How long can you keep dry food fresh in the bag?

If you roll the top of the bag tight and store it, not opening it, for how long can you keep it, and it is safe to eat?
Also, how do you recognize tainted food? When it smells fine, looks fine, and the texture is fine, can you assume it is ok? (and kitties are eating ok too).

Speedboat and Mattie both ate prescription food for urinary. I bought the 50 lb. bag because of cost savings. I always opened the bag and poured the food into a plastic bucket with a snap lid. I kept it inside and it would last my cats two months. I had to replace the catfood and still bought the 50 lb. sack. My vet said it would be fine even though it will last longer now since Speedboat is gone.

My cats who eat the urinary were Muffin and Speedboat, not Mattie. Just saw that mistake in my other post.

Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

Speedboat and Mattie both ate prescription food for urinary. I bought the 50 lb. bag because of cost savings. I always opened the bag and poured the food into a plastic bucket with a snap lid. I kept it inside and it would last my cats two months. I had to replace the catfood and still bought the 50 lb. sack. My vet said it would be fine even though it will last longer now since Speedboat is gone.

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Was this bucket airtight? Because if it was, it is not the same as a bag - I have an airtight bucket... It lasts longer when it is airtight... The bag is not...

Originally Posted by Carolina

If you roll the top of the bag tight and store it, not opening it, for how long can you keep it, and it is safe to eat?
Also, how do you recognize tainted food? When it smells fine, looks fine, and the texture is fine, can you assume it is ok? (and kitties are eating ok too).

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Unopened MOST naturally preserved foods last up to 14 months ... Once Opened I suggest using it within 8-12 weeks

Originally Posted by sharky

Unopened MOST naturally preserved foods last up to 14 months ... Once Opened I suggest using it within 8-12 weeks

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Thanks Sharky - I should be fine then.... Should be fine 'til the end of march...
I'll PM you.

I'm not sure but do suggest you put the opened bag in a plastic container that has a lid and it will keep longer. We have 2 Iams containers (from when I was buying Iams years ago) that we dump the open bags of dry food.

I put opened bags into airtight containers. I was once told not to pour it into the airtight container, as you expose all the food to the air & bacteria will grow faster. Not sure if there is any truth to that or not.

I put all my food into those Tupperware totes, litter included. I dont know if they are air tight or not I doubt it though. My food rarely lasts longer than 3 mths in those containers. So I dont worry too much with whether or not the food goes bad because it smells the exact same as when I open the bag.

All dry food bags should have an expiration date stamped on it. Before buying my Purina Indoor dry food, I first check the stamped date. That is the only one I know how long it stays fresh. I put most of it in an airtight pet container tho.

Thanks guys, but I was being specific to bags though, rolling up the top and storing it, not opening up... (as I explained on my original post)
My regular food I do store in Vittle Vault Containers, that are completely air tight.... But this is a mix right before I transitioned to EVO; It was a brand new mix - I placed it in the EVO bag, rolled the top, and stored.
The last time I opened the bag was December 31. So, that was the reason behind my question. IT was specific for bags.

Just a near the topic FYI

IMHO an open bag with air pushed out in a locking container is the best way but of course this is not always an option

Originally Posted by sharky

Just a near the topic FYI

IMHO an open bag with air pushed out in a locking container is the best way but of course this is not always an option

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So, inside of the bag, inside of the airtight container?

Originally Posted by Carolina

So, inside of the bag, inside of the airtight container?

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Yes ... see the bags have a lining that protects against light ( which obviously would degrade a naturally preserved food

Originally Posted by sharky

Yes ... see the bags have a lining that protects against light ( which obviously would degrade a naturally preserved food

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Oh, ok.... I don't really have this problem... My container is 100% airtight, and opaque. This is what I use.

Originally Posted by Carolina

Oh, ok.... I don't really have this problem... My container is 100% airtight, and opaque. This is what I use.

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Yours is consider Ideal but you know most of us have less than ideal