Raw dog food has gone off if it smells sour or rotten rather than meaty, feels slimy or sticky, shows mould, or has been thawed in the fridge for longer than two to three days. If you’re not sure, throw it out. Green tripe is the exception on smell: it always smells strong.
Raw food is easy to keep fresh if it stays frozen until you need it. When something does seem off, these are the signs to trust, and the ones that look worse than they are. There’s also a simple routine that means you’ll rarely need to check at all.
What fresh raw food is like
Fresh raw mince smells of raw meat and not much else. The colour varies with the meat: chicken is pale, beef and veal are red to dark red, and blends with offal are darker still. Frozen blocks should be hard right through when they come out of the freezer.
| Food | Fresh looks and smells like | Normal, not a problem |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Mince | Pale pink, mild raw chicken smell | Small flecks of minced bone |
| Beef, veal and goat mince | Red to dark red, plain meat smell | Browning where the surface met the air |
| Mixes with offal | Darker red, a richer smell | Darker patches where the liver is |
| Green tripe | Greyish green, a strong farmyard smell | The smell. It’s always strong |
| Raw bones | Meat on the bone, red to pink | Some browning on the meat and dark marrow |
| Rolls | Even colour through the mince | Soft once thawed, so it scoops rather than cuts |
Signs it has gone off
- Smell. A sour, rotten or ammonia-like smell that’s stronger than raw meat should be.
- Texture. A slimy or sticky coating on the surface.
- Mould. Fuzzy spots of any colour.
- Time. Thawed food that’s been in the fridge for longer than two to three days.
- Left out. Food that has sat out of the fridge, in the bowl or on the bench, for longer than a meal, about 15 minutes.
Any one of these is enough. Throw it out rather than taking a chance, and wash the container well before you use it again.
Things that look worse than they are
Browning on the surface
Red meat often turns brown or grey where it’s been exposed to air. That’s the meat reacting with oxygen, and on its own it doesn’t mean the food has gone off. Go by smell and texture, not colour alone.
Freezer burn
Dry, pale or greyish patches on frozen food are freezer burn: the surface has dried out in the cold. It isn’t a food safety problem, but those patches are dry and less appealing. Keeping cartons closed and using the oldest first keeps it to a minimum.
Green tripe
Green tripe smells strong when it’s perfectly fresh. That’s normal, and it’s a big part of why dogs love it. Our green tripe guide has tips for living with the smell. The other signs, like slime or mould, still apply.
Liquid in the container
A little red liquid in the bottom of the container as food thaws is normal. It’s water and meat juice from the thawed mince, not blood gone bad. Stir it back through or tip it away.
Keeping food fresh
- Get your order into the freezer as soon as it arrives. It arrives chilled.
- Thaw a couple of days’ worth at a time in the fridge, never on the bench, as Food Standards Scotland’s raw pet food advice also says.
- Keep thawed food covered, on the bottom shelf, and use it within two to three days.
- Pick the bowl up after 10 to 15 minutes rather than leaving food out.
- Rotate cartons so the oldest gets used first.
Raw-fed dogs can carry the same bacteria as raw meat in their stools, so pick up after your dog and wash your hands afterwards. Our guide to thawing and storing raw dog food has the whole routine, and our raw feeding hygiene guide covers bowls, hands and surfaces.
A routine that means you rarely have to check
Most “is this still OK?” moments come from thawing more than the next couple of days need. Our blocks of about 500 g make that easy to avoid: thaw only two to three days’ worth at a time, and with a small dog or a cat, pop the rest of a block straight back in the freezer. Raw meat thawed in the fridge can be refrozen. Our guides to thawing and storing raw dog food and portioning raw dog food have the full routine and the amounts by dog size.
When your box arrives
Your order arrives chilled, packed in a liner inside the carton. Give it a quick look as you unpack: the food should be cold to the touch and smell of plain raw meat. Then it goes straight in the freezer, apart from the next couple of days’ worth for the fridge.
Most of our customers already fed raw before they came to us, and we don’t expect any issues with your first box. If something isn’t right, get in touch within 14 days of delivery and a normal person will sort it out with you. That’s for your first order with us, once per household.
If the power goes off
A freezer that’s left shut stays cold for a good while: about a day if it’s half full, and about two days if it’s full. Keep the door closed until the power is back. Raw meat that still has ice crystals in it can go back in the freezer or be fed straight away, and anything that has fully thawed but is still fridge-cold goes in the fridge and gets used within two to three days. If it has sat warmer than the fridge for more than a couple of hours, it goes in the bin.
Common questions
Can I refreeze raw dog food once it has thawed?
Yes, if it thawed in the fridge. Raw meat thawed in the fridge can be refrozen, which is handy with a small dog or a cat. Food that has thawed on the bench or sat out in the bowl shouldn’t go back in the freezer.
How long does raw dog food keep in the freezer?
Frozen solid, it keeps well for months. Jot the delivery date on each carton so you can use the oldest first.
My dog ate some food I’m unsure about. What should I do?
Keep an eye on them. If they’re unwell, with vomiting, diarrhoea or low energy, call your vet.
Why does my thawed food look grey on top?
That’s usually the surface meeting the air, the same browning you see on mince in the supermarket. If it smells and feels fine, it’s fine.
How long can raw food sit in the bowl?
Not long. Pick the bowl up after 10 to 15 minutes. Food that’s only been down that long can go back in the fridge, covered, for the next meal; anything that’s sat out longer goes in the bin.
Is frost on frozen blocks a problem?
No. A light frost is just ice from the air in the freezer. Dry, pale patches are freezer burn, which is a quality thing rather than a safety one.
Does raw food go off faster in summer?
Not in the fridge or freezer. On a hot day, just pick the bowl up a bit sooner after the meal, and keep thawing in the fridge as usual.
Should I write the date on the carton?
It helps. Jot the delivery date on each carton with a marker so the oldest gets used first. Once food is thawed, go by the two to three days in the fridge, and by smell and texture.
More guides
Is raw dog food safe? Kitchen hygiene for raw feeders
Raw dog food carries the same bacteria as any raw meat. How to store, thaw and clean up so it stays simple.
Green tripe for dogs: what it is and how to feed it
What green tripe is, where it fits in a raw diet, and how to live with the smell.
How to thaw and store raw dog food
A simple freezer-to-fridge routine so bulk raw food stays fresh and nothing goes to waste.