If you’re meal prepping for the week or just have extra sausage from dinner, you might wonder how long it lasts in the fridge. While the short answer is just a few days, there are essential food safety tips you should follow to avoid spoilage and waste. In this guide, I’m breaking down how to store cooked sausage, how long it lasts, and how to tell if it’s gone bad—plus expert tips to stretch your leftovers.
Chicken sausage is a delicious, versatile meat that can be enjoyed in everything from breakfast scrambles to pasta dishes and more. But like any perishable food, it’s important to store and handle cooked chicken sausage properly to keep it safe to eat. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the shelf life and storage of cooked chicken sausage.
How Long Does Cooked Chicken Sausage Last?
When properly stored cooked chicken sausage will last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. The exact shelf life depends on a few factors
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How to store it: Vacuum-sealed or airtight containers will keep chicken sausage fresh longer than foil or plastic wrap that isn’t tight around it.
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Refrigerator temperature – Make sure your fridge temp is 40°F or below. The colder the better for extending the life of cooked meats.
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Exposure to air – Minimizing air exposure is key Re-wrap or reseal chicken sausage in fresh wrapping if the original wrap or seal is compromised.
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Preservatives – Some sausages contain preservatives that enhance shelf life. Check the ingredients list for nitrites or nitrates.
If you keep cooked chicken sausage in the fridge, it should stay fresh for three to four days at most. For maximum safety and quality, use sausage within that window.
Freezing Cooked Chicken Sausage
For longer term storage, chicken sausage can be frozen. When frozen:
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Properly wrapped chicken sausage will last 2-3 months in the freezer.
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Vacuum sealed or heavily wrapped sausage has better frozen shelf life than sausage loosely wrapped.
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Portion sausage before freezing for easier thawing and use.
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Avoid freezer burn by minimizing air exposure. Use freezer bags or airtight containers.
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Don’t refreeze thawed chicken sausage. It will degrade in quality and safety.
Signs Your Cooked Sausage Has Spoiled
You can tell if cooked chicken sausage has gone bad by how it tastes and smells. Signs of spoiled sausage include:
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Change in color – Grey, greenish or unusual discoloration indicates spoilage.
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Slimy texture – Sausage will develop a sticky, slimy feel as it spoils.
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Sour smell – Bad sausage gives off a distinctly sour, unpleasant odor.
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Mold – Any fuzzy growth on the sausage is a sign it should be discarded.
When in doubt, throw it out. Don’t taste questionable sausage to determine if it’s gone bad. Discard sausage at the first signs of spoilage.
Proper Storage for Maximum Freshness
Storing cooked sausage properly is key to preserving freshness and shelf life. Follow these storage tips:
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Refrigerate within 2 hours – Don’t let cooked sausage linger at room temp more than 2 hours before refrigerating.
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Use airtight containers – An airtight container is best for locking in freshness and preventing freezer burn.
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Wrap tightly in foil or plastic – If not using a container, wrap sausage tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Eliminate as much air as possible.
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Portion before freezing – Freeze sausage in servings sizes for easier thawing and use.
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Keep raw meats separate – Store cooked meats away from raw meats to avoid cross-contamination.
Proper storage, wrapping and refrigeration gives cooked chicken sausage the best chance of lasting a full 3-4 days in the fridge or 2-3 months in the freezer.
Reheating Chicken Sausage Safely
Cooked sausage that has been properly stored can be safely reheated and enjoyed. Follow these reheating guidelines:
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Reheat to 165°F internal temperature. Use a food thermometer to verify.
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Microwave in 30 second intervals, flipping halfway through for even heating.
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Oven heat at 350°F until hot and steaming, 10-15 minutes.
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Pan fry over medium-high heat until hot throughout, about 5 minutes per side.
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Don’t microwave frozen sausage to thaw – thaw in the refrigerator overnight instead.
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Bring sauce back up to a boil if sausage was stored in sauce.
Reheated fully to 165°F, chicken sausage can be safely enjoyed again.
Can You Eat Sausage After the Expiration Date?
Pre-packaged chicken sausage will have a sell by or use by date on the label. This date indicates peak freshness and quality, not necessarily safety. Sausage stored properly after this date will still be safe to eat for the duration of its fridge/freezer shelf life.
To determine if expired sausage is good, do a visual, smell and texture check. If it looks and smells normal with no signs of spoilage, and has been continuously refrigerated or frozen, it should be fine to eat for 3-4 days past its date. However, the flavor and texture quality may start to decline.
Use good judgment. When in doubt, throw expired sausage out. Don’t take risks with food safety.
Can I Still Eat Sausage Left Out Overnight?
Cooked sausage left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours should not be eaten. At room temp, bacteria grows rapidly and sausage will be unsafe after sitting out too long.
Do not eat chicken sausage left out overnight. The USDA recommends throwing out perishable foods left over 2 hours at room temp. Don’t risk getting sick – when in doubt, throw it out.
Consequences of Eating Bad Chicken Sausage
Eating spoiled, rotten or contaminated chicken sausage can cause foodborne illness. Potential symptoms include:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping
- Fever, chills
- Headaches
- Fatigue
In severe cases, bad sausage can cause dangerous infections. Seek medical care if food poisoning symptoms are severe or persist longer than 1-2 days.
When handled and stored properly, cooked chicken sausage is perfectly safe to eat and enjoy. Follow the storage, freezing and reheating guidelines in this article and your sausage will stay fresh for its max shelf life. Trust your eyes and nose – if sausage smells or looks bad, get rid of it. With smart storage and handling, you can safely savor delicious chicken sausage for days to come.
How Long Cooked Sausage Lasts (According to USDA Guidelines)
The USDA generally recommends consuming leftovers of any kind in 3-4 days on average. This guarantees maximum freshness and is your safest bet for avoiding potential side effects and foodborne illnesses.
On the other hand, hot dogs and other pre-cooked sausages can stay fresh for up to 7 days in the fridge or up to 2 months when frozen. Within one to two hours of cooking, food should be put in a shallow, airtight container and put in the fridge at room temperature.
How Long Can Cooked Sausage Sit Out?
They say that hot food needs to stay hot at 140 degrees F to keep it out of the danger zone. If perishable food has been left out for more than 2 hours, throw it out to avoid harmful bacteria and the risk of food poisoning—even if it looks or smells fine.
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FAQ
Can I eat cooked sausage after 5 days?
Cooked sausage can be eaten after 5 days if it was properly stored in the refrigerator, but it’s best to err on the side of caution and check for signs of spoilage.
How long do chicken sausages last when cooked?
You can prolong the life of your fresh sausage by cooking it and storing it. Once you’ve cooked the sausages, they will last three to four days in the fridge and up to four months in the freezer. Store your cooked sausage in an airtight container or tightly wrapped to keep it fresh.
Is cooked chicken good after 5 days?
No, cooked chicken is generally not considered safe to eat after 5 days in the refrigerator. The USDA recommends using cooked chicken within 3 to 4 days when stored properly in the refrigerator, according to food safety guidelines.
How to know if chicken sausage has gone bad?
To tell if chicken sausage has gone bad, check for changes in smell, color, and texture. It’s going bad when it smells sour or off, turns gray-brown or greenish, and feels slimy or sticky.