Extending Freshness of Food

[CACAdmin]

One thing I do with my flake food (haven't tried with other types) is to keep it in a sealed bag or container in the freezer to preserve its freshness. Theoretically, I guess could be done to extend the expiry date as well.

Does anyone see a negative side to this? Could freezing negatively impact the nutritional content?

[Melody]

Freezing is recommended far and wide as a method of preserving. Freezing removes moisture from foods, hence 'freezer burn'. The quickest way to spoil fish food is with moisture. I store mine in a ziplock in the freezer as well.

To quote former Tropical Fish Magazine editor turned premium food manufacturer, Mike Reed, "And in case you did not know, dry food can be kept in like-new condition for about 9 months in the refrigerator, indefinitely in the freezer."

You'll see claims regarding how long certain foods can last unopened, but really, who cares how long it will last unopened? lol Chances are most of us want to open it. So what we're concerned about is how to best preserve it after its opened.

I just started putting those moisture absorbing packets in my large cans of food too - I get them in pill bottles occasionally. I recently read about someone doing that somewhere, don't ask me where, but it wasn't my idea anyway.:)

[hp10BII]

Good to know.

How can you tell if food is no longer "fresh"? Easy enough with flakes because they don't have that nice crispy snap anymore. But how about pellets/bits and wafers? They may be a little soft to begin with. :confused:

[Melody]

You can't really, other than the obvious mold/smell if they've been damp. You can watch for color changes and of course, if you keep it in the freezer watch for freezer burn. Your description of how the flakes feel when they've had it is perfect.

Personally I don't think any food should be kept outside the fridge. Although preservatives are better than they used to be, experts still warn that the vitamin content in foods will start to diminish as soon as the food is opened, just like it does in any prepared food. Refridgeration, freezing and keeping the moisture out greatly increases the vitamin content shelf life. Most manufacturers aren't going to tell you that of course, they want to sell you on the convenience and really, how would you know? You aren't going to test the food in a couple of months, so they can pretty much tell you what they want to. "Go ahead - buy this huge container of my food, it will last forever!" The rest is just details to them, no need to mention those....lol. Minerals are far more stable.

Shirlie Sharpe is an About.com guide who runs their freshwater fish section. Her articles and photos have been published in government publications, newspapers and magazines. Regarding the depletion of vitamins in fish food she states "Unlike minerals, vitamins are not stable in prepared foods. Flake foods have adequate vitamin content initially, but it deteriorates rather quickly. Storage in the freezer will prolong the vitamin content, however it is best to buy only what you will use within one or two months." All other unbiased expert opinion that I've read has reflected that to one degree or another.

Flake foods appear to lose the vitamins more quickly than pelleted foods by design, but whatever we can do to maintain the vitamins at their full level should be done to avoid deficiency issues.

[hp10BII]

Excellent information, just in time so I can rethink my Boxing Day/week buying strategy.

I'm one of those guilty of buying larger containers of food 'cuz it makes sense economically but there's no way I can use all that before it's no longer fresh. The freezer is already cluttered up with frozen fish food.

[Melody]

Put one of those small freezers on your Boxing Day shopping list! I'd be lost without mine.

[hp10BII]

I'm embarrassed to say that I have 2 full freezers...I'd love to have a dedicated fridge/freezer. Maybe if I started ordering live California blackworms by the pound...

[Melody]

That'll either get you a dedicated freezer, a divorce, or both. :yes: