Why Proper Handling Matters
Raw dog food, like the premium options offered at Paw on Raw, is packed with nutrients that mimic your dog’s natural ancestral diet. However, to maintain food quality and protect your pet’s health, it’s crucial to store and serve raw meals safely. This guide provides practical, easy-to-follow tips that will help you handle raw food with confidence, hygiene, and precision. By implementing the right procedures, you ensure both nutritional retention and safety in your pet’s daily meals.
Understanding the Risks of Improper Storage
Raw food is perishable. If not stored correctly, it can harbor harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, which may affect both pets and humans. Improper storage can also degrade the quality of the food, reducing its nutritional value. Just like you wouldn’t leave fresh meat out on the counter for hours, raw pet food requires strict temperature and hygiene control. Additionally, temperature fluctuations and cross-contamination with human food are common household risks that should be mitigated by establishing dedicated storage areas for pet products.
Best Practices for Storing Raw Dog Food
1. Keep Frozen Until Ready to Use
At Paw on Raw, all products are delivered frozen to maintain freshness and lock in nutrients. Upon delivery, immediately transfer the raw food into a freezer that maintains a consistent temperature of -18°C (0°F) or lower. This halts bacterial growth and ensures product stability. If freezer space is limited, consider investing in a separate freezer dedicated to your pet’s food.
2. Use Airtight Containers
Once the food is thawed, it should be stored in airtight, BPA-free containers to prevent exposure to air and bacteria. Oxygen accelerates spoilage, and open containers can attract cross-contaminants. Airtight containers help preserve moisture, flavor, and safety, especially when multiple meals are prepared in advance. Stainless steel containers or glass jars with seal-tight lids are preferable over plastic bags, which can rip or leak.
3. Refrigerate Thawed Portions
Always keep thawed food in the refrigerator at or below 4°C (40°F). Never leave thawed raw food out for extended periods. Once thawed, raw meals should be consumed within 2–3 days. Mark containers with the date you defrosted them to track freshness accurately. If the food has a sour smell, slimy texture, or discoloration, it’s safest to discard it.
4. Label and Rotate Inventory
To avoid wastage, follow the “first in, first out” method. Label each container or bag with the thaw date using a waterproof marker or printed sticker. Rotate meals so the older items are used first. This method keeps your storage system organized and ensures your dog always receives the freshest food possible.
Safe Thawing Techniques
1. Thaw in the Refrigerator
This is the gold standard for safe thawing. Place the frozen food in a covered container and leave it in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. This gradual method retains nutrients and minimizes bacterial risk. It’s best to plan ahead and thaw the next day’s meal the night before.
2. Avoid Counter Thawing
Never thaw raw dog food at room temperature. This encourages bacterial growth and poses health risks to both your pet and your family. Even if the center remains frozen, bacteria can multiply rapidly on the outer layers if left on the counter.
3. Use Cold Water Method for Quick Thawing
In a pinch, you can place the sealed food bag in a bowl of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes and use the food immediately after it thaws. Never use hot water or microwaves to thaw raw dog food as this can unevenly cook the food and destroy essential nutrients.
How to Serve Raw Food Safely
1. Use Clean Bowls and Utensils
Sanitize all feeding tools and bowls before each use. Residual bacteria can multiply quickly, leading to food poisoning or infections. Wash bowls with hot, soapy water or a pet-safe disinfectant, and consider rotating several clean bowls to always have one on hand.
2. Serve Appropriate Portions
Raw feeding requires portion control. Use a digital kitchen scale to weigh your dog’s meals based on their breed, age, weight, and activity level. For example, most dogs eat 2–3% of their body weight in raw food daily, divided into one or two meals.
3. Discard Leftovers Promptly
Raw food should not remain in your dog’s bowl for more than 20–30 minutes. Unfinished portions can quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria. Always clean the feeding area and discard any leftover food to avoid contamination or spoiled meals.
Hygiene Tips to Keep You and Your Pet Safe
- Wash Hands Thoroughly: Before and after handling raw dog food, scrub your hands with antibacterial soap for at least 20 seconds.
- Disinfect Surfaces: After each meal prep, clean all surfaces with pet-safe disinfectant sprays or hot water mixed with white vinegar.
- Avoid Cross-Contamination: Keep raw food and its utensils separate from your family’s cooking area. Designate a section of your fridge and counter for pet meal prep.
- Sanitize Weekly: Set a weekly schedule to deep-clean your dog’s feeding bowls, storage containers, and preparation tools.
Using Paw on Raw’s Subscription for Safer Handling
One of the best ways to minimize food safety concerns is to rely on Paw on Raw’s subscription service. Our frozen, pre-portioned raw meals are not only nutritionally balanced but also packaged in a way that reduces prep time and contamination risks. By receiving exact quantities tailored to your dog’s size and dietary needs, you minimize handling, avoid overfeeding, and improve food rotation efficiency.
Additionally, Paw on Raw customers benefit from regular deliveries, which means your freezer stays stocked without requiring last-minute grocery runs. With meals delivered directly to your door in insulated, cold-chain packaging, you can trust that each serving arrives safe, fresh, and ready for storage.
Handle with Care, Serve with Love
Raw feeding offers incredible health benefits—but only when managed safely. Properly storing, thawing, and serving raw dog food at home protects your dog’s health and ensures they receive the full nutritional benefits of a raw diet. Trust Paw on Raw for clean, high-quality raw meals and follow these safety tips to feed your pet confidently and responsibly. Remember, when in doubt, always err on the side of safety. Your dog’s wellbeing depends on it.