Fresh Sausages

Uncooked, fresh sausages can last in the fridge for 1 - 2 days after purchase (as long as they are within their use by date). Store them in an air-tight container in the coolest part of the refrigerator (usually the bottom shelf). Keep raw meat separate from cooked meat and fish to avoid bacterial contamination. Cooked sausages can be refrigerated for up to 3 additional days (up to a maximum of 5 days).

Prepacked sausages

Prepacked sausages can be refrigerated right up to their use-by-date when they must then be cooked or frozen. Once cooked, prepacked sausages can be kept in the fridge for an additional 3 days (up to a maximum of 5 days).

Precooked sausages

Precooked sausages can be refrigerated until their use-by-date when they should be reheated. Once opened the sausages should be consumed within 7 days or can be frozen for 1-2 months. Reheated, precooked sausages can not be cooked again without risking a foodborne illness so leftovers should always be thrown away.

Cured sausages

Hard, dry sausages like pepperoni can be stored unopened indefinitely in the fridge. Once opened refrigerate and eat within 3 weeks

Shop sausages

Tell tale signs that sausages are unsafe to eat

Microbial activity in meat products can cause food poisoning so before cooking and eating look for signs of food spoilage. A sour, fishy smell, grey/green tint and wet slimy surface indicate that your sausages are unsafe to eat and must be thrown away. Eating bad sausages could cause serious food poisoning and are not worth the risk.