does canned cat food go bad in heat
This can affect the dishs flavor, fragrance, and overall quality. Now you know that canned food can explode if left in a hot car, but its not a big deal. So the long and short is that I have been pleasantly surprised so far. Itll be charred to a crisp! If youre ever in doubt, err on the side of caution and throw out the food. This can cause the can to burst, which would allow bacteria to get in and contaminate the food. Before giving your cat canned cat food, its also a good idea to check the expiration date because contaminated food can be harmful to your cats health. Canned cat food that is discolored is another sign that it has gone bad. You dont want to take a chance with spoiled food, especially when it comes to your cats health!if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'passionateaboutfood_net-banner-1','ezslot_7',162,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-passionateaboutfood_net-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'passionateaboutfood_net-banner-1','ezslot_8',162,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-passionateaboutfood_net-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-162{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Store your cats food in a cool, dry location away from heat sources and direct sunshine to preserve its safety and quality. Simba, Snowball and Oreo: My 3 musKITTYeers! Alternatively, give your vet a call and ask their advice on whether the food will be okay. That is why every type of food - even eggs and vegetables - comes with a shelf life. One: Loss Of Nutrients It might be fine, but it might not, and you may not wish to take the risk. Most canned cat foods are safe to eat after their expiration date, as long as they are stored properly. Keeping the cat food bag also has the added benefit of retaining the cat food's barcode, expiration date, and batch code - all of which are important information to have, especially in the event of a cat food recall. Heres everything you need to know about keeping your cats food fresh and safe, no matter the temperature. You dont want a situation where the cat is too hot to eat, causing them to flee oppositely or eat less than they should. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Do try to store your food in the coolest possible location, however. Overexposure to heat can cause the nutrients to change, explode the container, cause bacteria growth, and cook the food. The absolute maximum under optimum temperature would be around 30 minutes. If you must leave canned food in a hot car, be sure to keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Canned cat food shouldnt be left in a hot vehicle for extended periods. Nadia Tamara Yes, heat is the enemy of all canned goods. Of course, it may be that the food is fine and your cat is just being fussy, but its better to be safe than sorry in such cases!if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventurouscat_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',139,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventurouscat_com-leader-1-0'); Since cans clearly are vulnerable to heat exposure, you might be wondering what the proper storage method is. It's recommended to only leave dry cat food out for a limited time, such as a few hours, and to store it in an airtight container when not in use. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joys of owning a cat, and I hope to share my knowledge and experiences with others through Catcoast. It most certainly can. As a pet owner, you are responsible for keeping your exotic pet safe and well. Dont Be Fooled. Just be sure to take some precautions and youll be all set. Open canned or wet cat food, on the other hand, will only survive five to seven days. If the food is lumpy or has changed texture, its probably not safe to eat. How Long Does Canned Cat Food Last in a Cooler? This article will answer some of the most commonly asked questions about the safety of canned cat food in hot weather. In the cannery, canned food is exposed to higher temperatures than in a hot car. You can keep wet cat food in the fridge for about 24 hours. Discard any uneaten food after two or three days of refrigeration. The short answer is no, it is not safe to leave canned food in a hot car. Food poisoning can result from heat-induced bacterial contamination of the food. This is why, even if canned cat food does not go wrong, keeping it at room temperature is the best option. In fact, it is not uncommon for canned cat food to spoil if the container has been left opened for an extended period without being refrigerated. Heat can cause fats and oils to go rancid and cause vitamins and minerals to break down. When canned goods are stored at the correct temperature, they will remain safe to eat and in the best possible condition. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For those of us who feed a species appropriate diet to our cats, remembering to thaw it out before it's feeding time can be a frustrating learning experience. You should also look for growth of mold or bugs, or if the food has been exposed to moisture or humidity. Heat overexposure can affect the nutrients in the food, cause the container to explode, cause germs to thrive . Mainly, just keep an eye on where you store it, the expiration date, and if it looks out of the ordinary for soft food. There are a few things to do while assessing the cans to see if they are safe for your cat. This will give you better information about how likely the food is to be safe. When I forget in winter, I sometimes will place the cans (small 2 to 3 oz. The high temperatures can cause the food to go bad, and the can could potentially burst. If youve been feeding your cat canned food from a can that had no air inside it (meaning it didnt come from a store), then you need to start counting from when you opened up the can for the first time not from when it was manufactured! Therefore, you never need to worry about heating the food too much. Its usually accepted that you may give your dogs opened dry food three months beyond the best by date, but bear in mind that they wont get all of the nutrients the food would typically contain. However, if you live in a climate where the temperature in your garage never gets above 85 degrees, and you can keep the cans in a dry location, then storing them in your garage should be fine. Canned cat food is not an immortal food item. Canned cat food limits how much it can tolerate before it starts to burn. According to the USDA fact sheet, canned foods are safe indefinitely if not exposed to temperatures below freezing or above 90 F. Temperatures over 100 degrees F are harmful to canned foods. Opened cans should be stored in the fridge, at temperatures between 40-45F, for