All the finished dog food recipes will be stored in the freezer for long storage. I typically take 3-4 days worth out of the freezer at a time and thaw. I store the thawed dog food in the refrigerator.
I have found the absolute best way to store the dog food is in tupperware containers. It makes the whole process a breeze.
Process for Storing Homemade Dog Food
- Assemble enough containers to hold an entire batch
- Choose containers that each hold about 3 day worth of dog food
- Mix the recipe in the sink
- Place mixed dog food into containers
- Place containers in the freezer for long storage
Serving the Easy Homemade Dog food
- Take 1 container out of the refrigerator and let thaw
- Feed dogs their daily portion
- Store the remainder of the unfed thawed dog food in the refrigerator
- When container is empty, wash and it is ready for the next batch
You can also use ziplock backs but these will be discarded after every use.
I am very interested in making homemade dog food after my puppies all got sick from eating what I think was too rich dog food from a warehouse store. So since they’ve been sick I’ve been feeding, rice, eggs, yogurt, pumpkin and calcium supplement. They love it…………… So I am very pleased to read of these other recipes.
Carol,
I’m glad to hear your starting to feed your dogs homemade dog food. Try our “easy raw dog food” recipe your puppies will do well.
I was reading your article about storage of frozen dog food, I like to use foldtop sandwich
bags, about 1/2 cent each if you watch for the sales, then put 4 to 6 servings in a quart
ziplock freezer bag, take out what you need each night for the next day & THAW in your
fridge overnight. You keep saying thaw on your counter & put what you don`t in fridge
for next day. I don`t think it`s a good idea to THAW FOOD on the counter, for humans
or PUPPIES. I have Chihuahuas,I`ve been feeding them cooked & pulverized deboned
chicken leg qtrs. with white cooked rice for about 10 years now, they are not overweight
& have always been healthy. I buy the chicken in the 10 lb bags at Walmart, about 69 cents
a pound at present($6.90 a bag). You also have a lot of great things I want to try, thanks Ed
We have been feeding our two dogs a “warehouse” brand dog food for years but have decided with this last recall we are changing their diet over to a homemade dog food. I have a 80- lb Lab and a 50- lb Sheppard, we typically feed the Lab 1 1/4 cups dry food & the Sheppard 1 cup dry food morning & night. What would be the normal portion to give to both of our dogs? Thank you in advance for your guidance, it will be greatly appreciated!
Jennifer,
I would start off with the same portions. If they start to gain or lose weight then adjust the portion. Keep in mind these homemade dog food recipes are nutritious without worthless fillers so they will produce less waste.
Thank you for sharing all of your information, very nice website! My husband and I are interested in switching our dogs to homemade dog food, especially with all the recent dog food recalls. Your video make it seem very simple. I was wondering, how much should we feed our dogs. We have a 80 lb chocolate lab, 70lb boxer mix and a 15 lb jack russell. I want to be sure we give them enough but not too much. Thank you.
Sarah,
I would start off with the same amount you currently feed each dog. If they start to lose or gain weight adjust their portions accordingly.
i actually discoverd that my 10 lb 9 month old poodle mix will eat boiled chicken or cooked puree mixed vegetables but does not like rice at all i have tried she also enjoys apple sauce sometimes . and sometimes i put oatmeal in her food she loves it . she did not like commercial dog food so after i read that manufacter put road kill and dead animals in dog food i understood why she would not eat it so i began cooking for her and she loves it.
I would love to give homemade dog food a try since it is clear that dog food produced by companies has way too many ingredients (most of which are not great for our dogs) but do you by chance know what the cost difference is? I’m on a pretty tight budget so to make the switch at the moment, I would have to know that it would be cheaper or the same amount since I have two very active huskies that get fed two cups a day of food.
Theresa,
Honestly, I don’t know because I feed my dogs homemade. I don’t think it’s too bad and the dogs do so well eating homemade dog food.
I love your site, but I have so many questions. Hope I don’t drive you crazy. I have been buying more and more natural foods in the hope of helping my Aussie who has many fatty tumors. After finding your site I’m interested in trying your foods, but have some concerns…what if we are traveling (camping) and do not have refrigeration available? What if I need to board her for a week or more? Few facilities will be willing to cater to this diet. What do you suggest?
Bev,
When we travel we bring the recipe frozen in the storage containers I show in the video. Pop them in a cooler and they keep fine.
Your site is awesome! I am a health nut and cringe at the ingredient lists on commercial dog foods! My dogs (a 4 yr old pit/lab rescue and a 2 yr old chiweenie) are family members and I want to feed them the same quality of food I feed myself. I have ordered the supplements for the easy raw food recipe and next will try the chicken recipe. I’m hoping they like the raw food but if not I will cook it following the cooked recipe directions! Thanks again, it is obvious you know a lot about dog nutrition and all of us pet parents are lucky you have shared with us! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
What would happen if I were to mix the supplements in with the food , put them in zip-locks , then freeze them , take one out of the freezer and put in refrigerator for 2 days (until thawed and up to 36 degrees) , the open and serve ? Is there any way around waiting until serving time to put supplements on ?
James,
I have fed both ways. Either is fine.
How do I transition my German Shepherds from commercial kibble to raw or cooked diet?
Celeste,
Follow the procedure I outline on the individual recipe pages.
Last month I adopted an Anatolian Shepherd. He is about 30lbs underweight and I have been having such a hard time getting him to gain some healthy weight. He has been vet checked multiple times and other than his weight, he has a clear bill of health. I have been feeding him a high protein diet along with wet food just to tempt him to eat. He will barely eat enough to maintain his weight now (80lbs). Over the 4 weeks I have had him he has gained 1/2lb. My aunt has always fed her dogs a home cooked meal, her previous dog lived to be 2o! I am ready to be done with kibble for good for both my dogs. I am wondering if there is a special recipe that will help my new boy get up to a healthy weight or will just being on a healthier diet (and hopefully actually eating) be enough?
I really need the help!
Thank you,
Erin
My experience has been that dogs do best on a raw meat and bone based diet. Your dog is large so you could take chicken leg thigh quarters and chop them up with a meat cleaver, bones and all and substitute them for any of the meats in these recipes. I think you will be pleased with the results. The cooked white rice will help him put on some weight. If you feed like this you will want to add some of the chicken skin and fat to the rice while cooking so your dog will eat it. After the rice cools then mix in the supplements. I hope this helps.
Hi Ed. I have read that freezing dog food gets rid of some of the nutritional value. Do you think this is true?
I don’t worry about it, freezing is better than cooking.