Sausages are a saving grace when you can’t think of anything else to cook. They work well in casseroles, breakfast dishes, salads, and much more. But sometimes we cook or buy too many sausages and have to store the leftovers for later. So, how long does sausage last in the fridge?
Store cooked sausage in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to four days. For raw meat, check the expiration date on the package, and keep an eye out for suspicious smells, textures, and colors. Once you’ve opened a pack of sausages, it’s best to consume them within three or four days.
Let’s take a closer look at the best ways to store your sausages in the fridge, whether the meat is cooked or raw. We’ll also take a look at freezing options and how to tell if a sausage is safe to eat.
How Long Does Sausage Last in the Fridge?
When it comes to storing sausage in the fridge, there are a few important things to keep in mind in order to ensure you don’t consume something you shouldn’t.
You have to be very careful with sausage storage and consumption, especially true meat sausages. It’s also possible to purchase non-meat sausages, but those have different storage needs.
The shelf life of a meat sausage differs depending on whether it’s cooked or raw. Let’s take at how to handle both.
Cooked Sausage
Cooked sausages can usually last up to four days in the fridge. They’re safe to eat cold but even more delicious when reheated.
Uncooked Sausage
All sausages should have an expiration date on their package. You should follow this advice because the manufacturers will know best how long their product will last.
Nonetheless, keep in mind that unopened packets of sausages will last much longer than open ones. Once a packet is opened, it’s immediately exposed to outside air and bacteria.
After you’ve opened a package of sausages, it’s advised to consume them within three or four days. If they’re left out at room temperature, they can turn bad very quickly.
It’s best to cook and consume sausages within a few hours to avoid an upset stomach — or store them safely until you’re ready to use them.
What’s the Best Way to Store Sausage?
Whether your sausages are raw or cooked, they should always be kept in air-tight containers to prevent the spread of bad bacteria.
You can also use air-tight wraps or bags, like this foil wrap from Reynolds (on Amazon).
When you cook sausages, they should be brought to room temperature before being placed in an airtight container and placed on the coldest shelf in your refrigerator. When stored in this way, the sausages should be fine for three to four days.
How Long Will Sausage Last in the Freezer?
It’s safe to freeze sausages as long as your thoroughly defrost them before consuming them. The type of sausage will dictate how long it can last in the freezer.
A dry sausage can last up to two months before going bad. The same goes for an uncooked sausage. They shouldn’t be stored longer than this because they’ll start to taste different and could be unsafe to eat once thawed.
A cooked sausage can also be stored in the freezer. Again, it must be thoroughly defrosted before consumption. These can be stored in a freezer for up to three months.
Defrosting Your Sausages
As we mentioned above, it’s essential to defrost your sausages thoroughly to avoid an upset stomach or other medical issues.
Sausages should be moved overnight from the freezer to the bottom compartment of the refrigerator to defrost them safely. To catch any juices that may leak from the links, place them on a plate or inside a food storage receptacle.
The sausages can be defrosted more quickly if placed in a ziplock bag and then in ice water. When the links are no longer frozen and rigid, change the water every 30 minutes and cook them right away.
To defrost sausages quickly, remove the outer packaging from the sausages, put them in a microwave-safe receptacle, and defrost them for two to three minutes. If they require more time, defrost them in 30-second intervals until finished, then prepare them immediately.
How Can You Tell if Sausage Has Gone Bad?
It’s very important to avoid eating spoiled sausage since it can cause serious stomach issues.
There are a few ways to tell if a sausage has gone bad:
- Check the expiration date. The first thing you can do to check if a sausage has gone bad is check its expiration date. This should indicate whether it’s safe to eat. If a sausage is past the expiration date, it may still be ok to eat, but you’ll have to check the meat carefully with the following techniques.
- Check the smell. Spoiled sausage has a potent smell. It should be fairly clear if the meat has gone bad by checking the smell. A sour and acidic smell indicates that the sausage has gone bad.
- Check the texture. A sausage that has gone bad will also have a distinct texture. Most uncooked sausages will be soft to the touch, but a bad sausage will have a slimy texture.
- Check the color. Finally, the last thing to check is the color of the sausage. A gray color will indicate that it’s not safe to eat. The gray color comes from the oxidation process that occurs when the meat is exposed to the air. Avoid eating uncooked sausage if it appears gray.