How to Defrost and Store Raw Dog Food Safely

I’m Anna Bain, certified canine nutritionist and writer here at ProDog. I know first-hand the panic that sets in when you open the freezer and realise your dog’s dinner is still solid as a brick. It happens to the best of us!

In this blog, I’ll walk you through how to safely defrost raw dog food, so you can keep your dog’s meals fresh, safe, and packed with the nutrients their body needs to thrive.

Whether you’re looking for tips on how to defrost raw dog food quickly, as part of your daily routine, or you’re simply unsure if you’re storing it the right way, don’t fret. There are a few simple, safe methods that can make the whole process much easier and keep every meal as nutritious as it should be.

Defrosting raw dog food on the counter overnight might seem convenient, but it could allow the food to sit at room temperature for too long, creating the perfect environment for bacteria in raw dog food to grow. Although, this does depend on how long it has been left out and the temperature of the room. As a guide, if the food is still cold to the touch it is safe to feed.

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The safest way to thaw raw meals is always in the fridge, where they can defrost slowly and evenly while staying at a controlled temperature.

And just as you would handle raw meat for your own meals, always store it securely; sealed, cold, and away from ready-to-eat foods. Following the same safe storage practices you’d use for human food helps prevent cross-contamination and keeps both your dog and your kitchen protected from unwanted bacteria.

Refreezing raw dog food once it has reached room temperature isn’t recommended, as this can compromise the safety and integrity of the proteins.

However, room temperature raw dog food can be stored in the fridge for up to three days, provided it still smells fresh and shows no signs of spoilage. Always store it in the coldest part of the fridge, ideally store it on the bottom shelf.

ProDog Raw products are dispatched frozen and may arrive partially defrosted. This is completely normal and expected with frozen delivery. If the food is still chilled (not fully thawed or at room temperature), it is safe to refreeze immediately. If the product has fully defrosted to room temperature, it should be stored in the fridge and used within 3 days. The meat should always smell fresh.

I understand your concerns, however , provided the food is still cold to the touch the food is safe to place in the freezer on arrival.

Because the food is so fresh, it leaves our blast-freezer at -18 and is packaged in a way to maintain a safe temperature for up to 72 hrs. Admittedly this timescale may vary depending on the weather and outside temperature, so if the food arrives soft then please do a test with the back of your hand to assess whether it is still cold before freezing.

Touching the food by hand provides a much better idea of temperature than observation alone. It is safe to touch the food by hand provided you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

If, however, the food is soft through the middle and feels room temperature to touch this would be a reason to be cautious. You can salvage some by putting the tubs you can use within 3 days into the fridge; the rest should be disposed of.

Should this be the case with your food, then please send through a short video, to [email protected] demonstrating the softness of all the tubs affected, use a fork to demonstrate the food is entirely defrosted throughout.

If you’re heading to a holiday cottage or staying somewhere with freezer access, travelling with your dog’s raw food is easy and stress-free. You’ve got a few options:

• Bring your own raw dog food supply and store it in the freezer when you arrive. If you’re only going away for a long weekend, you can take the food out of the freezer as you leave and store it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to three days.
• Arrange a delivery directly to your holiday accommodation from ProDog.
• Pick some up locally from a nearby pet store. Raw dog food is now widely available across the UK, so even if it’s not your usual brand, it’s still a far better choice than switching to processed food during your trip.

Refer to our guide “Raw Feeding During Holidays”.

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Raw dog food can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 12 months, making it easy to stock up and plan ahead for your dog’s meals. However, it’s always best to check the best before date printed on the side of each tub, as this gives you the most accurate guidance for freshness and quality. Keeping your raw food well-sealed and at a consistent freezer temperature will help preserve its nutrients, flavour, and texture until it’s ready to be served.

Freezing dog treats and bones is a great way to keep them fresh for longer. Just make sure to follow the recommended freezing guidelines for each product and always use them before their best before date to maintain quality and safety.

Once defrosted, our raw dog food can safely remain in your fridge for up to 3 days. Our sealed tubs have secure lids, minimising the chance of spills or leakage.

It’s ideal to provide a space that’s only for raw dog food storage, just as you would with any raw meat.

The bottom shelf of your fridge is perfect for this: raw dog food won’t encounter any vulnerable foods like fruits or vegetables and will remain out of the reach of little hands that might be reaching for snacks.

The process of defrosting and storing raw dog food is as easy as with any other raw meat product: simply adhere to a few standard food safety guidelines, and you’ll be fine. You can refer to our article: Is Raw Dog Food Safe for further advice. Here you will find lots of useful guidance on storing and handling raw dog food safely, including hygiene tips like washing hands, surfacing sanitising and washing your dog’s bowls regularly.

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Defrosting in the fridge, storing defrosted raw meals on the bottom shelf, and paying attention to dates are all easy enough to do once you get the hang of them.

To make things even simpler, most of our raw dog food ranges come in handy 500g or 1kg sizes, and in brightly coloured yellow containers to avoid any confusion between products.

Simply stack them in your freezer until it’s time to defrost and serve, and watch your dog enjoy it.