How long does andouille sausage last? This sausage contains pork and is usually smoked, originated in France.
Other Sausages may contain minced meat while andouille sausage contains chopped or sliced meat.
Initially, Andouille Sausage was made by mixing up onions, seasonings, sliced strips of pig’s stomach and intestine, and then poaching.
In this post, you’ll know the ultimate shelf life and wonderful storage tips of this sausage
Ranging from how long does andouille sausage last in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature? how to tell if it is bad and how to store it to make it last longer.
Read carefully and do not skip a line!
So, how long does andouille sausage last in the fridge?
Cooked andouille sausages can last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Pre-cooked sausages will need to be cooked or grilled before eating.
So until you are ready to consume, pop it in the refrigerator for as long as 2 weeks unopened or 1 week if opened.
It will stay fresh till when is ready to consume.
Smoked store-bought Sausages can be eaten immediately from the pack.
Even smoked sausages will last 3 to 4 days in the fridge but if you seal them in vacuum bags, they can last for as long as 6 days in the fridge of temperature 38.70F.
Their shelf life will depend on how well you store them and how well you smoked them.
If sausages are not cured with salt, make sure they are refrigerated for 2 hours of cooling.
Dry smoked sausages that are unopened can last 6 weeks to 1 year at room temperature or in the pantry.
If you decide to leave at room temperature, ensure there is no dent or opening on the package.
How Long Does Andouille Sausage Last In The Freezer?
Uncooked andouille sausage will last 1 to 2 months in the freezer, before going bad if you store it properly in the right conditions necessary in the freezer.
To maximize the shell life leave it unopened until you are ready to use it,
To even extend the shelf life for better long-term storage, store it in the freezer before the refrigeration days elapse.
You can re-wrap the sausage with a freezer bag and place it inside a tight container.
Frozen sausages will last longer than 1 to 2 months and will keep indefinitely if the temperature is at 0⁰F constantly.
Frozen sausages can be thawed in the refrigerator or defrosted in the microwave.
If thawed in the refrigerator, it can still keep for 1-2 days, but if thawed in the microwave,
It should be cooked and consumed immediately.
It is better to freeze cooked sausages instead of raw because quality, taste, and flavor will decline over time,
So cooking a declined-in-quality sausage will not taste the same as when it is cooked fresh.
In as much as sausage can store indefinitely in a freezer,
You must consider that there may be a point or the other when the temperature of the freezer has failed to remain at 0⁰F
Especially if there is lots of water content.
To maximize the shelf life, store in an airtight container, use glass or plastic containers, or vacuum-sealed bags.
The drier your sausage, the easier it will be to freeze it.
To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator because it is the best option.
Other options are cold water and microwave.
When thawing, ensure that no part is at a temperature where bacteria can thrive.
Using cold water will require you to change it every 30 minutes.
How Long Does Smoked Andouille Sausage Last?
Andouille sausage can last for 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 6 days if vacuum-sealed in the fridge with a stable temperature. It can be frozen for 3 months.
If dried it can stay longer because the water is reduced and preservative is present (salt).
Smoked Sausage is preserved due to the smoking process, it also gives additional flavor.
Sometimes smoked sausage requires further cooking if it is cold-smoked while hot-smoked can be eaten immediately.
Cold smoked sausages have not been subjected to high enough heat and temperature.
If it has been cured, you don’t need to re-cook it again.
Sausages will last for a long time if it has been cured with salt.
Hot smoked sausages will have to be at 1400F to 1500F before it is considered safe to eat.
When you purchase store-bought sausages, check for instructions like ‘cook before eating’ to know,
If in doubt you can use a food thermometer and check if the internal temperature is 1650F.
If you grill, grill on the hot zone for 6-12mins, and bake for 20-25 mins.
Keeping in the fridge will prevent bacterial growth.
How To Tell If Andouille Sausage Is Bad?
Yes, andouille sausages go bad after a while and if not stored properly.
Signs of spoilage are a hint of grey color and a slimy surface.
Furthermore, a foul smell or soured aroma insinuates that smoked sausage is bad.
Fresh sausages are meant to be soft, firm, dry on touch, and alluring in color,
It is usually pink when raw but when subjected to heat, the color dims.
However, it shouldn’t be gray except it is getting spoilt.
To prevent the risk of spoilage,
Cook sausage until it has reached an internal temperature of 1600F or slice it open to check the color and texture.
If fully cooked, it would not be brightly pink colored anymore and it will be firm.
You can also work with the date on the package, although many a time,
It is just the estimate of the manufacturer, and the life span may exceed the date, especially if handled and stored properly.
Eating bad smoked sausages will lead to food poisoning, so be careful.
You don’t want to end up hospitalized after having a supposed ‘healthy’ meal.
Taste, smell, and touch are not really the best way,
This is because some bacteria may be well hidden,
But with bad smell and taste becoming off, that means it cannot be remedied, it should be discarded.
