How Long Can You Safely Leave a Sausage Roll Out?

Sausage rolls are a beloved snack in many parts of the world Who doesn’t love that perfect combination of seasoned sausage meat wrapped up in flaky, golden pastry? They make for a tasty and convenient on-the-go meal But with any perishable food, you have to be careful about leaving them out unrefrigerated for too long. So how long can you safely leave a sausage roll out before it becomes unsafe to eat?

What is a Sausage Roll?

For those unfamiliar, a sausage roll is a type of savory pastry. It consists of a sausage meat filling that is wrapped in puff pastry or shortcrust pastry and then baked. The sausage meat is made from seasoned minced pork or other meats mixed with fat, breadcrumbs, and other binders and flavorings.

Traditional sausage roll fillings are quite high in fat and moisture, with a water activity level that could potentially support pathogenic bacteria growth when left at room temperature. The cooked sausage meat is wrapped entirely in the pastry casing before baking.

How Long Can Sausage Rolls Safely Sit Out?

Like most perishable foods, sausage rolls are best kept refrigerated. But for how long can they be left out before they become unsafe?

General Food Safety Guidelines

There are some general food safety guidelines regarding leaving cooked foods out at room temperature

• Perishable foods like sausage rolls should not be left out beyond 2 hours at room temperature.
• Bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes.
• After 4 hours between 5°C and 60°C, bacteria levels can reach dangerous levels.

So by these common food safety standards, sausage rolls should definitely not be left out for more than 2 hours, and absolutely no more than 4 hours maximum.

Sausage Roll Safety Time Limit Laws

However, regulations and laws can vary by region regarding time limits for specific foods.

For example, in the UK, food regulations allow certain exemptions from chilled storage requirements for some products, including sausage rolls:

• Sausage rolls can be kept out for up to 24 hours after production if they will be sold and eaten on the same or next day.
• This requires temperature control systems to ensure the 24 hour limit is not exceeded.

So according to these UK regulations, sausage rolls can safely sit out for 24 hours as long as they are properly monitored and sold within that timeframe.

Does This Timeframe Seem Safe?

While the regulations may allow 24 hours, many food safety experts still question whether there is adequate scientific basis for allowing sausage rolls to sit unrefrigerated for this length of time.

Given the high risk nature of the cooked sausage meat filling, leaving the sausage rolls out at room temperature for extended periods creates risk of pathogenic bacteria growth. Analysts point out that the pastry does not provide an adequate barrier against contamination and growth.

So while 24 hours may be within legal limits, many argue that sausage rolls are still best kept refrigerated or heated until serving time for ideal safety.

Sausage Roll Safety Tips

To enjoy sausage rolls as safely as possible:

• Purchase sausage rolls that are kept refrigerated at the store.
• Transport them in an insulated cooler bag on the trip home.
• Refrigerate sausage rolls immediately at home until you are ready to serve them.
• Reheat sausage rolls thoroughly to 165°F or 74°C before eating.
• Do not leave them sitting out for more than 2 hours; 1 hour is safer.
• When reheating, check the internal temperature with a food thermometer.
• Discard any leftover sausage rolls after 2 hours.
• Do not purchase sausage rolls that are displayed unrefrigerated at room temperature.

The Bottom Line

Sausage rolls are best enjoyed freshly baked or freshly reheated. Limit room temperature storage to no more than 1-2 hours, and refrigerate or reheat leftovers within this timeframe. For maximum safety and quality, refrigerate sausage rolls until ready to reheat and serve.

It’s always better to err on the side of caution when dealing with cooked meat products like sausage rolls. Following proper food safety practices will help prevent the risk of foodborne illnesses. Keeping foods out of the temperature danger zone as much as possible should always be the goal when handling perishable items like sausage rolls.