Extending Shelf Life of Liver Dog Treats

by Kelly
(Montreal)

Hi, can you please tell me how I can make a liver carrot dog biscuit, dehydrate it enough so that it will have a minimum 7 month shelf life?

Thank you!

Chef's Answer ~ The liver and carrot recipe is meant to have a brownie or bread type texture, so you'll have to experiment with the recipe to get the shelf life you're looking for.

As a few suggestions to get you started....

1. Try using dried egg powder instead of a fresh egg. Anytime you can substitute a dried version of a dog treat recipe ingredient it will help the end product last longer.

2. Follow the recipe as it is currently, then after it bakes and rests for 5 minutes, cut into squares inside the pan. Then place back in the oven to dry out further. The amount of time you leave in the oven will depend on how dry you want it. I would start checking it every 5 minutes to see how it goes.

3. If you want your dog treats to last, and you don't want to freeze them, try adding natural preservatives and/or mixed tocopherols. Also, be sure to read my tips and techniques for storing homemade dog treats.

I have also answered similar questions regarding shelf life, storing and preservatives that may help you with this liver and carrot recipe on my Ask the Chef page.

Hope this helps! :)