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How Long Do Hot Dogs Last in the Fridge

By: Author William Thomas

William Thomas

Editor-in-Chief & Pitmaster

I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.
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How Long Do Hot Dogs Last in the Fridge

The summertime is the season of BBQ grilled burgers and hot dogs. So, it’s no mystery that you purchased an excess amount of hot dogs last month and stored them in the fridge.

But one thing you should consider before you fire up your offset grill is how long hot dogs last in the refrigerator.

What Is a Hot Dog?

In short, hot dogs are thin sausages with a smooth surface.

Hot dogs can be placed between a bun and topped with condiments like ketchup or sauces such as cheese sauce.

Hot dogs can be made from emulsified turkey, ham, ground beef, poultry, and pork.

The meat mixture is combined with ingredients such as spices or preservatives and formed into a batter.

The meat is then stuffed into casings using a sausage stuffer.

The casings are usually made from processed collagen or animal intestines.

Do Hot Dogs Go Bad?

It is only natural to wonder if hot dogs go bad, and the answer is yet. It will spoil eventually, whether it is brisket, Hawaiian BBQ chicken, or hot dogs.

Store-bought hot dogs may last longer than homemade hot dogs because they are made with sodium erythorbate.

Sodium erythorbate is a modified form of vitamin C derived from sugar.

When added to cured meats or hot dogs, it functions as a preservative and helps the product maintain its color and flavor.

Sodium erythorbate can also extend the hot dog’s lifespan. Nevertheless, even hot dogs with sodium erythorbate will inevitably spoil.

How Long Can Uncooked Hot Dogs Stay Out of the Refrigerator?

Whether they are cooked or raw hot dogs, leaving them out of the fridge for an extended amount of time is an absolute no. 

Hot dogs will become riddled with so much bacteria that they are not safe to eat after 2 hours.

If the room is hotter than 90℉, the hot dogs will become contaminated within 1 hour.

Therefore, it’s best to limit the amount of time hot dogs are out of the fridge.

How To Store Hot Dogs

Hot dogs are considered processed food since they are made from animal trimmings.

It may seem wise to open your pack of hot dogs and remove one or two, but they will not stay fresh for a long time after they have been opened.

It is best to leave them in their original container and store them in the fridge.

If the package is opened, it’s best to place the hot dogs into an airtight container or ziplock bag and store the hot dogs in the refrigerator.

Make sure you consume the hot dogs in a timely manner and never leave them out for more than 2 hours.

How to Freeze Hot Dogs

To freeze hot dogs, wrap them tightly within plastic and foil, then place them into a ziplock bag. Press the air from the hotdogs before sealing the bag.

Hot dogs can absorb other odors. Making sure the hot dogs are airtight will prevent them from absorbing different food scents in the freezer and prevent freezer burn. 

Label the hot dogs with today’s date before placing them in the freezer.

Once you are ready to cook the hot dogs, you can thaw them in the fridge overnight, in the microwave, or in cold running water.

Do not refreeze the hot dogs once they have thawed. Use a food-safe infrared thermometer to make sure the hot dogs are at a temperature of 140℉.

How Long Do Hot Dogs Last in the Fridge

When stored in the refrigerator, opened hot dogs will last 1-2 days.

Yes, this is a super short time frame, but trust me when I tell you don’t want to consume opened hot dogs after two days.

Their aroma and odor will start to change. Furthermore, you may get contract food poisoning because you ate spoiled hot dogs.

How Long Do Hot Dogs Last in the Freezer

If you’ve got leftover hotdogs, you can freeze them. The lifespan of frozen hot dogs depends on how they are stored.

For example, if you toss them into a freezer bag without wrapping them in foil or plastic wrap, they will have a shorter shelf life. 

On the other hand, covering the hot dogs with plastic wrap before placing them into a ziplock bag or seal them with a vacuum sealer will last up to 1-2 months.

How Long Do Cooked Hot Dogs Last in the Fridge

Some people like their Denver steaks with steak sauce, while others prefer them without.

Some people like to cook their hotdogs before storing them in the fridge, while others like to store their hot dogs in the refrigerator before cooking them.

Cooking the hot dog can neutralize harmful bacteria in the hot dog.

However, you should proceed with caution when storing cooked hot dogs in the fridge.

If the hot dogs are kept in the fridge too long, their texture and flavor texture.

Even reheating the hot digs will not bring them back to life once their flavor starts to diminish.

How To Tell if Hot Dogs Are Bad

Consuming bad hot dogs can make you very sick. Luckily you can use your senses to determine if your hot dogs are spoiled.

If the hot dogs have a slimy texture, it is an indicator that microbial growth has occurred, and they must be discarded immediately.

Fresh hot dogs have a bright reddish color.

Spoiled hot dogs have a dull gray or brown color. In addition to this, if the hot dogs have a rancid sour smell, they are rotten.

Frozen hot dogs may develop freezer burn because of their high moisture content.

As a result, the hot dogs may be dry and have icy spots on their skin and interior. Freezer-burned hot dogs should be discarded.

If there is milky liquid in the hotdogs package, it could be a sign of fat or bacteria. Either way, the hot dogs should be tossed immediately.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how long hot dogs last, you can fire up your kamado grill and cook up as many hot dogs as you like.

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