How long do sausages last?
Sausages keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge, up to 1 to 2 months in the freezer. USDA lists 2 kinds of sausages; the first is shown here and all are in the table below.
uncooked
No guideline
3 to 4 days
from purchase
Recommendation is for storage after cooking.
1 to 2 months
best quality within
Keep frozen. For safety, cook as directed.
All kinds of sausages, side by side
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| uncooked | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| precooked | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
- uncooked: Recommendation is for storage after cooking. Keep frozen. For safety, cook as directed.
- precooked: Recommendation is for storage after cooking. Keep frozen. For safety, cook as directed.
How to tell sausages have gone bad
General signs for food purchased frozen, the group USDA lists sausages under.
- Greyish-brown, dry patches on the surface (freezer burn)
- Heavy frost or ice crystals built up inside the package
- Package that feels soft or has clearly thawed and refrozen
- Off smell as soon as the food starts to thaw
- Freezer odour that has soaked into the food itself
More on food purchased frozen. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Keep the freezer at 0 F (-18 C) or colder, and push older items to the front so they get used first. Wrap or repackage anything with damaged packaging to limit air exposure. Thaw in the fridge, not on the counter, and cook or use thawed food within a day or two.
More in food purchased frozen
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.