Preserving Home Made Dog Treats
From LoveToKnow Dogs
A visitor has a question about preserving home made dog treats. The trick is in the baking.
Mission:Preserving Home Made Dog Treats
I am baking my own dog treats, and I noticed that the treats start to develop mold rather quickly. I have heard that vitamin E is a good natural preservative, but I am not sure if this is the best way to preserve the treats. If it is, how much of it should I add to my treats.
~~ Mindy Abbruzzese
Expert Reply
Hi Mindy,
I think it's great that you're making your own dog treats. It's really fun, isn't it?
Although vitamin E is a good preservative and definitely good for your dog, I don't think that's the answer for keeping your treats from turning moldy.
If your treats are developing mold, that means there is too much moisture in them. It's really important to bake the biscuits good and dry to remove as much moisture as possible. The second step is to seal them in an airtight container and pop the larger portion of the batch into the freezer. Just keep a few out to use in the next couple days and pull the rest out as needed.
We are currently featuring a tasty dog treat recipe in our Two Minute Dog Advice column. I think you would enjoy trying it out. Wendy Nan Rees, our guest expert, gives great instructions for getting those biscuits nice and crunchy.
Thanks for your question!
~~ Kelly
Comments
Hi Yvonne,
Thanks for the tip!
-- Contributed by: KellyHi! I make my own dog treats for sale also, and I do bake my treats dry, but something you might want to try is cinnamon. It is a natural preservative. My treats are sometimes good for a couple of months from baking. This should be good for treats that are not meant to be savory. Good luck and I wish you well.
-- Contributed by: YvonneHi Candi,
How exciting. This could be the start of something big for you!
I did an Internet search for you, but I couldn't find the type of info you need. However, I have a few suggestions. First, you could still go with the dry baking method, but make a "gentle dental" variety that is thinner and easier for dogs with dental issues to chew. Second, you might try to contact the chemistry department of a nearby university to see if you can get any advise about the correct amount of vitamin E oil to add to your recipe. Finally, you could experiment by adding a small amount of vitamin E to your recipe and then track how long the resulting batch lasts before molding begins. You can adjust the amount of E up a little with each batch until you achieve the right proportion. When the proper amount is used, most foods have at least a six month shelf life.
Thanks for your question. Sorry I don't have a more conclusive answer for you, but I hope this advice helps put you on the right track. Good luck with your venture!
-- Contributed by: KellyThis page has been accessed 524 times. This page was last modified 13:09, 15 July 2008.
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