How Long Does Sausage Last in the Fridge

I’m sure you’ve seen sausages in the grocery store and probably picked up a few packages because they were on sale.

Even though the sausages are packaged in a vacuum-sealed container, they will dry out if they are left to sit in the fridge for too long.

But how long is too long to leave sausages in the fridge? Keep reading to find out.

Contents

Types of Sausage
Can Sausage Go Bad
How Long Does Sausage Last in the Fridge
How To Tell if Sausage Is Bad?
Final Thoughts

Types of Sausage

There are just as many different sausages as many kinds of steaks.

Just like there are Tomahawk steaks, ranch steaks, and Denver steaks, there are Andouille sausages, breakfast sausages, and chorizo.

Andouille

Andouille sausage was invented in France. However, it plays an integral role in Cajun cuisine.

Andouille sausage is usually produced from pork and seasoned with garlic, wine, onions, and peppers. Andouille sausage is traditionally used for gumbo or Louisiana stew.

Blood Sausage

As the name implies, blood is used to make this sausage. However, it is combined with fillers such as grains, meat, or fat.

Many versions of blood sausages exist throughout the globe, including French boudin noir, Spanish or Latin morcilla, and Thai saiKroklueat.

Unlike Andouille or Italian sausage, blood sausage can be hard to source.

Italian Sausage

Italian sausage is a generic Americanized word referring to seasoned pork sausage.

There are several different types of Italian sausages, including sweet, mild, or hot Italian sausage.

Even though the sausages may be seasoned differently, they will have fennel in them if it’s labeled as Italian sausage.

Bratwurst

Bratwursts are very much a part of German culture. In fact, it has been a part of German culture since 1313.

Moreover, there are 40 reported variations of German bratwurst.

Brat is derived from an ancient German word called brät. Brat translates to finely diced meat. On the other hand, wurst translates to sausage.

Although bratwurst can contain many different seasonings, they have a mild flavor.

Bratwurst can also be made with baking ingredients such as ginger or nutmeg.

Bratwursts are versatile and can be used in soups or stews or eaten with sauerkraut and a cold beer.

Breakfast Sausage

Breakfast sausage is believed to be derived from an English recipe. However, the U.S. takes full credit for coming up with breakfast sausage.

Breakfast sausage can be seasoned with pepper and sage. However, they can also be made with cured bacon or sweeteners such as maple syrup.

Best of all, you can make breakfast sausage at home.

You can even come up with your own seasoning blend or use a sausage stuffer to stuff the sausage into casings.

Kielbasa

Kielbasa originated in Poland. The word also translates to sausage. However, kielbasa refers to a curved, smoked pork sausage for most individuals.

Traditionally kielbasa is served alongside fried onions, but it can also be used in soups, stews, pasta, or casseroles.

Chorizo

We can thank the Spanish and Mexico for coming up with the smoky, spicy sausage known as chorizo.

European chorizo is cured pork salami. It is what you would find on a charcuterie board.

In contrast, Mexican chorizo is usually produced from fresh ground pork. However, chorizo can also be made with beef, turkey, or chicken.

Mexican chorizo is sold raw and can be cooked in a hot cast-iron skillet.

Most chorizo is seasoned with garlic and chili powder. However, green chorizo features garlic, cilantro, tomatillo, and chili powder.

Can Sausage Go Bad

Yes, like most other foods, sausage can spoil. Though the sausage will go bad at some point, it will decay faster if it is not stored correctly or if the expiration date has passed.

Furthermore, leaving sausage at room temperature for more than 2 hours can make it unsafe to consume.

The truth is even if you store the sausage in the fridge correctly, bacteria or mold can still occur and cause them to spoil.

How Long Does Sausage Last in the Fridge

Most sausages are perishable except for dry sausage. Therefore, you must store your sausage in the fridge or freezer.

Uncooked fresh sausage will last for 1-2 days as long as it is stored at or below 40°F.

On the other hand, cooked sausage will last for up to 3-4 days.

Whole or unopened hard or dry sausages like Genoa salami or pepperoni can be stored indefinitely in the refrigerator.

They can also be stored in the pantry for up to 6 weeks. Once the sausage is opened, it can last in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

Alternatively, you can also freeze sausages. Sausages will last in the freezer for up to 1-2 months.

When you are in the mood for sausages, you can easily defrost them in the refrigerator overnight or in cold water.

How To Tell if Sausage Is Bad?

There are multiple ways you can tell if sausage is rotten. First, you should inspect the sausage for a sell-by, use-by, or expiration date.

If the sausages have no visible signs of spoilage, the date is the most obvious way to tell if sausages are spoiled.

If your sausage is rancid, it will give off a potent, rotten odor. This is a sign that the meat is tainted with bacteria.

It may not always be easy to detect a rotten scent, especially if the sausage is in the initial stages of the spoilage process.

This is why you should perform all of these tests before determining if the sausage is bad.

Rotten sausage has a slimy, sticky, slippery texture. Discard the sausage immediately if it has a sour smell or a slimy texture.

Fresh sausages are pink. Nitrates prevent the sausages from turning grey and limit the growth of toxic pathogens.

When it is spoiled, sausage takes on a greyish appearance. If there are any signs of discoloration, toss the sausage immediately.

Final Thoughts

With so many different types of sausages to choose from, it’s easy to pick up a few packages of sausages from the store.

However, you must know how long they last before you place them in your cart.

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William Thomas

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.