Does Hickory Farms Summer Sausage Need to be Refrigerated? The Complete Guide

Summer sausage is a popular snack and gift item, especially around the holidays Hickory Farms is a leading provider of summer sausage, with their beef summer sausage being one of their all-time bestsellers But an important question for both sellers and consumers of Hickory Farms summer sausage is – does it need to be refrigerated?

In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about properly storing Hickory Farms summer sausage, including:

• What is summer sausage?
• Does summer sausage need to be refrigerated?
• How to tell if summer sausage has gone bad
• Tips for maximizing summer sausage shelf life
• How Hickory Farms ensures freshness

Let’s start with understanding exactly what summer sausage is and how it’s made.

What is Summer Sausage?

Summer sausage is a cured, fermented sausage that originated as a way to preserve meat before refrigeration It’s called “summer sausage” because it was made to last through the summer without spoiling

To make summer sausage ground meat (usually beef sometimes pork or other meats) is mixed with salt, spices, and curing agents like sodium nitrite. The salty, spicy flavor of the spices helps preserve the meat. The meat mixture is stuffed into a casing, then slowly fermented and air dried.

This process results in a shelf-stable sausage that can be kept at room temperature. The fermentation by lactic acid bacteria and the drying process prevent bacteria growth. Summer sausage has a tangy, spicy flavor and a firm texture.

Popular varieties like Hickory Farms summer sausage often contain beef and pork mixed together. They may also have additional flavorings like cheese, wine, peppers, or nuts added.

Now that we know what summer sausage is, let’s look at whether it needs to be refrigerated for food safety and quality.

Does Summer Sausage Need Refrigeration?

With proper curing and drying, summer sausage can be shelf-stable at room temperature. However, refrigeration is still recommended for best quality and food safety, especially for commercial summer sausages like Hickory Farms.

Here are some key factors to consider:

• Ingredients: Summer sausages with added high-risk ingredients like cheese, wine, or nuts should always be refrigerated. The additional ingredients make the sausage more perishable.

• Curing: If the sausage is improperly or under-cured, it may not be shelf-stable and will require refrigeration.

• Packaging: If the packaging seal is broken or damaged, refrigeration is needed to prevent contamination.

• Duration: Even shelf-stable summer sausage will eventually lose quality. Refrigeration prolongs its shelf life.

The USDA recommends refrigerating commercial summer sausages, like those from Hickory Farms, for quality and food safety.

So while summer sausage can technically be shelf-stable, refrigeration is highly recommended, especially for pre-packaged summer sausages purchased from a retailer.

How to Tell If Summer Sausage Has Gone Bad

If you’re wondering whether an opened package of Hickory Farms summer sausage is still safe to eat, here are some signs that it has spoiled and should be discarded:

• Sliminess: A slimy texture or sheen on the surface indicates bacteria growth.

• Mold: Look for fuzzy mold growing on the sausage. Any mold is a sign of spoilage.

• Off odors: Smell the sausage. Rancid, sour, or ammonia-like odors indicate spoilage.

• Change in color: Greenish, grayish, or brownish discoloration is a sign of contamination.

• Soft texture: The sausage should be firm. A rubbery or mushy texture means spoilage.

Trust your senses – if the summer sausage smells bad, looks odd, or feels slimy or mushy, it’s best to play it safe and throw it out.

Tips for Maximizing Hickory Farms Summer Sausage Shelf Life

To get the most out of your Hickory Farms summer sausage, follow these tips:

• Refrigerate after opening: Keep opened packages of summer sausage sealed in the refrigerator at 40°F or below. Use within 1-2 weeks for best quality.

• Watch for expiration dates: Look for a “use by” or “sell by” date on the packaging and be sure to consume before that date.

• Seal tightly: After each use, rewrap the summer sausage tightly in plastic wrap or return it to its original packaging to prevent drying out.

• Limit light exposure: Store summer sausage in the darkest part of the refrigerator. Light can accelerate quality deterioration.

• Practice first in, first out: Rotate your stock and use the oldest packages first to avoid waste.

Following the manufacturer’s storage guidelines and these refrigeration tips will help your Hickory Farms summer sausage stay fresh and delicious for longer!

How Hickory Farms Ensures Summer Sausage Freshness

As a leading provider of summer sausages for over 65 years, Hickory Farms utilizes high standards and special processes to guarantee their summer sausage arrives fresh and delicious. Here is how they ensure quality:

• Carefully sourced ingredients: Hickory Farms uses only high-quality American beef and pork, and natural spices in their summer sausage.

• Proper curing and drying: Their summer sausage is carefully fermented and dried to achieve the right tangy flavor and firm, sliceable texture.

• Minimal handling: After curing, the sausages are sliced then immediately vacuum-packed to seal in freshness.

• Fast shipping: They use expedited cold-pack shipping so summer sausages arrive cold and ready to enjoy.

• Quality packaging: Hickory Farms summer sausages are sealed in food-safe materials to prevent contamination or drying out.

• Freshness guarantee: If you’re ever unsatisfied with the freshness of their summer sausage, Hickory Farms will replace it.

By controlling ingredients, process, and shipping meticulously, Hickory Farms provides a reliably fresh and tasty summer sausage you’ll love.

The Bottom Line

While properly cured summer sausage can technically be shelf-stable, for best quality and safety, Hickory Farms recommends keeping their ready-to-eat summer sausages refrigerated.

Follow the storage guidance on the packaging, refrigerate after opening, watch expiration dates, and monitor the sausage for any signs of spoilage. Proper refrigeration is the best way to extend the shelf life of pre-packaged summer sausages like those from Hickory Farms.

With decades of experience, Hickory Farms uses high-standards to produce summer sausages that stay fresh. But refrigeration is still the key to enjoying their signature summer sausages at peak quality and safety once you receive them.

So savor delicious Hickory Farms summer sausage – just be sure to keep it refrigerated for the best results! Follow these storage tips, and their premium summer sausage will stay your go-to snack for summer after summer.