As more owners cook for their dogs or look for healthier additions, pantry staples like tofu, rice, quinoa, and sauerkraut come up a lot. Most are safe in plain, modest amounts, but each has its own caveats, and the fermented foods in particular need care. This guide works through the protein, grain, and fermented staples one group at a time.
This is the pantry guide for the more ambitious owner, the one who has moved past is this scrap safe and started thinking about whether tofu, brown rice, or a spoon of sauerkraut might actually be good additions to a dog’s diet. It is a reasonable line of thinking, because several of these staples are wholesome foods, and some are even used in homemade and prescription diets. But each comes with specifics worth getting right, and the fermented foods especially are not as simple as they first appear.
The broad picture is encouraging. Plain tofu, plain cooked rice, cooked quinoa, and cooked barley are all safe for dogs in modest amounts, and rice in particular has a well-earned place as a gentle food for an upset stomach. The fermented foods, sauerkraut and the like, can be fine in tiny plain amounts, but they carry salt, sometimes spice, and often hidden ingredients that complicate the answer. So the verdict across this group is mostly yes-but, with the detail mattering more than usual, which is exactly why this guide works through each one rather than offering a single blanket rule.
This guide sorts the staples into protein, grain, and fermented groups, gives each a clear verdict, and finishes with an honest word about homemade diets, since that is where many of these foods are headed. The aim is to help you add the genuinely useful staples confidently while sidestepping the salt, spice, and balance pitfalls that catch people out.
What unites this group, and sets it apart from the snacks and sweets in the rest of this cluster, is intent. Nobody worries about whether a dog can have quinoa because they dropped a grain of it; they ask because they are thinking about their dog’s diet deliberately, often with genuine care and sometimes after deciding commercial food is not for them. That is a thoughtful impulse and worth taking seriously. The flip side is that deliberate feeding choices carry more weight than an accidental crumb, because a staple you add on purpose tends to become a regular part of the diet, and regular additions shape a dog’s health far more than a one-off taste ever could. So the stakes here are quietly higher, which is exactly why the detail and the note on balance at the end matter.
For a quick yes or no on any food, check it in the Dog Food Safety Checker. For the wider pantry picture, see the related guides linked throughout and at the end.
The short answer
Plain, cooked, unseasoned versions of most of these staples are safe for dogs in modest amounts. Plain tofu, plain white or brown rice, cooked quinoa, and cooked barley are all fine as occasional additions, and rice is a classic bland food for a poorly stomach. The fermented foods are more nuanced: a tiny amount of plain sauerkraut is generally safe and is sometimes suggested for gut health, but most shop sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles are too salty or spicy, or contain garlic, so they are best avoided unless plain and given in a tiny quantity.
The recurring catch across the whole group is that these foods are rarely served plain to humans. Rice comes with sauce, tofu is marinated, sauerkraut and kimchi are salty and often garlicky. So the rule is plain, cooked, unseasoned, and small, and when a staple has been seasoned for people, it is usually no longer suitable for a dog.
That single distinction, between the plain base ingredient and the seasoned dish we actually make from it, does almost all the work in this guide. Plain rice is one of the safest foods a dog can eat; fried rice with soy sauce, onion, and garlic is not. Plain tofu is fine; the tofu in a takeaway stir-fry is not. The ingredient is rarely the problem; the recipe usually is. If you keep that in mind, you can navigate this entire category, and most of the foods it does not even cover, with a single reliable question: what is in the version in front of me, and would the plain original have been safe.
The staples at a glance
Here are the three groups with a quick verdict for each. The detail follows below, but the cards capture the headline for each category at a glance.
Plain, cooked tofu is safe for dogs in small amounts as an occasional protein, though it is not a complete protein source and some dogs are gassy on it. Avoid marinated or fried tofu.
Plain cooked rice, quinoa, and barley are all safe in modest amounts, and rice is a go-to bland food for upset stomachs. Always plain, fully cooked, and no sauce.
