How to store sausage
Best place: the fridge. USDA gives sausage a fridge time (1 to 2 days, from the package date) and no pantry time, so it belongs in the fridge as soon as you get home. The freezer gives 1 to 2 months.
No guideline
1 to 2 days
from the package date
1 to 2 months
best quality within
How to tell sausage has gone bad
General signs for meat: smoked or processed, the group USDA lists sausage under.
- Slimy or sticky film on hot dogs or sliced sausage
- Grey or green tinge developing on the surface
- Sour or off smell replacing the usual smoky scent
- Hardened, dried-out edges on bacon left uncovered too long
- Package losing its vacuum seal or ballooning with gas
More on meat: smoked or processed. 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
Refrigerate opened bacon, ham, sausage and hot dogs in their original packaging or a sealed container, and use within about a week. Freeze anything you will not use in time; vacuum-sealed cuts freeze especially well. Keep these products toward the back of the fridge, where the temperature is steadiest.
How to store other meat: smoked or processed
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.