Food Hygiene and Safety

Can You Freeze Sausages

Ricky Kambray
Ricky Kambray

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Sausages are one kind of meat product that is typically made from pork, beef, or poultry. They can be made from other ingredients, such as lamb, venison, or even vegetarian sources. Great! You have many varieties to enjoy. Every day, 2,700 sausages are eaten in the UK. As you can see, buying extra sausages is a very regular occurrence for the British. 

Many people are interested in knowing about freezing sausages. Even One of my friends, Jenny from Bedford, asked me, “Can you freeze sausages?” It is the most commonly asked question. You can freeze sausages and it is the best way to store them for a long time.

To find out about whether you can freeze sausages, food hygiene rules, and other important issues, read this blog.

Smoked sausages in vacuum packaging with mixed herbs and spices

Food Hygiene Rules for Freezing Sausages

When freezing sausages, it is essential to adhere to food hygiene rules to ensure that the sausages remain safe to eat. Sausage can be a source of food poisoning if it’s not handled or cooked properly, so it’s crucial to observe these rules:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the sausages.
  • Wrap each sausage individually or in small groups, and then place them in the freezer.
  • It should be tightly wrapped in cling film or put in a freezer bag.
  • The date the sausage was frozen should be on the label.
  • Before freezing, clean the refrigerator and wipe up spills immediately.
  • Check leftovers regularly for spoilage and store refrigerated foods in closed containers or sealed storage bags.
  • The FDA suggests keeping the refrigerator temperature at 40° F (4° C) or below. The freezer temperature must be kept at 0° F (-18° C). Constantly check the temperature using an appliance thermometer. It is the most accurate way to know temperatures and is generally inexpensive.

The above guidelines are pretty simple to follow; perhaps you will do so and take pleasure in your favourite sausage.

Can You Freeze Sausages?

You might be wondering whether you can freeze sausages. The answer is yes! Sausages can be frozen and enjoyed at a later date. In fact, freezing is one of the best ways to preserve sausage.

There are a few things to keep in mind when freezing sausages. 

  1. Use a knife to chop into small pieces or suitable portions as per your regular usage.
  2. Ensure that the sausages are properly wrapped or sealed before freezing them. It prevents freezer burn and keeps the sausages fresh.
  3. Be careful while wrapping the sausages. Brown paper or aluminium foil is great for protecting the item’s outer layers from frost.
  4. It can be frozen using an air-tight container or box.
  5. Place them simply in a freezer-safe bag or container.
  6. To remember when they were frozen, label the container with the date and time.
  7. For the best quality, use frozen sausages within 3–4 months of freezing. But if you properly store them, they can last up to 6 months.

So go ahead and stock up on your preferred sausages. With proper freezing, you can enjoy them anytime!

Simply place them in the refrigerator overnight to defrost so that you always have fresh cold cuts on hand. You can defrost food in the microwave as well.

Cook right away after thawing.

Assorted raw sausages in a steel kitchen tray with herbs

Can You Freeze Raw Sausages?

You can freeze raw sausages at any time. Freezing uncooked sausage is a great technique to keep it fresher for longer.

The following points work well for freezing raw sausages:

  1. Raw sausage should be kept in a freezer bag or container.
  2. Remove air as much as you can.
  3. Keep track of the freezing time and date.
  4. Place it tightly packed in the freezer for up to six months.

So there you have it! It may be cooked whenever you want to eat it by just taking it out of the refrigerator.

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Can You Freeze Cooked Sausage?

You can freeze cooked sausages, preserve them and prevent food waste. You can reuse the leftover sausages for another dish next time. Before that, learn some common storage tips for your cooked platter.

  • Always cook sausages thoroughly while freezing. 
  • The best strategy for freezing sausages is to err on the side of caution.
  • It is best to avoid freezing a sausage if you are unsure about whether it can be done.
  • Completely cool them before placing them in layers in an airtight container or freezer bag.
  • You may use a plastic tub, or a zip-lock bag or wrap them in cling film or tin foil.
  • Write the freezing date on the container.