A tiny amount of plain sauerkraut can be fine, but most fermented foods are too salty or spicy, or contain garlic. Kimchi and pickles are usually best avoided.
Can dogs have tofu?
Yes, dogs can have plain, cooked tofu in small amounts, and it is safe and non-toxic. Tofu is made from soybeans and provides plant protein, and a little plain tofu is a reasonable occasional addition for many dogs, sometimes used in vegetarian or limited-ingredient diets under veterinary guidance. It is soft, easy to eat, and gentle on most stomachs in modest quantities. Some owners use a little plain tofu as a low-fat way to add interest to a meal or to hide a pill, both of which it does well.
There are a few real caveats, though, which is why tofu is a plain-and-modest food rather than a freely-give one. First, tofu is a plant protein and is not a complete protein source for a dog the way meat is, so it should be an addition rather than a meal replacement unless a vet has designed a balanced diet around it. Second, soy is a relatively common food sensitivity in dogs, so some dogs get gassy or have loose stool from it, and a few are genuinely intolerant. Third, the tofu people actually eat is usually marinated, fried, or cooked with soy sauce, garlic, and onion, none of which suit a dog. So the safe version is plain tofu, lightly cooked, in a small amount, introduced slowly to check it agrees with your dog.
Tofu comes up especially often from owners exploring vegetarian or vegan feeding, usually for ethical reasons of their own, so it is worth a careful word. Dogs are omnivores and can, in principle, be fed a plant-based diet, but doing it safely is genuinely demanding, because meeting all of a dog’s protein and amino-acid needs without animal products requires careful formulation and often supplementation. Tofu can be one component of such a diet, but it cannot carry it alone, and a homemade vegetarian diet built casually around tofu and vegetables risks leaving a dog short on essential nutrients. If a plant-based diet is your goal, it is very much a do-it-with-a-veterinary-nutritionist project rather than a do-it-yourself one, and tofu is an ingredient in that plan, not the plan itself.
Skip the flavoured versions: marinated, smoked, or fried tofu, and tofu cooked in stir-fries, almost always involves soy sauce, garlic, and onion, which are salty or toxic for dogs. Only plain, unseasoned cooked tofu is suitable, and even that is best kept to a small occasional portion.
Rice, wild rice and grains
Should dogs eat rice?
Rice is one of the most dog-friendly staples there is. Plain cooked white rice is safe, easily digestible, and a long-standing part of the bland diet vets recommend for a dog with an upset stomach, usually paired with plain boiled chicken. Brown rice is also safe and a little more nutritious, though slightly harder to digest, so white rice is the gentler choice for a poorly tummy. Rice appears as a carbohydrate in many commercial dog foods too, so it is a thoroughly established part of canine diets.
The keys are that it must be plain and fully cooked, with no salt, butter, oil, or sauce, and that it is a carbohydrate rather than a complete food, so it complements a meal rather than replacing it. As a small addition or a bland-diet staple, plain cooked rice is genuinely useful and about as safe as human food gets for a dog.
The bland-diet role deserves a little detail, since it is the most practical use of rice for most owners. When a dog has a mild upset stomach, vets often recommend a temporary diet of plain boiled white rice with plain boiled chicken, no skin, no bones, no seasoning, in roughly equal parts, fed in small frequent portions. The rice is gentle and binding, the chicken provides easily digested protein, and together they give the gut a rest while still feeding the dog. It is a short-term measure, used for a day or two until the stomach settles, not a long-term diet, and a dog that is not improving, or that has more than a mild upset, needs a vet rather than more rice. But as a first-line home response to a passing tummy trouble, plain rice and chicken is a genuinely useful thing to know.
Can dogs eat wild rice?
Yes, plain cooked wild rice is safe for dogs and is actually a nutritious choice, being a whole grain with more fibre and protein than white rice. As with all grains, it must be fully cooked and served plain, without the seasonings, butter, or stock that wild rice is often prepared with. Cooked thoroughly and unseasoned, it is a wholesome occasional addition, though its chewier texture means some dogs prefer softer white rice, and very firm or undercooked grains are harder for a dog to digest, so cook it until properly soft.
