Sausages are delicious and a rich source of protein the whole family can enjoy. You can make a hearty meal with them quickly when you don’t have much time, and you can eat them for breakfast, in soups, or on a plain hot dog bun. It’s not a surprise that sausage sales are going up since there are so many thing that can be done.
Buying good sausages and storing them the right way until it’s time to cook will keep your family healthy. Because you want your sausages to be fresh before you serve them, you need to know how long they can be kept. That way, you can be sure that the sausages you serve are always the healthiest and tastiest, just the way they should be, no matter who you’re cooking for. Here are some general guidelines regarding the shelf life of sausages.
As a meat lover, sausage is likely a staple in your diet. From breakfast links to chicken apple sausage, brats for the grill, and spicy Italian varieties for pasta nights, sausage offers delicious flavor and convenience. But with its perishable nature, many wonder – can sausage go bad in the freezer?
The short answer is yes, eventually sausage can go bad when frozen but the freezer offers extended storage to keep it safe much longer. When frozen properly, different types of raw sausage can last 1-6 months or more in the freezer before the quality starts to diminish.
Understanding how to freeze sausage correctly, and what signs to look for when sausage has gone bad, will ensure you safely maximize the freezer life so you can enjoy your favorite recipes. In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know as a sausage lover, from freezer storage times to thawing and cooking frozen sausage safely.
An Overview of Sausage Types and Freezing
Before diving into freezer times, it’s helpful to understand how different types of sausage hold up in the cold. Here’s a quick look
Fresh Sausage
This raw sausage has the shortest shelf life. It must be either cooked or frozen within 1-2 days of purchase. Fresh sausage frozen promptly can last 1-2 months before losing quality.
Smoked Sausage
The smoking process extends the shelf life, so smoked sausage can be stored for 2 weeks refrigerated. For freezer time, it holds up to 2-3 months.
Fully Cooked Sausage
With no raw meat concerns, fully cooked sausage lasts 3-4 weeks refrigerated. Frozen, it will maintain quality for 2-3 months.
No matter the variety, sausage frozen at peak freshness retains better texture and flavor when thawed.
Steps for Freezing Sausage Correctly
Freezing sausage isn’t difficult, but following steps to maximize freshness and prevent freezer burn does require some strategy:
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Package properly – For raw sausage, use freezer wrap or bags, removing as much air as possible. Vacuum sealing gives the best results. With cooked sausage, an airtight container works well.
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Freeze quickly – Get sausage in the freezer as fast as possible, ideally within 1-2 days of purchase. Freeze at 0°F or below.
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Practice FIFO – First In, First Out organization ensures older sausage gets used before newest batches. This prevents waste.
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Label everything – Include contents, amount, and freeze date. This lets you monitor times and use within recommended windows.
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Avoid temperature fluctuations – Try to maintain a stable freezer temp. The more the temp varies, the faster quality suffers.
Following these simple steps helps sausage stay fresher longer when stored in the freezer.
Freezer Storage Times for Sausage
The freezer keeps sausage safe for extended periods by stopping bacteria growth. However, the quality does decline over time, which is why recommended freezer times are important. Here are general guidelines:
Raw Fresh Sausage
- Links, ground, chops: 1-2 months
- For best results, use within 2 weeks frozen for grilling
Raw Smoked Sausage
- Links, kielbasa: 2-3 months
- Larger smoked sausages: up to 6 months
Fully Cooked Sausage
- Links, patties, crumbles: 2-3 months
- Larger cooked sausages, brats: 3-4 months
Adhering to these freezer times ensures you enjoy sausage at optimal freshness and flavor.
Signs Sausage Has Gone Bad in the Freezer
With prolonged freezing, sausage can eventually go bad. Here’s what to look out for:
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Discoloration – Gray, brownish, or greenish hues indicate spoiled sausage. Watch for color changes in the meat itself or icy crystallization.
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Dry or slimy texture – Sliminess, stickiness, or dry, cracked sausage are red flags. Good sausage should have a firm, moist appearance when thawed.
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Off or sour odors – If you smell anything unpleasant when the sausage is thawed or cooked, it should not be consumed.
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Mold growth – Any mold, even just spots, means sausage has gone bad and should be discarded immediately.
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Ice crystals or freezer burn – While not dangerous itself, excessive ice and freezer burn shows temperature issues have impacted quality.
Trust your senses. If sausage looks, smells or feels off, err on the side of caution and throw it away. Safety comes first.