Cooked sausage will last longer than fresh/raw sausages before perishing.
Sausage may still be bright pink even after cooking because of the curing process
Even if it dims as it cooks, it should not turn grey. Grey is a sign of spoilage.
How Long Is Cooked Andouille Sausage Good For?
If refrigerated properly in airtight containers or plastic wrap, it will last for 3 to 4 days and even beyond with a maximum of 1 week.
They must be refrigerated or frozen to preserve except if they are cured and dried,
Only then they can be left at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
In the freezer, it can last for as long as 2 to 3 months and even more if constantly left at 0F.
But 2-3 months is considered safest.
Note that if left in the fridge for too long, it may even spoil in there,
If left out in the freezer exceeding recommendations,
It may have freezer burn, and if left at room temperature beyond 2 hours, bacteria may grow on it.
The temperature for sausage must be 400F and less.
Recommendation:
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Can You Eat Summer Sausage After Expiring Date?
The answer is yes. So long the package is not damaged and it has been properly stored, it can very well be eaten after the expiring date.
Unopened, it can last 6 weeks in, a cool, dry place, if refrigerated, it will last 6 months.
Once opened, it should be consumed within 3 weeks.
To further extend the shelf life, freeze it whether opened or unopened.
Summer sausage is made up of beef, pork, or any kind of meat.
The package will specify which one is its components.
Summer sausage can stay at room temperature. When smoked, dried, and cured.
Due to the fermentation process, it can stay longer than other sausages.
The pantry is an acceptable area for stay summer sausage.
If you intend to keep it for a while, the freezer is the best option,
In the freezer, it will last up to 10 months, especially if properly wrapped first in aluminum foil.
It can be kept indefinitely provided it is maintained constantly at 0F.
However, quality may begin to degrade after 10 months.
When ready to serve, thaw or defrost completely and consume entirely.
Do not refreeze.
Is Sausage Bad If It Turns Grey?
When it is raw, it may not necessarily mean it has gone bad because fresh meat will begin to brown or grey when it is exposed to air and if the blood is dried up.
Once the borderline of storage has been crossed, and you are in doubt, throw it out.
Discoloration on it own its own is not really a problem except if it is combined with an off smell, sour taste, or slimy texture.
Turning to grey is just a reaction of oxygen and the meat.
It will still take place if inside the freezer, only more slowly.
Rather than worrying over grey colors, worry over bacteria and how long it was left in the open,
And if it is contaminated or not.
Recommendation:
How Long Is Jimmy Dean Sausage Good For After Expiration?
Jimmy Dean sausages can be consumed after the date of expiration has passed provided no signs of spoilage are seen.
This brand is popular and renowned because of its high quality.
There are expiration dates on the package but it won’t go bad right away, they may begin to decline.
Colour change, the appearance of mold, off smell, slimy or sticky texture,
And the funky taste is a sign that Jimmy Dean Sausage has gone bad and should not be consumed.
In the absence of these, even when the printed date has passed, it can be used.
Though, the manufacturers are not to blame supposing you develop food poisoning
This is because the date has passed, but it is highly unlikely.
Uncooked jimmy dean sausage has a shorter life span.
It should be refrigerated where it will last for 2 days regardless if it has been opened or not.
Always follow instructions on the package to ensure good health.
What Does Bad Sausage Taste Like?
It will taste sour, funky, and off. It will not be appealing at all to consumers, the smell will discourage you,
And the texture will be too slimy to handle or too hard to touch – which is not fun.
Discoloration and the appearance of color patches will make you lose appetite.
Bad sausage will taste as unappealing as it appears and smells.
How To Preserve Andouille Sausage?
Refrigerate in the original packets until you are ready to use.
Once opened, seal in a zipper bag or airtight container and refrigerate for 1 – 4 days.
To freeze, wrap in a freezer bag or airtight containers and freeze for as long as 1 – 2 months.
Freeze in the deepest part of the freezer where the temperature is coldest.
Freezing or refrigerating in the donor area is where the temperature fluctuates and it cannot be trusted.
After cooking, you can refreeze the sausage but only if it is within 2 hours.
You can freeze raw sausage but it will be at peak quality for 2 months while cooking fresh sausage and freezing will keep it at its best for 3 months.
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Conclusion.
Now, Andouille Sausage is made from pig’s upper shoulder known as pork, mixed in with spicy condiments, and smoked.
This gives Andouille Sausage a sharp, spicy, smoky flavors and taste.
Though the ratio of each flavor may vary in different recipes, some may be spicier or smokier.
For all sausage lovers who love to snack between meals, snack for breakfast or desserts,
This article comes in handy whenever in doubt about your favorite – sausages!
Ranging from shelf life to different methods of preparation and preservation,
To signs of spoilage to look out for on how long does andouille sausage last.
This article ensures you enjoy sausages without having to risk food contamination or food poisoning.
It also highlights the best brands to get the best andouille sausage from. Go get this refilling snack and enjoy!