Plain rice with boiled chicken is the classic bland diet for a dog with diarrhea. Our guide on settling diarrhea in dogs explains exactly how to use it and when to see a vet.
Quinoa and barley
Is quinoa safe for dogs?
Yes, cooked quinoa is safe for dogs in modest amounts and is a nutritious whole grain, rich in protein and fibre, that appears in some premium dog foods. It must be cooked and served plain, and ideally rinsed before cooking, since quinoa has a natural coating called saponin that can irritate some dogs’ digestion if not washed off. Plain cooked quinoa is a wholesome addition; quinoa salads and seasoned quinoa dishes, full of dressing, onion, and other ingredients, are not. Cooked until soft and fluffy, it is easy for most dogs to digest and a pleasant change from plain rice.
Is barley good for dogs?
Cooked barley is safe and beneficial for dogs in modest amounts. It is a fibre-rich whole grain that supports digestion and provides slow-release energy, and like rice and quinoa it turns up as a grain in some commercial foods. The usual conditions apply: it must be fully cooked and plain, with no salt or seasoning, and it is a complement to a meal rather than a food in its own right. Pearl barley cooks soft and is easy for dogs to manage, making it a reasonable occasional grain to add for variety and fibre, and its gentle, soothing quality means it is sometimes included in recipes for dogs with sensitive digestion.
The honest framing for all of these grains is that they are safe and mildly beneficial rather than essential. A dog on a complete diet does not need added grains, but if you want to bulk out a meal, add a little fibre, or vary the carbohydrate, plain cooked rice, quinoa, or barley are all sound choices. None should make up a large share of the diet, and all should be plain. It is also worth a brief word on the grain-free debate, since some owners avoid grains entirely on principle: for most dogs there is nothing wrong with grains, they are a perfectly good carbohydrate, and the move toward grain-free diets has actually raised some unrelated health questions, so unless your dog has a diagnosed grain sensitivity there is no need to fear a little plain cooked grain.
Can dogs eat sauerkraut?
Sauerkraut is the staple people ask about most in this group, often because it has a health-food reputation, so it deserves a careful answer. Plain sauerkraut, which is simply fermented cabbage and salt, is not toxic to dogs, and a tiny amount of plain, low-salt sauerkraut is generally safe. Some owners and even some holistic-leaning sources suggest it for gut health, on the basis that fermented foods contain probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that support digestion. The interest is understandable, since fermented foods have become fashionable in human wellness circles, and it is natural to wonder whether the same benefits extend to dogs.
That said, sauerkraut comes with real caveats that keep it in the give-with-care category rather than the freely-safe one. The big one is salt: sauerkraut is preserved with salt and can be quite high in sodium, which dogs need far less of than we do, so only a small amount of a low-salt version is appropriate. Many commercial sauerkrauts also add caraway, juniper, wine, or other flavourings, and some include onion or garlic, which are toxic. And the fermentation that gives it probiotic appeal also makes it acidic, which can upset a sensitive stomach. Taken together, that is a lot of conditions to satisfy for a food that offers a dog very little, which is why the honest verdict lands on occasionally-fine-but-not-worth-bothering rather than a warm recommendation.
So the practical answer is that a teaspoon of plain, rinsed, low-salt sauerkraut is unlikely to harm a dog and may offer a little probiotic benefit, but it is not something to give freely, and the seasoned, salty, or garlicky versions are best avoided. If gut health is your actual goal, a probiotic made for dogs is a far more reliable and appropriately dosed option than people food, and worth a conversation with your vet.
It is worth being a little sceptical of the probiotic claims that drive most sauerkraut questions, because they are often overstated. The live cultures in fermented foods can support gut health in principle, but several things undercut the benefit for a dog: the amount of sauerkraut a dog can safely eat is tiny, so the dose of beneficial bacteria is small; the specific strains in human ferments are not necessarily the ones most useful to a dog’s gut; and cooked or pasteurised sauerkraut, which includes much of what is sold in jars on shelves, has had its live cultures killed off entirely. So the image of sauerkraut as a powerful canine probiotic does not really hold up. A dog-specific probiotic supplement, formulated with appropriate strains and a measured dose, delivers far more reliable benefit than a cautious teaspoon of salty cabbage ever could.
Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage, and plain cabbage itself is dog-safe. For how to share cabbage and other veg properly, see our guide on which vegetables dogs can eat.
Kimchi, pickles and other fermented foods
Can dogs eat kimchi?
Kimchi is best avoided for dogs. While it is fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, kimchi is almost always made with substantial garlic, onion, ginger, and chilli, and garlic and onion are toxic to dogs while the chilli is irritating. It is also typically very salty. So unlike plain sauerkraut, kimchi fails on multiple counts at once, and there is no easy plain version, since the alliums and spice are central to what kimchi is. Keep kimchi to yourself.
Can dogs eat pickles?
Pickles are not toxic but are best avoided. A plain cucumber is a great low-calorie treat for a dog, but pickling it changes everything: pickles are high in salt and vinegar, and many are made with garlic, dill, and spices in a brine that is far too salty for a dog. So a dog that licks a pickle is not poisoned, but pickles are a salty, sometimes garlicky food with no benefit. If your dog likes the crunch of cucumber, give plain fresh cucumber instead, which is genuinely good for them.
The fermented-food picture overall
The pattern across fermented foods is consistent. The fermentation itself is not the problem, and the probiotic idea has some merit, but the salt, acidity, and added garlic, onion, and spice that come with most fermented foods make them poor or risky choices for dogs. Plain, low-salt sauerkraut is the one that can scrape into the occasionally-fine category; kimchi, pickles, and most others do not. For probiotic benefit, a dog-specific product is safer and better dosed than gambling with salty, garlicky human ferments.
Broth, gravy and manuka honey
Is broth good for dogs?
Plain, unsalted bone or vegetable broth can be good for dogs and is a popular addition, used to flavour food, encourage a fussy or unwell dog to eat, and add moisture and a little nutrition. The crucial word is plain. Most shop-bought and homemade broths and stocks are seasoned with salt, onion, and garlic, which makes them unsafe, and stock cubes are especially concentrated in salt and alliums. So homemade broth made without salt, onion, or garlic is a genuine plus, while ordinary cooking stock is not. If you make broth for your dog, leave out all the seasoning.
Bone broth specifically has gained a following as a dog-food topper, and a plain, properly made one does have things going for it: moisture, a little protein and collagen, and a smell that tempts reluctant eaters. If you want to make it, simmer plain bones, no onion, no garlic, no salt, strain off the fat, and make sure no cooked bones end up in the dog’s bowl, since cooked bones can splinter. Let it cool and skim the fat before serving, since the fat layer is rich enough to upset a stomach. Made this way it is a nice, safe addition; bought as a flavoured human stock, it is not, which is the same plain-versus-seasoned line that runs through everything in this guide.
Can dogs have gravy?
Standard gravy is best avoided. The gravy we make for ourselves is high in salt and fat and usually made with onion, garlic, and meat drippings, which combine several dog problems at once. A dog that licks a little gravy off a plate is unlikely to be harmed, but gravy is not a treat to give, and the fatty, salty, garlicky mix is a poor idea. If you want to make a dog’s food more appealing, a splash of plain unsalted broth does the job that gravy would, without the downsides.
Can dogs eat manuka honey?
Manuka honey is safe for dogs in small amounts and is sometimes used for its antibacterial properties, including topically on minor wounds under veterinary guidance. As a food, a tiny amount is not harmful for a healthy adult dog, but honey is pure sugar, so it should be a rare, small treat rather than a regular one, and it is not suitable for diabetic or overweight dogs. Honey should never be given to very young puppies. So manuka honey is fine in moderation for a healthy dog, with the sugar being the main reason to keep it minimal. If you have bought manuka specifically for a claimed health benefit, it is worth knowing the evidence for feeding it to dogs is thin, so it is best thought of as an occasional sweet treat rather than a remedy.
