Humble snags are an essential ingredient to any successful barbecue. They’re also versatile for an easy mid-week meal, such as sausage and spinach pasta or even curried sausages. But as with any meat, it’s important to know how long sausages last in the fridge so you can cook and eat them while they’re still good.
As a basic guide, cooked sausages can last up to three to four days in the refrigerator, or up to two to three months in the freezer. But safe storage can depend on the type of sausage, whether it’s raw, cooked or treated and when you bought it. So, here’s what you need to know for different types of sausage.
How long does sausage last in the fridge when it’s raw?
Raw sausage in your fridge should be cooked and eaten within one to two days of when you buy it. If it’s pre-packaged and sealed, you could also check for a use-by date as a guide.
If you’re not going to use raw sausage within that timeframe, you can also freeze it for one to two months, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
What are the different kinds of sausage?
Though sausages are commonly associated with European cuisine – think wursts from Germany, kielbasa from Poland, and salami from Italy – they’re also found in many other cuisines around the world. In South Africa, they have boerewors, which are spiced with coriander leaves and cloves. In Japan, they have kamaboko or fish sausage. And in the Philippines, they have a sweet and garlicky longganisa.
But even though there are plenty of different sausages around the world, they all fall under four main categories: fresh, smoked, cured, and cooked.
Fresh sausages
Breakfast sausage links, barbecue sausages, loukanika, and sausage patties are your basic unsmoked, uncooked sausages. You’ll often find these packed in plastic in the refrigerated section of the supermarket, as well as at butcheries. These types of sausages must be boiled, grilled, or cooked in a pan before consumption.
Smoked sausages
Smoked sausages like kielbasa, saveloy, and andouille are slow-cooked in a smokehouse and can be eaten straight from the pack.
Cured sausages
Cured sausages like salami and chorizo are salted and fermented, and usually don’t need to be cooked. These dry, hard sausages can also be stored in the pantry with no refrigeration.
Cooked sausages
Cooked sausages like bratwurst, blood sausage, hotdogs, and frankfurters are pre-cooked then frozen. Though they’re pre-cooked, we still recommend either grilling or boiling these snags before serving.
How long does cooked sausage last in the fridge?
According to USDA, pre-cooked sausages last up to two weeks in the fridge if unopened and one week after opening. When stored in a freezer, pre-cooked sausage can last one to two months. Look out for a use-by date on the packaging too.
Leftover sausages can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days, and in the freezer for two to three months. When you’re ready to use frozen sausages, just place them in a bowl or plate on the lowest shelf in your fridge and wait for them to thaw out. Fully thawed sausages will be soft and easy to pull apart.
How can you tell if a sausage has gone bad?
There are three things to watch out for when checking if a sausage has gone bad. First, a funky acidic aroma. Second, an odd texture – either too slippery or too hard. And third, a change in colour – if a sausage looks greyish or has grown brown, green, or black spots, get rid of it right away!
What can you do with leftover sausage?
If you have any leftover sausage that you don’t want to go to waste, here are four ways you can cook the leftover sausage.
1. Easy step-by-step fried rice
Fried rice is an easy-to-cook and comforting meal that can be made entirely out of leftover rice, mixed veggies, and sausages. If you have any leftover Chinese sausage, try whipping up this easy Chinese-style fried rice.
2. Italian beef sausage macaroni
While there are many ways to incorporate leftover sausage into pasta or stew, we love this hearty Italian beef sausage macaroni recipe.
3. Sausage and red capsicum frittata
A frittata is a dish similar to an open-faced omelette. You can put pretty much whatever ingredient you want in a frittata, from veggies like potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and spinach, to meats like chicken, beef, and sausages. Try this sausage and capsicum frittata recipe.
4. Roast chicken sausages and capsicum tray bake
If you’ve got any leftover chicken sausages, put together this tasty recipe of roast chicken snags, capsicum, cherry tomatoes, oregano, balsamic vinegar, and onions.
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