some time in the plastic feeder. I've found that keeping the remaining chow in its own double bag, folded down and closed with a clip, does just fine.

Glad to hear your girl likes the Purina Natural - my cats do well on it also..

[Traci]

Most commercial pet foods are properly preserved, and Purina Naturals does have preservatives, in the form of vit E (otherwise known as "mixed tocopherols")

According to their site for shelf life:

Shelf Life
Each package of Naturals from Purina Cat Chow brand Cat Food is stamped with a "best if used by" date. In general, a package of Naturals from Purina Cat Chow brand Cat Food is best if used within 18 months

I have 2 Vittle Vaults, each is a 20-25lb capacity, got them online at Walmart for about $20 each:



But, you could probably use one of the smaller ones, and you could do a price comparison online at any petstore.

I like the Vittle Vaults because they are airtight, easy to screw the lid on/off, easy to lift like a bucket with handle, are sturdy, and they do maintain the freshness of the cat food.

[Marty]

If you have some freezer space, you could store some of it there. I have a big one in the garage and couldn't be without it...even with just 2 of us here.

[Auntie Debbie]

Another idea would be to use those new Zip loc air vac bags. I haven't tried them but I've heard they're pretty good. You can break the big bag down into smaller ones. And some of the smaller ones that you know won't be used for a while you can store in the fridge. My love that brand too.

[Traci]

I'd be concerned with refrigerating or freezing commercial pet foods, it could break down nutrient composition, expose to moisture, etc.

[Marty]

Hmm, I've always heard it is OK to freeze dry food. In fact, it may eliminate any buggy problems.

[Traci]

Yes, it could freeze "bugs", but it won't freeze bacteria upon thawing.

I guess I just get a vision of ice crystals in a frozen package (freezerburn) and think yuck!