Fresh and Tasty: How to Keep Homemade Dog Treats Fresh

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Making homemade dog treats is a great way to ensure that your pet is getting the best possible nutrition. However, keeping these treats fresh can be a challenge. If you’re wondering how to keep your homemade dog treats fresh, there are a few things you can do.

First, it’s important to choose the right container for storing your treats. Glass containers are a great option, as they help to preserve the quality and flavor of the treats better than plastic or metal. Additionally, you’ll want to consider how long you need to store the treats, as this will help you determine the best storage method.

According to some sources, meatless dry treats can go into an airtight container at room temperature for about two to three weeks, while soft or moist treats, especially those with meat, can go into the refrigerator for seven to 10 days. However, there are other ways to store homemade dog treats that can help them stay fresh even longer.

Why Freshness Matters

Keeping homemade dog treats fresh is important for your pet’s health and enjoyment. Fresh treats ensure that your dog gets the most nutritional value and taste from their treats. Here are a few reasons why freshness matters:

  • Shelf Life: Homemade dog treats have a shorter shelf life compared to commercial treats. They do not contain artificial preservatives that extend their shelf life. Fresh treats are free from harmful chemicals that can cause health problems in dogs.
  • Nutritional Value: Fresh treats retain their nutritional value, which is essential for your dog’s health. Stale or expired treats lose their nutritional value, making them less beneficial for your dog.
  • Taste and Texture: Fresh treats have a better taste and texture compared to stale treats. Dogs are more likely to enjoy fresh treats, which can help with training and positive reinforcement.

Using artificial preservatives to extend the shelf life of homemade dog treats is not recommended. These preservatives can cause health problems in dogs, including allergic reactions and digestive issues. Instead, opt for natural preservatives like vitamin E or store your treats in the refrigerator or freezer.

dog treats ready to bake on sheet

In conclusion, freshness matters when it comes to homemade dog treats. Keep your treats fresh to ensure that your dog gets the most nutritional value and taste from their treats. Avoid using artificial preservatives and store your treats properly to extend their shelf life.

Simple Tips for Keeping Homemade Dog Treats Fresh

Storage Options

To keep your homemade dog treats fresh, you need to store them properly. The best storage options include an airtight container or vacuum sealer. Place the treats in a container or bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing. Store them in the refrigerator or freezer to extend their shelf life.

Healthy, homemade dog biscuits spilling from a glass canister on a wooden table.

Natural Preservatives

Adding natural preservatives to your homemade dog treats can help keep them fresh for longer. Some options include rosemary, sage, honey, citric acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E. These ingredients have antimicrobial properties that can prevent spoilage and mold growth.

Cooling and Storing

After baking your dog treats, let them cool on a cooling rack to prevent residual heat from causing condensation inside the container. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bag in the refrigerator or freezer. If using a container, make sure it’s the right size to avoid too much air inside.

Using these simple tips, you can keep your homemade dog treats fresh for longer and avoid spoilage. Remember to always check for signs of spoilage before giving your dog any treats. With proper storage and natural preservatives, you can keep your pet happy and healthy.

Source: PuppyLeaks

Conclusion

Now that you know how to keep homemade dog treats fresh, you can ensure that your pet always has a delicious and healthy snack. Remember to choose the right container for your treats, and store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

If you’re making soft or moist treats, it’s best to store them in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Dry treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three weeks. Vacuum-sealing your treats and freezing them is also an option, which can keep them fresh for up to a year.

When storing your homemade dog treats, it’s essential to consider the ingredients you’re using. Natural and fresh ingredients will have a shorter shelf life than treats with additives. Always check the expiration dates of your ingredients and use them before they expire.

Display of lovely high quality decorative dog treats in bone shape with blue icing and the words Good Boy in white

In summary, keeping homemade dog treats fresh is easy with the right storage techniques. By following the tips provided in this article, you can ensure that your dog always has a tasty and healthy treat to enjoy.

FAQ

Where Should You Store Homemade Dog Treats?