a maximum of 5-7 days. A Complete Explanation. When it comes to food safety, there are few things more important than temperature. The best way to protect canned foods from heat damage is to store them in a cool, dark place. So at the rescue we usually don't keep. Check the expiration dates before making a purchase. In general, it is noticed that cat food will alter in temperature. Yes, canned cat food can get bad in the heat. Verify the date of expiration: Before buying the can and once more before giving it to your cat, be sure to check the expiration date. Canned food is designed to withstand a certain amount of heat, so its not going to burst if its left in a hot car for a short period of time. While canned cat food that has been stored in heat can still be consumed, the aftertaste may be unpleasant to the cat. 2. The canned cat food may get spoiled if heated for a long time. Pet owners must pay attention to expiration dates and storage recommendations to ensure that their cat eats the safest and healthiest food possible. You can keep their meals varied and prevent cans from sitting in storage for too long by rotating their canned food. Yes, cat food can go bad in the heat. Unopened cat food cans should be kept in a cold, dry place away from direct sunlight to minimize the danger of deterioration, while opened cans should be kept in the refrigerator. The shelf life of canned cat food is approximately 18 months. If you warm your cat's food in the microwave, be sure to use a low setting and stir thoroughly to make sure there aren . The key takeaway here is that you should always discard canned cat food if it is at all past its expiration date. Canned cat food should be stored at room temperature (45-75 degrees Fahrenheit) away from sunlight and heat (80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher). In the winter, if the heater is on or the food is in a warm kitchen, this same 20-minute limit would apply. Is It Safe To Warm Up Cat Food? http://catfoodanswers.blogspot.com/2010/05/is-unopened-canned-cat-food-still-good.html, https://ask.metafilter.com/323716/Can-my-cats-eat-this, https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-harm-of-feeding-my-cat-unopened-food-that-has-been-left-in-my-car-and-in-the-sun. Most importantly, it depends on how long ago the can was opened. High-acid canned food like tomatoes and some fruit will keep their best quality for 12 to 18 months; low-acid canned food like meat and vegetables will for 2 to 5 years. The three main telltale signs of food spoilage are easy enough to spot. Gently warming your cat's food will release the aroma, which is often enough to entice your cat to eat. Table of Contents. Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and can sometimes be severe enough to require hospitalization. Still, there are other factors that will affect the dog food's freshness, which I discussed below. If the food gets too warm, it may start to smell bad or look discolored. Canned cat food can go bad just like any other food. If youre wondering how long can cat food be kept in the pantry, its best to follow the expiration date on the bag or can. The 6 Best Cat Foods for Weight Loss of 2023, The 8 Best Cat Foods for Urinary Tract Health in 2023, The 7 Best Wet Foods for Your Kitten in 2023, The 9 Best Automatic Cat Feeders of 2023, Tested and Reviewed, The 7 Best Dog Food Storage Containers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed, The 6 Best Frozen and Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food of 2023. With the assistance of chemical preservatives, canned cat food has a four-month to three-year shelf life when unopened and well packed. However, the temperature of the car should be kept below 140 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the dog's dry food from going bad. So always try to heat it just for a few seconds. This means that bacteria cant get in and cause the food to spoil. It will usually be alright, but if the temperature has risen beyond 90 degrees Fahrenheit or you have been in the car for an extended period of time, you should be cautious. Storing it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources is important to ensure that your cat food doesnt go bad in the heat. However, weve all heard stories about canned food lasting for years, and its common knowledge that canned food is sterilized by being heated to extremely high temperatures while in the can. The weather may have changed, making this impossible, but if theres an opportunity to do it, try to do so. Use up any opened canned food that has been kept in the fridge within five to seven days of opening. If you want to avoid these diseases, its important to keep your diet as healthy as possible by avoiding foods with high levels of free radicals. Canned Cat Food Can Go Bad if Stored in a Warm Environment. Using airtight containers: After youve opened a can of cat food, putting the leftovers in an airtight container will help keep it fresh and stop aromas from circulating around your house. Tightly seal any leftovers in an airtight plastic bag or container and place it in the refrigerator. Unlikely in the period of a day or two, but at high temps the quality starts to decrease, and eventually spoil faster than if stored in a cool dry place. For example, does extreme heat exposure cause a problem with canned food? This can cause the food to have an unpleasant taste, smell, and texture. Heat and moisture can cause bacteria to grow, which may make your pet ill. How long has it been since the can was opened? However, its important to note that this is unlikely to happen. Do not give it to your cat if it has beyond its expiration date. Heat can degrade vitamins and minerals and turn fats and oils rancid. Canned wet food can spoil in hot weather if it is left out for too long. Can canned cat food go bad in heat? You might also like to know about can canned cat food go bad in heat. Exposure to air also means exposure to bacteria. When outside temperatures are 90 F or warmer, hold the cooked foods no longer than one hour before reheating, refrigerating or freezing them. Once the storage temperature rises, the risk of food spoilage jumps sharply. Can You Heat Up Canned Cat Food In The Microwave? Thanks for reading! Diet, which frequently includes canned cat food, is one of the most important factors in a cat's health. Remember that heating cat food in the microwave is not a good idea because it does not heat up evenly. The best option is in a cool, dark place. A damp garage could cause tin cans to rust, and canned food that is stored in a garage thats hotter than 85 degrees Fahrenheit runs the risk of spoiling. Fine, but its not a big deal look discolored and minerals to break down the safest healthiest... 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