This Sausage Bread recipe could be the most useful one you have. It works great as an appetizer or for dinner during the week. You can even serve it on game day or take it along on picnics or potlucks!.
You’ll always have a simple and easy recipe for sausage bread on hand because it can be used for so many things. The ingredients can be changed to match whatever you have on hand or what you want to eat.
This recipe is one of my favorites because it can be used in a lot of different ways. It will go quickly wherever you serve it, so you might want to make two loaves (trust me, I know!) ).
You can also easily add more ingredients to make this even more filling. For example, we like to sauté green bell peppers, onion, and mushrooms in butter. Sometimes we put pizza sauce on top, which is fun on pizza night! For a change, try pepperoni instead of sausage. Or add sausage AND pepperoni. I’m not judging. .
This is a recipe you are going to want to save. I keep making this again and again! I hope you and your family enjoy it!
Sausage bread is a savory loaf loaded with hearty Italian sausage that makes for satisfying sandwiches or a decadent accompaniment to meals. Its combination of rich meats gooey cheese and fresh herbs results in incredible flavor. But like any dish containing perishable ingredients, proper storage after baking is critical. So does sausage bread need to be refrigerated?
The answer is yes – to maintain quality and prevent spoilage, sausage bread should always be refrigerated Here’s what you need to know about safely storing sausage bread to keep it fresh and delicious
Why Refrigeration is Essential for Sausage Bread
Meat and dairy products in sausage bread go bad quickly when left out at room temperature. Key reasons refrigeration is a must:
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Prevents bacteria growth – Refrigeration keeps sausage bread below the 40°F danger zone where bacteria multiply rapidly.
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Retains moisture – Cold air in the fridge helps lock in moisture and prevents sausage bread from drying out.
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Maintains texture – Refrigeration ensures the interior crumb stays soft while the crust stays crispy.
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Contains eggs – Raw eggs in sausage bread can grow bacteria if unrefrigerated.
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Lengthens shelf life – Keeps sausage bread tasting fresh for longer vs. room temperature.
By quickly chilling and refrigerating sausage bread after baking, you’ll get the maximum enjoyment and shelf life out of the loaf. Letting it sit out invites problems.
How to Safely Store Sausage Bread
Follow these tips for safely storing leftover sausage bread:
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Allow to fully cool after baking before refrigerating. Covering while still warm leads to condensation.
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Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, foil or place in an airtight container. This prevents drying out.
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Refrigerate within 2 hours after baking. Don’t leave at room temperature.
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Use within 3-5 days for best quality. Discard any moldy, dried out or bad smelling bread.
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For longer storage, slice bread and freeze in airtight bags or containers up to 2-3 months.
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When reheating, bring to 165°F internal temperature to ensure safety after long storage.
Properly refrigerating and freezing ensures your sausage bread keeps its texture and flavor for the longest possible time.
How Long Does Sausage Bread Last in the Fridge?
When stored properly in the refrigerator, sausage bread will maintain best quality for 3-5 days after baking.
The ingredients in sausage bread are perishable so they can go bad after this timeframe if left refrigerated too long. Signs your refrigerated sausage bread has spoiled are mold, dryness and an unpleasant odor.
For maximum freshness, slice only what you plan to eat within the 3-5 day window. Tightly rewrap the remaining loaf each time to maintain softness.
And remember the 2 hour rule – refrigerate or freeze slices within 2 hours of baking. Leaving freshly baked sausage bread on the counter invites bacterial growth.
Can You Freeze Sausage Bread?
Freezing is a great way to prolong the shelf life of sausage bread if you don’t plan to eat it all within 3-5 days. Here’s how to freeze sausage bread:
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Cool completely after baking then slice loaves into portions to freeze.
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Wrap slices very tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags or airtight containers.
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Remove as much air as possible and seal bags/containers securely.
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Freeze immediately at 0°F or below. Use slices within 2-3 months for best quality.
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Thaw refrigerated overnight before serving. Don’t thaw at room temperature.
With proper freezing techniques, sausage bread keeps its fresh taste and texture for months. It thaws well for quick sandwiches or toast.
