Savor the flavors of tradition with summer sausage, a versatile meat delicacy enjoyed across cultures. Typically crafted from pork, beef, or their combination, this sausage blends the savory notes of herbs and spices with the subtle sweetness of sugars. According to the North American Meat Institute, processed meats like summer sausage utilize curing agents such as nitrates, which not only enhance flavor but also contribute to food safety by inhibiting bacterial growth. As a semi-dry meat, summer sausage boasts a longer shelf life, with the USDA indicating that unopened products can be kept at room temperature for up to six months, provided they contain the appropriate preservatives. For optimal freshness, however, always consult the packaging for specific storage instructions and expiration dates. Understanding how to store summer sausage ensures you can relish this hearty treat anytime, with confidence in its quality and safety.
This is a semi-dry sausage, meaning that it usually is fully cooked, and smoking is done as an optional extra. The fermentation process takes place overnight at about 90° Fahrenheit (32.2° Celsius), and the sausage is edible the next day. Each sausage is stuffed into a fibrous or beef middle casing for the fermentation and storing of the product.
Unlike dry sausage, such as salami, summer sausage can be stuffed into fibrous casings for cooking and storing because there is less shrinkage. A dried summer sausage can be stored for months without refrigeration, which is why it was once popular among agricultural workers. The sausage was fermented during the winter and hung for storage until the summer when it was eaten as a meal during agricultural field work.
When stored in a refrigerator, a semi-dry sausage can be stored for up to three months unopened to ensure the meat is not contaminated with dangerous bacteria. After the product is opened and partially consumed, the recommended refrigeration period is no more than three weeks. When placed in a freezer, a summer sausage that has been opened can be safely stored for one to two months.
The guidelines on the packaging should be followed when you are handling and storing store-bought summer sausage. When the sausage can be stored without refrigeration, as with most dry sausages, the packaging does not commonly contain handling or storing instructions. The use of dates to guide the store and consumer about the shelf life of a sausage product is voluntary and might indicate the date by which the sausage should be sold or used. When prepackaged summer sausage comes with storage and use-by guidelines, the guidelines should be followed to ensure that the sausage is safe to eat.