Every now and then, we like to remind dog owners that they don't need to worry about finding space in the refrigerator or freezer with cold-pressed dog food. Here at Nextrition, we make an all-natural cold-pressed dog food that's shelf-stable before and after opening. But how is that possible? Doesn’t all dog food spoil eventually?
Sure, any kind of food will spoil if stored improperly for a long time. When we say our cold-pressed dog food is shelf-stable, we mean you’ve got plenty of time to use it before worrying about spoilage. The secret to our dog food's stability is in the processing.
Cold Pressing in a Nutshell
Cold pressing is a pretty simple process. We gather all our ingredients, combine them, press them without high heat or steam into crunchy pieces. Our process gets its name from the low pressing temperature. Traditional kibble, on the other hand, is cooked and formed at 3x higher temperatures.
Similar to a fresh cooked and raw diet, cold pressing is better at preserving the natural flavor and nutritional value vs. traditional kibble. The slower and lower you cook food, the more you preserve its natural goodness.
Water Is the Big Thing
When it comes to food spoilage, water is the big culprit. This applies to all sorts of foods, not just dog food. Water promotes spoilage because it provides a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms. Take away the water, and you also take away the opportunity for microorganisms to thrive.
This is what sets cold-pressed dog food apart from a fresh or raw diet, cold pressing dog food has removed most of the water from the natural ingredients. But it is pressed at lower temperatures to retain more of the natural nutrients and flavors vs. kibble so you end up with food that maintains high nutritional value but doesn't offer a breeding ground for microorganisms. You also get impressive shelf stability.
Natural Oils Help
While they play a smaller role in preventing food spoilage, the natural oils found in some of our ingredients also help. Cold pressing preserves these natural oils, which in turn help inhibit bacterial growth. Once again, cold pressing creates a better food that's less likely to spoil vs. a fresh or raw diet.
So, how long will cold-pressed dog food last before spoiling? We can't give you an exact number because no two dog foods are exactly the same. On average, an unopened and properly stored package of cold-pressed dog food should be shelf-stable between 6-12 months. But remember, storage conditions matter.
You Can Take It With You
We don’t expect our customers to buy cold-pressed dog food and leave it on the shelf for more than a year before using it. Shelf stability isn't usually a concern in that regard. But what about after it's opened? You still get considerable shelf life out of Nextrition cold-pressed dog food.
This makes our dog food perfect for traveling. Unlike some fresh or raw dog foods that don’t travel well, you can take Nextrition food with you when you go camping, RVing, road-tripping, or just spending a full day in the woods. You can even carry it in the same package it originally came in. How convenient is that?
Cold-pressed dog food offers impressive shelf stability. Don’t think that just because our food isn't cooked at high temperatures, it’s any less stable. Under normal conditions, you have nothing to worry about. Cold-pressed dog food offers the stability modern life demands. We hope that sets your mind at ease.