Artichokes and other odd pantry items
A few staples sit outside the main groups but come up often enough to deserve a clear answer, and they follow the same plain-and-modest logic as everything else here.
Can dogs have artichokes?
Yes, plain cooked or raw artichoke is safe for dogs in small amounts. Artichokes are a nutritious vegetable, providing fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants, and a little plain artichoke heart is a fine occasional addition. The cautions are practical rather than toxic: the tough outer leaves and the fibrous choke are hard to digest and a choking risk, so only the soft, edible parts should be offered, cut small. And as always, the artichokes people eat are usually drenched in butter, oil, salt, garlic, or marinade, none of which suit a dog. Plain, soft artichoke flesh in a small amount, yes; the marinated jarred kind, no.
Pasta and other plain grains
The same reasoning extends to plain cooked pasta, couscous, and similar plain grain staples. None are toxic, all are essentially safe in small plain amounts, and all are empty-ish carbohydrate that a dog does not need but can have a little of. The constant refrain applies: plain and cooked is fine, while the sauced, salted, seasoned versions we actually eat are not. A few plain cooked pasta shapes are harmless; pasta in a garlic and tomato sauce is not, because of the garlic and the salt rather than the pasta.
The pattern by now should be familiar, and it is the single most useful thing to carry away from this whole guide. Across protein staples, grains, fermented foods, and these odds and ends, the base ingredient is almost always safe in a plain, cooked, modest form, and the danger lives entirely in what we add to make it palatable for ourselves. Learn to picture the plain version of any staple, and you can answer the can-my-dog-have-this question for foods this guide never even mentions.
A word on homemade diets
Many people arrive at these staples because they are considering cooking for their dog, either fully or as a regular topper, so it is worth an honest word on that. Plain rice, tofu, quinoa, and the like are exactly the building blocks of a homemade diet, and there is nothing wrong with using them. The risk is not any single ingredient but the balance of the whole, which is the part that is far harder than it looks.
A dog needs a specific balance of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals, and getting that right across a homemade diet is genuinely difficult. The most common problem with home-cooked dog food is not a toxic ingredient but a diet that is subtly incomplete, short on calcium, or an essential nutrient, or skewed too far toward one food group, in ways that cause problems only slowly over months. A bowl of plain rice and tofu looks healthy but is nowhere near a complete diet on its own.
So the staples in this guide are best seen as safe additions to a complete diet, or as ingredients in a homemade diet that has been properly formulated, ideally with a vet or a veterinary nutritionist. If you want to cook for your dog, that is a fine goal, but the key is to follow a balanced recipe designed for dogs rather than improvising from healthy-sounding human staples. Used that way, tofu, rice, quinoa, and barley earn their place; used as a guessed-at homemade diet, even wholesome ingredients can leave a dog short of what it needs.
If full home-cooking feels like more than you want to take on, there is a comfortable middle ground that captures much of the appeal with little of the risk: feed a complete commercial food as the foundation and use these staples as occasional healthy toppers. A spoon of plain rice, a little plain tofu, a small amount of plain cooked vegetable mixed into a balanced food gives variety, interest, and a sense of fresh food without putting the dog’s nutrition in your hands. Because the complete food is doing the heavy lifting on balance, the toppers can be chosen for enjoyment rather than having to add up to a complete diet themselves. For most owners drawn to fresh feeding, this topper approach delivers most of what they were after far more safely than a full homemade switch.
Whatever you add, it counts toward the daily total. Use the feeding schedule calculator and weight calculator to keep staples and toppers in proportion to your dog’s real needs.
Maintains the reference list of foods toxic to dogs, including the onion and garlic that hide in seasoned staples, stocks, and ferments. View the people-foods list.
Publishes vet-reviewed guidance on canine nutrition, homemade diets, and the importance of complete and balanced feeding. Read the feeding guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat sauerkraut?
