How can we tell if a sausage is spoiled and bad to eat? There are some warning signs you should know!
It is easy to buy sausages and forget about them entirely in your fridge, especially if you do not consume them daily. Sausages tend to go bad quickly, just like any other meat. Before consuming them, there are different ways you can know whether or not they are fit for consumption.
This article highlights five signs that will show whether your sausages are bad and much more. Kindly keep reading!
How to Tell if Sausage is Spoiled?
Different sausages will spoil differently, so you should check each to determine whether it is spoilt. You want to ensure that your family is safe and consuming the right thing. For this reason, it is essential to have a skill that can tell if the kind of sausage you have is okay.
The general rule to know whether a sausage is spoiled will be the smell. At least this is present in almost all. However, there are specifics that you can use depending on the type of sausage you have that you will know in this section. Read on!
Italian Sausage
Italian sausages are likely to last 2 to 3 days after purchase and refrigeration. A sell-by date in the package indicates the period they may expire. Well, after this date, they will still be fit for consumption as long as you store them well.
If you keep the package unopened, then be sure that they will serve you for quite some time without going bad. When left at a high room temperature, the sausages will spoil quickly. Such happens since bacteria grow so fast within them.
You can tell that the Italian sausages are bad by simply looking at them. Their smell will also guide you in determining whether or not they are spoiled. Typically, if they are spoilt, they will have a dull color, and on the inside, it will be pink, meaning it is has stayed for quite a long time.
Others will have a brown color or have patches here and there. Such indicates that the sausage is not fresh. The sausage may also be sour, and an excellent indication for this is a yellow-brown color around it.
Moreover, a sour Italian sausage will have a slimy coat. Some will have an unpleasant odor. Usually, you should not smell the meat in the sausage, so if you do, you better do away with it.
Chicken Sausage
Chicken sausages can last for about three days in the fridge, but of course, they will last longer in the freezer. If you place them in a container under room temperature, they will push to three days. After this period, you will start noticing the signs of spoilage, so be keen.
Your eyes, nose, and fingers will guide you into knowing whether your chicken sausage is spoiled. Most times, the unmistakable sign will be a change of color. In this case, if you notice that the chicken sausage is turning into gray color, then it’s time you dispose of it.
The sausages will also have a sour and foul odor. In others, you will even smell the chicken meat which means that it is dry therefore not consumable. If you touch the sausage, it will be pretty slippery, and of course, you cannot cook such.
Anytime you notice a change in color in the sausages, it’s time to dispose of them. Others will have patches of different colors, while some will change the color entirely to a different one. Ensure you pay close attention to the dates within which you should consume the chicken sausages.
Pork Sausages
Start by smelling the pork sausage to determine whether it is spoiled. Usually, pork sausages do not have a much strong smell, and if you cook them, the scent they produce is of the herbs used to make them. Otherwise, if they have some pungent odor, it’s a clear indication that they are not fit for consumption.
Another thing that should guide you is the kind of texture they have. Touch the sausage, and if you notice a slimy texture on its coating, it shows that it is spoiled. If you cook it, the slimy texture will still be there.
Usually, fresh sausages are firm and bouncy. They will also have one color all through them without any weird spots. If this is not the case, they are not good.
In other pork sausages, they will not have spots or changes in color, but they will have some discoloration around the edges. If you notice this, do not cook the sausage.
Other pork sausages will not have any of these signs. You will only notice that they are spoiled if you experience discomfort after eating them. For this reason, make it a habit to check the sell-by-date and their expiration date and store them properly.
Jimmy Dean Sausage
Even if the jimmy dean sausage package indicates the sell-by date, it is best to be on the lookout for things that will show the sausages are going bad. One way to tell it is not good is by change of its color to gray. Usually, any color change implies that the sausage’s quality is pretty low so, do not use it.
In this sausage also, you will notice some sour smell. It may not necessarily be harmful, and others will have a scent different from how they smell. The jimmy dean sausage will have the smell of the meat and herbs that make it different from this; throw it away.
These sausages typically feature a pretty unique flavor when eating. So once you notice it’s different, please do not go-ahead to eat it. Also, if you touch the sausage and it’s pretty slimy, it is spoiled, and this feeling persists even after cooking it.
Anytime you notice something is off with your sausage, you better believe it to avoid food poisoning. Also, do not blindly follow the best-by dates. Some will be spoiled even before this date, especially if you do not store them well.
5 Signs that Your Sausage is bad and Spoiled
If your sausages are fresh, they should have a pinkish color on the inside. Moreover, once you cook them, they will have an herbal taste. Typically, sausages create a space for nurturing bacterial growth.
