Exact Answer : Up to 3 months
Sausages have become a popular food. It can be taken as a quick breakfast in the morning or an on-the-go lunch. The preparation time is even very less and they are really mouth-watering.
Various kinds of sausages are found worldwide but they mostly fall into the four main types of sausages:- fresh, smoked, cured, and cooked. Fresh sausages are basically unsmoked, uncooked sausages that must be cooked or at least boiled before consumption.
Smoked sausages are the ones that have been slow-cooked in a smokehouse and can be consumed after getting from the market. Cured sausages are the ones that are salted and fermented which can be stored in the pantry for later use.
Cooked sausages are the ones that are pre-cooked and then frozen either in the refrigerator or in the freezer. These include hotdogs, frankfurters, etc.
How Long Is Cooked Sausage Good For?
| Place of Storage | Time |
| At room temperature | Up to 2hrs |
| In refrigerator | 3 to 4 days |
| In freezer | Up to 3 months |
Cooked sausages can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To prevent the spoilage of sausages some points should be kept in mind.
The sausage should be stored either in airtight containers or in heavy-duty aluminium foil. They should be stored at a place in the refrigerator that has a constant 40 °F temperature.
During the cooking process, the internal temperature should be maintained at 160°F. In the refrigerator, the sausage should be kept aloof from other raw/uncooked food items.
Cooked sausages can be stored in the refrigerator only for 3 to 4 days. If one wants to store it further, it should be kept in the freezer where it can be kept for about 2 to 3 months.
While storing sausages in freezers, ensure that the sausages are contained in freezer-safe containers or freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. They should be kept in the freezer at a constant 0°F.
However, it is best to consume cooked sausages within 4 days of being cooked. This is because the freshness of sausage decreases with the increase in time.
There are some sausages that can last for a comparatively longer time. This is because they are either smoked or cooked beforehand.
When one wishes to feed on cooked sausages stored in a refrigerator or freezer, they should be taken out of the freezer, placed on the lower shelf of the fridge to sand then reheated in the pan, or microwave.
Why Does Cooked Sausage Stay Good For So Long?
The origin of sausage making has practically faded away along with our ancestors. They had understood the art of preserving food items by using salt. Our ancestors even expertise in sausage making.
Sausage making involves the ways of transporting and preserving meat. Cooked smoked sausages like Frankfurter, bologna, Cotto salami should be refrigerated and consumed within 7 days of opening the vacuum package.
One can even cure sausages to preserve them longer. Sausages are cooked at a relatively high temperature. Hence, bacteria and other microbes cannot grow on it for over 2 hours.
When preserved in a refrigerator or freezer, the temperature is relatively too low for any bacterial or microbial activity. Hence, the chances of spoilage are still less. But, it is best to consume sausage within 4 days of cooking.
All types of sausage except dry sausage are perishable and hence, should be refrigerated and consumed as soon as possible. If the sausage comes with a “use by” date, it is recommended to consume the product within that deadline.
Conclusion
Fresh sausages can be stored only for a couple of hours while unopened pre-cooked sausages can be stored for two weeks. On being cooked, the cooked sausages can be stored for only one week.
Each type of sausage has its own time period during which it’s safe to be consumed. One should always check the sausages before consumption.
The best way to check sausage is to smell and look at the sausages. One can receive signs of bad sausages by their sour smell and slimy texture. It is recommended not to use or consume sausage on getting such signs.