How Long Is Garlic Sausage Good For In The Fridge?

Garlic sausage is a delicious type of seasoned sausage that typically contains garlic as a main flavoring. It comes in many varieties, from fresh pork sausage mixes to fully cooked smoked links. Knowing how long garlic sausage lasts in the fridge can help prevent needlessly tossing out good food or eating spoiled sausage by accident.

Different Types of Garlic Sausage

There are a few main categories of garlic sausage to be aware of when it comes to storage time

• Fresh, uncooked sausage – This type includes raw ground pork sausage mixes and links. They contain fresh, uncooked meat.

• Fully cooked smoked sausage – These are ready-to-eat smoked sausages like kielbasa or smoked bratwurst.

• Pre-cooked sausage – These are sausages that have been cooked but not smoked or cured like breakfast sausage links.

• Dry/cured sausage – Includes sausages like salami and pepperoni that have been dried and cured.

The storage time can vary quite a bit between these types.

How Long Does Fresh, Uncooked Garlic Sausage Last?

Fresh pork sausage that you have mixed up or formed into patties or links yourself should only be kept for 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator. The raw pork meat is highly perishable. After 1-2 days, it is risky to consume due to bacteria growth.

Make sure to keep the sausage tightly wrapped or in an airtight container during storage. Also, it must be kept at 40°F or below the entire time.

Freezing is a good option for longer storage. Raw garlic sausage can keep for 1-2 months in a 0°F freezer. Make sure to wrap it airtight to prevent freezer burn.

Once cooked, the leftover cooked garlic sausage will last for 3-4 days refrigerated. Be sure to let it cool fully before putting it in the fridge.

How Long Is Pre-Cooked Garlic Sausage Good For?

Pre-cooked breakfast sausage links, kielbasa, and other sausages that are already fully cooked (but not smoked/cured) also have a short fridge life. These types of garlic sausage should be eaten within 5-7 days of being opened.

If the original vacuum-sealed package is still intact, they can last 2-3 weeks past the sell-by date in the fridge. But once exposed to air, the clock starts ticking. So eat up refrigerated pre-cooked garlic sausage within a week for optimal freshness and food safety.

The freezer time for pre-cooked sausages is 1-2 months if well-wrapped.

What Is The Shelf Life Of Smoked Garlic Sausage?

Smoked sausages like smoked garlic kielbasa have a longer shelf life than fresh or pre-cooked sausages. That’s because the smoking process preserves the meat.

An opened package of fully cooked smoked garlic sausage will keep for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. An unopened vacuum-sealed package can last unopened in the fridge for 2 months beyond any printed date.

For freezer storage, smoked garlic sausages stay good for 1-2 months when solidly frozen at 0°F. Vacuum-sealed packages extend the freezer life. Proper wrapping is important to avoid freezer burn.

How Long Does Dry/Cured Garlic Sausage Last?

Dry sausages like hard salami, pepperoni, and soppressata have the longest fridge and pantry life out of any sausage type, thanks to the curing and drying process.

Unopened dry cured garlic sausage will last for 2-3 months beyond any date printed on the packaging when stored in the refrigerator. An unopened dry cured garlic sausage can even be stored in the pantry for the same duration before needing to be refrigerated.

Once opened, dry garlic sausage will maintain quality for 3 weeks in the fridge. It lasts for 1-2 months in the freezer if wrapped properly to prevent icy buildup.

Signs Garlic Sausage Has Gone Bad

It’s important to know how to tell if your garlic sausage has spoiled so you don’t consume contaminated meat. Here are some signs to watch out for:

• Mold growth
• Slimy texture
• Unpleasant sour or “off” smell
• Greyish brown or greenish discoloration

If you notice your garlic sausage exhibits any of these signs, it has spoiled and should be discarded. Don’t taste test meat that looks or smells questionable!

The greenish hue some cured meats like salami get over time is normal. But if the sausage smells bad or feels slimy/sticky, it should not be eaten.

Food Safety Tips For Garlic Sausage

To get the most out of your garlic sausage and avoid foodborne illness, follow these food safety guidelines:

• Refrigerate garlic sausage immediately, never leaving it out for over 2 hours before putting it in the fridge.
• Wrap or seal the sausage airtight before refrigerating or freezing.
• Cook fresh pork sausage within 1-2 days of purchase. Don’t go by the sell-by date, which is for quality not safety.
• Use cooked garlic sausage within 3-5 days and smoked/cured sausage within 2-3 weeks.
• Label packages with dates for easy fridge management.
• Freeze extra garlic sausage for longer storage.

Following proper storage times and watching for signs of spoilage allows you to enjoy tasty garlic sausage while avoiding food poisoning. Trust your eyes, nose, and common sense – if it seems off, play it safe and toss it out.