When there is an accumulation of bacteria, and you consume them, you will most likely get sick. While it is okay to refrigerate the sausages, do it for just a few days, maybe two or three at most. They will most likely spoil if they go past this.
Various signs will guide you in determining whether your sausage is good for eating. Ensure your family is safe by checking out on the following:
1) A change in the smell
One of the easiest ways to help you know whether your sausages are spoiled is by smelling them. If you notice a foul or sweet-sour smell from them, then they are not good. The usual smell that they have is the meat that makes them.
In this case, they can have the pork or chicken smell and the smell of the herbs that make them. Also, when the meat is raw, its scent will not be so strong. A sour sausage will feature a pungent smell that can be pretty overwhelming.
2) The Texture and Look of the sausages
If your sausages are still fresh and consumable, they will be firm. If you poke them with a fork, they will be bouncy. Also, if you squeeze the meat of the sausage together, it will break apart.
Once you notice a slimy texture, the sausages are not good when you touch them. A color change often accompanies the slime feeling on the coating. Some will be stick which also indicates that they are spoiled. Such occurs due to the building up of bacteria.
3) There is a Change in Color
A spoiled sausage will have a color different from what it usually has. It will be pink when it is still raw, and its quality is intact. Others will have some reddish coating due to the reaction of oxygen with oxymyoglobin.
The inside of the sausage will be gray-brown since it does not react with oxygen. When it is still in such condition, you can eat it. However, when the exterior color changes to gray or brown in some, it indicates that the sausage is starting to spoil.
4) It has mold
Once you notice your sausage has mold around it, then it isn’t good. When mold starts growing on it, it will become fuzzy. Others will form a greyish-green color, and others will have a blue color, so discard it.
5) It is past the sell-by-date
Manufacturers are the primary regulators of the sell-by-date, not the government. Therefore, it is not wise to rely on it as much. However, by looking at these dates, you get a good idea of how long they will stay fresh.
The sell-by-date will show how the sausages will be up for sale. For most, you can refrigerate and eat them two days after purchasing them. On the other hand, the best before date will show you how long the sausages will maintain their quality and flavor.
If you store the sausages well, they can go beyond their best-before and sell-by dates without going bad. Keeping them in the freezer instead of the fridge will help ensure this. Even so, there may be invisible bacteria and pathogens that may go unnoticed.
How does Rotten Sausage look Like?
A rotten sausage will be soft and easily separate when you try to cut it out. Also, it will change color from the usual pink on the coating to grey or brown. It will also have patches of different colors around it to an extent it completely discolors.
If you look at the sausage, you will notice it is old and shrinking. Also, others will develop mold around them that may come in blue or grayish color. Do not consume your sausage if you notice it looks like this.
How long is Sausage Good for in the Fridge?
It is essential to keep your sausage in the refrigerator or freezer if you are not consuming it immediately. How long you keep it depends on whether it is raw or cooked. It will last in the refrigerator for about two or three days if it is fresh.
If it goes beyond this, then it will start spoiling. Storing the sausage in the freezer will last you long enough without going bad. It can last for four to six months if raw, but if it is not, it will last longer.
Cooked sausage will be fit for consumption for about four days if you store it in the refrigerator. It is also worth noting that they do not do well if you place them at room temperature. If you intend to remove them from the fridge, do that for only two hours.
The sausages will spoil if they sit at room temperature for more than two hours. They tend to develop bacteria and pathogens that will be harmful to your body if you consume them.
How long do Raw Sausages Last in the fridge?
Since raw sausages come in different forms, each has a specific period that will allow it to sit in the fridge without going bad. For instance, pork or turkey sausages will stay in the refrigerator of 40 F for at most two days. They will, however, last for about two months in the freezer.
If you have the hard and summer sausages and you open them, they will take you up to three weeks in the refrigerator and can last up to forever if unopened. The same will last for about one to two months in the freezer.
To ensure the sausages last you this long, however, it is essential to ensure that your fridge is clean. Also, you need to maintain proper temperature to store the sausages adequately. When the refrigerator is clean and functioning well, it prevents bacteria from spreading.
Final Words
Sausages are bound to spoil at some point, so this calls for you to be keen on any changes in how they look, smell, and feel. Do not consume the sausage if you notice anything unusual since it may cause food poisoning. Ensure you take proper precautions, such as storing them in the freezer instead of the refrigerator.
So, do you already know how to tell if your sausages are spoiled? Please, let us know in the comments below!
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