A tiny amount of plain, low-salt sauerkraut is generally safe and may offer a little probiotic benefit, but it is not something to give freely. Sauerkraut is high in salt, which dogs need little of, and many versions add caraway, wine, or even garlic and onion, which are toxic. Avoid seasoned, salty, or garlicky sauerkraut, and for gut health a dog-specific probiotic is a safer, better-dosed option.
Can dogs have tofu?
Yes, plain cooked tofu is safe in small amounts as an occasional protein addition. It is not a complete protein source like meat, soy is a common food sensitivity so some dogs get gassy on it, and marinated or fried tofu usually contains soy sauce, garlic, and onion, which are unsafe. Stick to plain, lightly cooked tofu in a small portion, introduced slowly.
Should dogs eat rice?
Plain cooked rice is one of the most dog-friendly staples and is a classic bland food for an upset stomach, usually with plain boiled chicken. White rice is gentler for a poorly tummy, while brown rice is a little more nutritious but harder to digest. It must be plain and fully cooked, with no salt, butter, or sauce, and it complements a meal rather than replacing it.
Is quinoa safe for dogs?
Yes, cooked quinoa is safe in modest amounts and is a nutritious whole grain found in some premium dog foods. Rinse it before cooking to remove the natural saponin coating that can irritate digestion, cook it fully, and serve it plain. Avoid quinoa salads and seasoned dishes, which contain dressing, onion, and other ingredients unsuitable for dogs.
Is barley good for dogs?
Cooked barley is safe and mildly beneficial in modest amounts, being a fibre-rich whole grain that supports digestion. It must be fully cooked and plain, with no salt or seasoning, and serves as a complement to a meal rather than a food on its own. Pearl barley cooks soft and is easy for dogs to manage as an occasional grain for variety and fibre.
Can dogs eat kimchi?
No, kimchi is best avoided. Although it is fermented vegetables, kimchi is almost always made with substantial garlic, onion, ginger, and chilli, and garlic and onion are toxic to dogs while chilli is irritating. It is also very salty. Unlike plain sauerkraut, there is no safe plain version of kimchi, since the alliums and spice are central to it.
Is broth good for dogs?
Plain, unsalted bone or vegetable broth can be good for dogs, adding moisture, flavour, and a little nutrition, and helping tempt a fussy or unwell dog to eat. The crucial point is that it must be plain: most shop and homemade broths contain salt, onion, and garlic, which are unsafe, and stock cubes are especially concentrated. Make broth without any seasoning for a dog.
Can dogs eat manuka honey?
Manuka honey is safe for healthy adult dogs in small amounts and is sometimes used for its antibacterial properties, including topically on minor wounds under vet guidance. As a food it is pure sugar, so keep it to a rare, tiny treat, avoid it for diabetic or overweight dogs, and never give honey to young puppies. In moderation it is fine, with the sugar being the reason to keep it minimal.
The bottom line on pantry staples
Plain, cooked, unseasoned versions of most of these staples are safe and sometimes beneficial. Plain rice, quinoa, barley, and tofu are all sound occasional additions, with rice doubling as a bland food for an upset stomach, and plain unsalted broth and a tiny amount of manuka honey are fine too. The fermented foods are more nuanced: a little plain low-salt sauerkraut can be okay, but kimchi, pickles, gravy, and salty or garlicky versions are best avoided. Across the whole group, the rule is plain, cooked, unseasoned, and modest, and if you are heading toward a homemade diet, do it with a properly balanced recipe rather than improvising from healthy-sounding ingredients.
When you are checking any staple or addition, do not rely on memory. Use the Dog Food Safety Checker, and the feeding schedule calculator and weight calculator to keep additions in proportion to real meals.
See our guides on cooking oils, crackers and bread, candy and sweets, and herbs and spices, plus vegetables dogs can eat, sweet potatoes, and olive oil.
A quick note: this guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Waldev is not affiliated with the organisations linked above. Before making any staple a regular part of your dog’s diet, or switching to home-cooked food, talk to your vet, especially if your dog is diabetic, overweight, has food sensitivities, or has a health condition.