The best place to store most homemade dog treats is in the refrigerator. But, if you want long-term storage options, you can put them in the freezer. Vacuum sealed bags are ideal to keep them good for up to a year. You could also store unbaked dough in the freezer for later preparation. If you do this, ensure you double wrap it to protect the dough from freezer burn.

How Do the Ingredients Affect Keeping Homemade Dog Treats Fresh?

The ingredients comprising the dog treats will have everything to do with their storage and the length of time they will stay fresh. Typically, moist or wet dog treats will have a shorter shelf life than dry ones.

Veggie and/or Fruit Treats

Fruit and veggie treats tend to stay soft, even after baking with the intention of making them crispy. This means they’ll have a shorter lifespan. However, you can put these into an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for about a week to 10 days.

Alternatively, you can loosely secure them in plastic wrap or sandwich bags along with something like cheesecloth. This will prevent the treats from getting too soggy.

Wheat Flour versus Gluten-Free Flour

While dogs shouldn’t eat wheat flour, treats made with it do tend to keep for a longer period of time than ones made with gluten-free flour. However, gluten-free flour does make treats a little softer. But, the type of gluten-free flour will determine this.

For instance, all-purpose and oat flour will keep for longer than garbanzo or almond. Storing these in a sealed jar in the fridge for about a week will suffice. However, you want to check them periodically to ensure they aren’t going bad during their storage time.

Meat & Fish Treats

Any kind of treat made with meat, fish or broth can go into an airtight container in the fridge. These will last for a week at most.

Can You Use Natural Preservatives in the Dog Treat Recipe To Extend Freshness?

There are many natural preservatives you can use to ensure your homemade dog treats keep for a little longer. Things like honey, rosemary, vitamin E and vitamin C will extend the shelf life by about three to five days. 

If you’re making dog treats with the intention of selling them to the public, you can also get mold inhibitors. These are good for gummy and moist treats. You just want to ensure that it contains natural and healthy ingredients.

How Does the Type & Size Affect Keeping Homemade Dog Treats Fresh?

Of course the type and size of the homemade dog treats will affect how long they will stay fresh. Tiny kibble-sized treats will not last as long as ones that are the size of normal bone-shaped biscuits. However, the drier and crunchier the treat, the longer it will keep.

How Does Your Location Affect the Freshness of Homemade Dog Treats?

While it isn’t terribly important, where you live can affect how you store homemade dog treats. This is particularly true during the shifting temperatures of the seasons. For instance, if you live in a hot climate and you don’t have a good air conditioner, you will have to keep your counter-stored treats in the fridge. This is because the hotter weather will cause the treats to spoil faster.

This means that unless you can maintain the general temperature and humidity throughout your home, it’s always best to find a way to store the treats in the fridge.

Should You Defrost Frozen Treats Before Letting a Dog Eat Them?

You don’t always have to defrost frozen treats before letting your dog eat them. This is particularly true of treats intended as frozen. However, smaller and crunchier treats will be better frozen whereas big or thicker treats should defrost for a little bit.

How Should You Bake Dog Treats to Extend Their Lifespan?

In the event you want treats that will last for a little longer than a week, make them crunchy by drying them out toward the end of the baking period. Simply turn off the oven and open the door a smidge. Let them sit there for about 30 to 45 minutes. This will crisp them up.

Another method is when the baking period finishes, turn your oven down to a lower temperature. For instance, if your recipe calls for the treats to bake at 375°F, turn the oven down to 150°F. Continue baking the treats for about 20 to 30 more minutes.

How Long Do Frozen Dog Treats Stay Fresh?

Frozen dog treats, such as yogurt pops, will keep for several months in the freezer. Not only are these ideal for hot summer days but you can offer them as “special” training treats as a super reward for your dog.

How Long Should You Cool Treats after Baking to Ensure They Stay Fresh?

Once you’ve finished baking the dog treats, one of the most essential steps to keeping them as fresh as possible is allowing them to cool. Use a wire cooling rack and let them rest for an hour or two before you put them into a jar, sandwich bag or other similar container.

If there is any amount of warmth in the treats, it will cause condensation to form inside its storage container. This produces a breeding ground for bacteria, mold and making the treats inedible.


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