Thawing Frozen Sausage Safely
Once frozen sausage reaches its recommended usage time, it’s important to thaw it properly before cooking. Here are some safe methods:
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Refrigerator thawing – For most even thawing, let sausage thaw in the fridge overnight or up to 2 days. Keep it contained to prevent drips.
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Cold water method – Faster than fridge thawing, use airtight packaging and submerge in cold water, changing water every 30 minutes until thawed.
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Microwave thawing – Quick but can lead to uneven cooking. Use the defrost setting in short bursts, flipping and checking often.
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As part of cooking – Sausage links, patties, and crumbles can thaw right in the skillet or on the grill as they cook. Just allow extra cooking time.
Avoid thawing sausage on the counter at room temperature. Refrigeration and freezing prevent bacterial growth, but leaving sausage thawed too long allows bacteria to multiply rapidly.
Cooking and Reheating Frozen Sausage Safely
Once thawed, sausage needs thorough cooking to eliminate bacteria that can cause foodborne illness:
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Cook to proper internal temperature – Use a food thermometer to check that sausage reaches 160°F.
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Follow safe handling tips – Wash hands, prep areas, and utensils that contact raw sausage to avoid cross-contamination.
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Cook within 1-2 days – For food safety, sausage thawed in the refrigerator should be cooked within 1-2 days.
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Reheat fully – Cooked sausage reheated fully to 165°F until hot is safe for leftovers stored properly in the fridge 3-4 days or months in the freezer.
With these safe freezing, thawing, and cooking practices, you can feel confident your sausage stays fresh and safe for delicious meals.
The Benefits of Freezing Sausage
While no one wants to think about sausage going bad, freezing offers many perks:
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Preserve your budget – Buying sausage on sale and freezing saves money long-term. No more last minute purchases at full-price!
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Enjoy seasonal selections year-round – Love turkey sausage at Thanksgiving? Stock up and freeze so you can enjoy it anytime.
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Reduce waste – Freeze leftovers or sausage bought in bulk portions to prevent throwing away unused meat.
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Always have backups available – Your freezer stash gives you quick breakfast or dinner options without running to the store.
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Meal prep made easy – Pre-frozen sausage links, patties, or kielbasa are easy to grab from the freezer for weeknight meals.
Embrace freezing to get the most out of your sausage favorites!
Frequently Asked Questions About Freezing Sausage
To wrap up, here are answers to some common questions about sausage and the freezer:
Can you freeze sausage in original store packaging?
It’s better to repackage sausage for the freezer to prevent freezer burn. Use airtight materials like freezer bags or vacuum seal.
How long is thawed sausage good for in the fridge?
Raw sausage thawed in the fridge is good for 1-2 days. Cooked thawed sausage lasts 3-4 days refrigerated.
Is it safe to refreeze sausage after thawing?
Refreezing raw sausage that is still cold and was thawed safely in the fridge is ok, but quality may decline slightly. However, do not refreeze cooked sausage once thawed.
Can you skip defrosting and just cook frozen sausage?
Yes, it’s safe to cook sausage frozen. Just allow 50% longer cooking time. Defrosting first helps sausage cook more evenly though.
What happens if you freeze sausage too long?
Beyond recommended timeframes, sausage tends to get dry in texture and lose flavor. But if kept frozen continuously, it’s still safe to eat. Discard if odor, color, or slime appears.
Equipped with the info above, you can freeze sausage confidently and become a master of sausage safety! Satisfy all your sausage cravings while reducing waste and always having your favorites on hand. Here’s to freezing for delicious and wholesome sausage enjoyment!
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Hard or Dry Sausage
When unopened, you can indefinitely store sausages like salami and pepperoni in the fridge. You can keep them for six weeks at room temperature, such as in your pantry. Once opened, they will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
How to Tell if Your Sausages Have Gone Bad
If you’ve forgotten the time, the power went out, or you’re not sure if the sausage is still good to eat, look for these signs:
- Strong or unpleasant smell: If your sausage smells strong or unpleasant, it’s already gone bad. If the smell of your sausage is fishy, sour, or acidic, you should probably throw it away. When sausage is bad, it often smells like rotten eggs, so throw it away even if you bought it already cooked.
- As the sausages age, their color may change. If you see a gray or greenish tint, this is usually a sign. You should throw away cooked sausage that turns brown.
- Shape and feel changes: If your sausage gets slimy and loses its color and firmness, it’s probably no longer safe to eat.
- Mold: If your sausages have mold or any other sign of bacterial growth, you should throw them away.
- Loss of moisture: When cooked sausage starts to crack or dry out, it means it’s losing its water. You should throw it away because it’s not fresh enough to eat anymore.