Exact Answer: Up to 2 weeks
The hot dogs would last for around 2 weeks in the fridge. The hot dog’s shelf life would get affected by the quality, storage, and ingredients. The hot dogs would last really long if they are stored inside the freezer. The person should do safe food storage techniques for keeping the hot dogs in the fridge for more than 2 to 3 hours.
At normal room temperature, the hot dogs would not last for more than 2 hours. The ingredients used in the hot dogs would start getting spoiled in very little time as they won’t be able to stay fresh in hot temperatures or moisture-rich places.
Everyone can store the hot dogs inside an air-tight container to keep the hot dogs lasting extremely long. Everyone should try to keep the hot dogs separately in a sealed plastic bag or air-tight containers to avoid bacterial growth in the food.
How Long Do Hot Dogs Last In The Fridge?
| Hot Dogs | Time |
| In weeks | 2 weeks |
| In days | 14 days |
The hot dog shelf life would depend on the shelf life of each ingredient used in the making of hot dogs. There will be some ingredients that would have very little shelf life which may not allow the hot dog to last longer. If the packet of the hot dogs is not opened, then they may last for months.
Once opened, the hot dog would not be able to last for more than 2 weeks inside the fridge. If a single ingredient of the hot dog would start getting bad, then it would make the hot dog get bad early. The hot dog kept inside the freezer would have long shelf life than the hot dog in the other sections of the fridge.
People can also store the hot dog after wrapping it with aluminum foil to make the hot dog stay away from moisture and bacteria. There are many brands of packed hot dogs available in the market and the shelf life of each hot dog would vary depending on the additional ingredients.
Additional ingredients such as cheese and mayonnaise can decrease the shelf life of the hot dog. The hot dog would start giving an unpleasant smell when it is expired. The color of the hot dog would also change with time if they are expired or about to go bad.
Why Do Hot Dogs Last In The Fridge For This Long?
The hot dogs can’t last for more than 2 weeks, as they contain flour and meat. The shelf life of cooked or baked flour would not be more than 10 to 14 days inside the fridge. Everyone can avoid storing the hot dogs with sauces as they may cause the hot dogs to go bad early.
The hot dog contains some preservatives, which would increase the shelf life of the hot dogs, but the preservatives would not be able to hold the freshness of hot dogs for more than 14 days inside the fridge. The hot dogs contain garlic and paprika which would not stay fresh after 2 weeks.
Some people may see the hot dogs staying fresh for around 3 weeks. It depends on the preparation of hot dogs. If the hot dogs are prepared with hygiene without any dirt or germs, then they may stay fresh for a very long time. Sometimes, people store leftover hot dogs which may have some bacteria in them.
These bacteria would cause the hot dog to go bad quickly. Hot dogs can also get worse if they are kept under direct sunlight. The sunrays contain heat that would make the meat trimming and other fats inside the hot dog expire in just 1 to 2 hours.
In the winter months, the hot dogs can be stored at room temperature for around 2 to 3 hours. In summers, the person should not leave the hot dogs at room temperature for more than 30 to 60 minutes.
Conclusion
The hot dogs can last for around 2 weeks inside the fridge. Everyone should try to keep the hot dogs without any water inside the containers. People should check if the containers have any leakage or not. After the person stores the hot dog in the freezer, then it may start declining in its quality or taste.
People should avoid storing the hot dog in open plates or containers at room temperature. If someone is storing other food items with the hot dog, then make sure the food items are not expired.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673688924257
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713506002702
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