Why you should pour the bag into a container
Dry food loses quality the moment the bag is opened. Air, light and moisture trigger rancidity in the fats, and it is precisely the fat that carries both the flavour and a large share of the food's energy and the fat-soluble vitamins. The result of a bag left open for too long is food that smells less tempting and, in the worst case, makes the dog turn up its nose at the bowl.
An airtight food container solves several things at once. It keeps the air out so the fat lasts longer, it protects against moisture from a cool utility room or a garage, and it seals in the smell that would otherwise attract moths, flour beetles and, in unfortunate cases, mice. At the same time, you get a container that is easy to take the lid off and scoop food from morning and evening, instead of rolling up a half-open bag again and again.
Essential offers two sizes for the purpose: ESSENTIAL THE FOOD BOX for the large bags and ESSENTIAL THE SMALL FOOD BOX for the smaller ones. Both are designed to hold an entire bag at a time, so the food is stored in one place from the moment you open the bag until it is empty.
Choose the size based on the bag, not on the kilos alone
The most important decision is how large a bag you buy at a time. The Food Box is sized for the large bags you typically fill up with if you have a medium or large dog, or several animals in the household. The Small Food Box fits the smaller bags and is ideal if you have a small dog, a kitten or a cat, or if your space in the kitchen or utility room is limited.
A good rule of thumb is that the entire bag should preferably fit in the container all at once. That way you avoid having a leftover amount sitting in an open bag alongside it, which is exactly what the container was meant to put an end to. If you buy food less often and in large quantities, you gain from the large one. If you buy smaller portions more often, so the food is always fresh, the small one is plenty.
If you are unsure how much your dog actually eats over a bag, you can learn more in the guide on how much should a dog eat before you choose a size.
How to keep the food fresh in the container
A container does not do the work on its own. A few habits noticeably extend freshness:
- Pour the entire bag in at once, and avoid mixing a new bag on top of an old leftover, so the oldest food is always eaten first.
- Close the lid completely after every feeding, so the air does not get to work on the food between meals.
- Place the container somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. A utility room or a kitchen cupboard is better than a warm windowsill or a damp shed.
- Use a dry spoon or cup or a measuring tool, never a wet hand, so you do not introduce moisture into the food.
Even in an airtight container, you should use the food within the shelf life the manufacturer states after opening. The container slows the deterioration, but does not stop it completely.
Cleaning between each bag
The fat in the dry food leaves a thin film of fat on the inside of the container, and it is that film which turns rancid and can affect the next bag. That is why the simplest but most important habit is to wipe or wash the container between each bag, before you fill up new food.
In practice this means a wipe with warm water and a little dish soap, a thorough rinse and, most importantly, making sure the container is completely dry before you pour in new food. If even a little moisture is left, it can clump the food or create a breeding ground for mould. It is better to let the container air-dry for an extra hour than to fill it up too soon.
The container is only half, the food is the other
An airtight container is most useful when it is good dry food you are protecting. Essential's dry food comes in several lines composed according to the dog's age, size and needs, including highland Living - kibble and Nautical Living - Kibble, and for the youngest the Beginning - kibble.
If you are not sure what suits your particular dog, the article on what good dog food should contain can help you read a product declaration, so the container ends up holding food that is worth keeping fresh.
