How to Defrost your Frozen Dog Food Safely
(adapted from www.fsis.usda.gov by friendsofthedog)
(adapted from www.fsis.usda.gov by friendsofthedog)
Even before we get to the defrosting stage, what is very important is to ensure that when you purchase the frozen food, is that it stays frozen on the way home. The last thing you want is for the food to become even slightly defrosted, as you cannot refreeze it. Also check the expiry date – on average, frozen dog food will have a 6 – 12 months expiry date - just as with human food, do not use food after the expiry date. If you do have food that you will not use before the expiry date, speak to the manufacturers - many of the frozen dog food manufacturers offer food that is about to expire to shelters, where it will be used up quickly, and before the expiry date.
Make your pick-up of the food your last stop of the day and bring with you a Cooler Bag and some Freezer pack and put into the freezer the second you get home. Even better, purchase your frozen pet food from one of the recommended frozen pet food suppliers, that are approved by the Department of Agriculture. As these manufacturers normally use correct packaging methods for storage and food that has to be transported, so the worry over whether any defrosting will occur, is eliminated.
According to the USDA, any perishable foods must be kept at a safe temperature while defrosting – and this applies to both pet and human foods, and the very best place to defrost is in your fridge – and normally the lowest shelf is the best option. The second that frozen food starts to defrost and becomes warmer than 40 deg F, the food must be served within a few hours, otherwise bacteria can start to multiply. Also take into consideration the current setting of your fridge – if your fridge is set at 35 deg F, then the defrosting process will be quicker.
To give you an idea of how long frozen dog food will take to defrost, a 500gram tub, or packet will take about 10 – 12 hours to defrost, so a good option is to take it out the freezer the night before and place in the lower shelf of the fridge. Depending on whether your dogs food is in a tub or a packet, we suggest placing inside another plastic bag/plastic container and/or on a plate – this will prevent any spillage or leakage. Keep this particular plate/plastic only for this use – remember to wash it well in hot, soapy water after use.
A good habit to get into is to have a day’s worth of food in the fridge which is fully defrosted, and you are currently feeding, as well as a day’s worth of food that is in the process of being defrosted. You can even go the extra mile, and have a 3rd day’s food in the fridge, which you have just taken out of the freezer. Following a system such as this, will ensure that you always have food ready for your pet for consumption, and as you feed one meal, then start the process over again, of taking another frozen packet or tub out the freezer. Just bear in mind that food that is defrosted must be kept in air tight container, in the fridge, and fed to your pet within two days of being defrosted at most.
When you are defrosting, don’t throw away any leaking of blood – this contains valuable nutrients – rather just mix this into the food before feeding.
Some points to bear in mind:-
Make your pick-up of the food your last stop of the day and bring with you a Cooler Bag and some Freezer pack and put into the freezer the second you get home. Even better, purchase your frozen pet food from one of the recommended frozen pet food suppliers, that are approved by the Department of Agriculture. As these manufacturers normally use correct packaging methods for storage and food that has to be transported, so the worry over whether any defrosting will occur, is eliminated.
According to the USDA, any perishable foods must be kept at a safe temperature while defrosting – and this applies to both pet and human foods, and the very best place to defrost is in your fridge – and normally the lowest shelf is the best option. The second that frozen food starts to defrost and becomes warmer than 40 deg F, the food must be served within a few hours, otherwise bacteria can start to multiply. Also take into consideration the current setting of your fridge – if your fridge is set at 35 deg F, then the defrosting process will be quicker.
To give you an idea of how long frozen dog food will take to defrost, a 500gram tub, or packet will take about 10 – 12 hours to defrost, so a good option is to take it out the freezer the night before and place in the lower shelf of the fridge. Depending on whether your dogs food is in a tub or a packet, we suggest placing inside another plastic bag/plastic container and/or on a plate – this will prevent any spillage or leakage. Keep this particular plate/plastic only for this use – remember to wash it well in hot, soapy water after use.
A good habit to get into is to have a day’s worth of food in the fridge which is fully defrosted, and you are currently feeding, as well as a day’s worth of food that is in the process of being defrosted. You can even go the extra mile, and have a 3rd day’s food in the fridge, which you have just taken out of the freezer. Following a system such as this, will ensure that you always have food ready for your pet for consumption, and as you feed one meal, then start the process over again, of taking another frozen packet or tub out the freezer. Just bear in mind that food that is defrosted must be kept in air tight container, in the fridge, and fed to your pet within two days of being defrosted at most.
When you are defrosting, don’t throw away any leaking of blood – this contains valuable nutrients – rather just mix this into the food before feeding.
Some points to bear in mind:-
- Never defrost foods on the kitchen counter or leave out for more than an hour, two at the most.
- Never re-freeze after defrosting.
- Never defrost in the micro or hot water – you will lose all the nutrients and goodness in the food that attracted you to feed raw in the first place.
- Treat raw pet food as you would your own meat or poultry – with caution and wash hands and utensils used thoroughly and carefully in hot, soapy water.
- If you have gotten yourself into a bind and do not have any food for your pet, rather submerge in cold water to defrost, changing the water every 20 minutes, so that it continues to defrost. Ensure no holes or leaks in the package as water will get into the food. This can be a lengthy method and can take a few hours.
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