Grilled sausage with tomatoes and basil are placed in a wooden tray

Can You Freeze Smoked Sausages?

Typically, smoked sausages are made with cured meats, which means they have already been cooked to some degree. If you have smoked sausages that you need to store for later, you may be wondering if it is possible to freeze them.

But there are a few things to keep in mind.

  • Be sure to wrap them tightly in freezer-safe wrapping. This will prevent them from drying out and also help preserve their flavour.
  • The frozen date should be written on the package, so you know how long it has been in the freezer.
  • Smoked sausages can be stored in the freezer for up to six months. After that, they might start to lose their flavour and texture.
  • When you are ready to use them, thaw the sausages in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

Following these tips, you can enjoy delicious smoked sausages anytime.

How Long Can You Freeze Sausages?

Sausages are a versatile food, and they can be frozen for later use. However, it is a valid question to ask, “How long can sausages be frozen?”

Look at the following factors before deciding how long you can store your sausages:

  • It’s best to vacuum seal them if you intend to freeze them for longer periods. For up to six months, this will help keep them fresh.
  • You can freeze sausages for up to one to three months. For the best quality, it is best to consume them within two months. 

If you can’t consume sausage within the time period advised for refrigerator storage, the USDA suggests freezing it. Foods kept continuously frozen are safe indefinitely, so it doesn’t matter if the date expires. The Sausage Storage Chart is advised to be used at the intervals listed below.

Sausage varietyRefrigerator-UnopenedRefrigerator-After OpeningFreezer
Fresh sausage, uncooked1-2 days unopened or opened1-2 days unopened or opened1-2 months
Fresh sausage, after cooking by the consumer(not applicable)3–4 days2-3 months
Hard/Dry Sausagewhole, 6 weeks in the pantry, indefinitely in the refrigerator.3 weeks1-2 months
Other cooked sausages and hot dogs2 weeks7 days1-2 months
Luncheon Meats2 weeks3-5 days1-2 months
Summer Sausage (Semi-dry)3 months3 weeks1-2 months

 

Is It Safe to Refreeze Sausages?

lightly grilled sausages are served with tomatoes, coriander leaves and ketchup

It is usually safe to refreeze sausages that were cooked properly and then immediately frozen. Refreezing food is an easy way to reduce food waste.

To guarantee the safety of frozen sausages, you must be aware of the following advice:

  • USDA recommends
    • Uncooked food can be safely frozen again after thawing in the fridge, but the quality may degrade owing to moisture loss. 
    • Food that has thawed in the refrigerator is safe to refreeze. 
    • After cooking raw foods that were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze them again. 
    • If it is already prepared, you can freeze the leftover food after it has thawed in the fridge. Keep any leftovers in the freezer for 3 to 4 days. 
    • Foods that have been left out of the fridge for more than two hours; one hour in temperatures above 90 °F. Do not freeze them again.
    • If handled properly, previously frozen fish, poultry, and meat can be refrozen.
  • When meat is thawed at room temperature or in the refrigerator, bacteria can begin to grow. If these bacteria are not killed by cooking, they can cause food poisoning. 
  • It is essential to ensure that thawed meat is cooked thoroughly before it is refrozen. If you have doubts about whether it is safe to refrigerate sausages, it is best to err on the side of caution and throw them out.

Conclusion

Sausages are typically seasoned with salt, pepper, and other spices and are then smoked, cooked, or dried. Anytime you combine it with other ingredients, it tastes too good. Hopefully, you now know the answer to the question “Can you freeze sausage?” and there won’t be any more issues. Simply buy sausages in bulk whenever you want.

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Ricky Kambray

Hey this is Ricky Kambray an award-winning first-aid trainer with over 20 years of healthcare and teaching expertise. Highly certified general nurse regularly appears in the press discussing accident prevention and first aid advice.