Is Harry & David Summer Sausage Cooked? A Detailed Look

Summer sausage from Harry & David is a popular gift item, especially around the holidays. But one question that often comes up is – is their summer sausage already cooked or does it need additional cooking? In this article, we’ll take a close look at Harry & David’s summer sausage and examine if it requires any further cooking

An Overview of Harry & David Summer Sausage

Harry & David offers several types of summer sausage, including hickory smoked summer sausage, Thuringer sausage, and dry cured sausage like Busseto salami. These sausages come vacuum sealed in gift boxes and baskets along with various cheeses, crackers, mustards and other accompaniments.

The summer sausages from Harry & David are shelf-stable and do not require refrigeration. They contain preservatives such as sodium nitrite to prevent bacterial growth. The low moisture content and curing process also helps the sausages stay fresh at room temperature.

Is Harry & David Summer Sausage Fully Cooked?

The short answer is – yes, the Harry & David summer sausages are fully cooked when you receive them. Here are some key points

• Hickory Smoked Summer Sausage – This is smoked and slowly cooked to an internal temperature of 152°F. So it is safe to eat right out of the package without any additional cooking.

• Thuringer Sausage – This sausage also undergoes thorough cooking during processing. It contains cured meat that is smoked at high temperatures to fully cook it.

• Dry cured sausages like salami – These are fermented and air dried which essentially cooks the sausage. The fermentation process kills any harmful bacteria.

Tips for Enjoying Harry & David Summer Sausage

Here are some tips to get the most out of Harry & David’s pre-cooked summer sausages:

• Check for freezer burn – Inspect the sausages to ensure there is no freezer burn or ‘off’ smells before eating.

• Slice thinly – Use a sharp knife to slice the sausage thinly across the grain. This enhances the texture and flavor.

• Pair with cheese and crackers – Enjoy the summer sausage with cheese, mustard and crackers just as it comes in the gift boxes.

• Add to snacks – Dice up the summer sausage to add to snacks like cheese boards, dips, bruchetta etc.

• Cook for extra flavor – You can absolutely cook the sausage a bit more to warm it up and intensify the smoky flavors.

Safety Tips for Harry & David Summer Sausage

While the summer sausages from Harry & David are pre-cooked and safe to eat as is, you do need to follow some basic food safety practices:

• Do not leave the sausage out at room temperature for over 2 hours.
• Once opened, store the leftover sausage in the refrigerator and consume within 1 week.
• Do not re-freeze the sausage after thawing.
• Look for any signs of spoilage like mold, sliminess or off-smells.
• Discard sausage past the use by date printed on the packaging.

As long as you follow basic food handling best practices, the ready-to-eat summer sausages from Harry & David make for a delicious anytime snack!

Cooking Your Own Summer Sausage

While Harry & David’s summer sausages come fully cooked, you can also try making your own from scratch. Here are some quick tips:

• Choose pork, beef, venison or other meat. Get it freshly ground.
• Mix with spices and curing salt. Traditional spices include garlic, pepper, coriander, mustard seed etc.
• Stuff the mixture tightly into casings to form sausages.
• Hang the sausages to ferment and cure for 1-3 days in the refrigerator.
• Cold smoke the sausages at around 90°F for best flavor.
• Finally, cook to an internal temp of 152°F.

Homemade summer sausage takes some effort but is very rewarding. You can customize the meats, spices and smoking process to suit your taste.

Enjoy the Convenience of Harry & David Summer Sausages

Summer sausage from Harry & David offers the flavor of cured meats without the hassle of preparing it yourself. Their hickory smoked and dry cured sausages are ready to eat right out of the gift box. Just slice, pair with cheeses and other accompaniments, and enjoy the delicious convenience. Follow basic storage and food safety guidelines, and the pre-cooked sausage stays fresh for use within a week or two. So go ahead and treat yourself or gift it to a loved one.