How Should You Reheat Sausage Bread?
To revive leftover sausage bread’s delicious flavor and crispy crust, use these reheating methods:
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Place bread slices directly on oven rack or baking sheet until hot, 5-10 minutes.
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Use the microwave to heat bread slices wrapped in paper towels for 30-60 seconds until hot.
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Toast slices in a toaster oven or regular toaster until crispy on the outside and hot internally.
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Grill slices in a skillet over medium-low, flipping once, just until marks show.
Only reheat fully cooled refrigerated bread, never frozen slices. Check for the 165°F minimum internal temperature that indicates bread is safe to eat after long storage.
Storing Sausage Bread Dough Before Baking
For best results, you’ll want to bake sausage bread soon after making the dough. But if needed, here are some storage guidelines for unbaked dough:
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Keep dough in the fridge up to 2 days. Shape dough, let rise once, then wrap in plastic and refrigerate.
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For longer storage, shape dough, let rise once, wrap well and freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw refrigerated overnight before second rise.
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Don’t freeze already risen dough or bread shaped dough as this can damage the texture, creating gaps and tunnels.
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Bring refrigerated dough to room temperature before the second rise and baking to allow it to properly proof.
With proper chilled storage, sausage bread dough keeps for a short time before baking. But for best flavor and rise, bake as soon as possible after mixing.
Food Safety Tips for Sausage Bread
Be sure to follow these additional food safety practices when making and storing sausage bread:
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Never leave sausage bread sitting out more than 2 hours before refrigerating after baking.
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Discard any sausage bread that smells unpleasant or feels overly dry or slimy.
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Use an instant read thermometer to check for 165°F internal temperature when reheating.
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Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat and eggs separate from other ingredients.
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Refrigerate dough if not baking soon after mixing to prevent spoilage.
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Cool bread uncovered before tightly wrapping to prevent condensation and spoilage.
Adhering to good food safety practices ensures your sausage bread stays fresh and delicious from baking all the way through safe storage and reheating.
The Bottom Line
Sausage bread does need to be refrigerated to prevent spoilage and foodborne illness. After baking, allow to fully cool then wrap tightly and refrigerate within 2 hours. Use refrigerated sausage bread within 3-5 days and freeze for longer storage up to 2-3 months.
Always reheat sausage bread thoroughly to 165°F. Follow the storage, thawing and food safety tips provided to get the most enjoyment from your homemade sausage bread.
How to make Sausage Bread
First, prepare your supplies. Preheat your oven to 350°F, then spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set it aside.
Second, cook your sausage. Crumble and brown the sausage in a skillet over medium heat until it’s no longer pink. Drain if desired!.
Third, prep your bread. Open the tube of pizza dough onto the prepared baking sheet and straighten the edges into a rectangle. Sprinkle cooked sausage and Mozzarella cheese over the dough, leaving about 1 inch open along the edges. Wrap the dough into a jelly roll or cinnamon roll shape. Crimp the seam shut and seal and tuck the ends under. (Make sure the bread is on the baking sheet seam-side down!) Finally, brush the loaf with an egg wash.
Finally, bake your sausage bread. Place the dough in an oven that has already been heated. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the bread is fully cooked. Allow loaf to rest 10 minutes before slicing, then enjoy!.
It only takes less than an hour to make. Ten minutes to prepare and thirty to fifty minutes to cook.
This should make enough for eight servings or so.
Any kind of “crumble” sausage you like! Personally, I use Jimmy Dean or Johnsonville. I’ve used both regular and hot Jimmy Dean pork sausage rolls to make this. I also use Johnsonville Italian sausage, not in the casings. It depends on how we feel, what I have on hand, and what’s on sale! I like sausage that “crumbles” best for this bread, but you can try diced sausage (kielbasa, smoked sausage, or other ring-type sausages) if you’d rather. I’ve never tried it that way, but I imagine it would work fine.
Sausage Bread: Ingredients & Equipment
For this Sausage Bread recipe, you will need …
- ground sausage – you’ll need about a pound.
- pizza dough—the kind that comes in tubes and is already made and chilled Whichever brand you like! .
- shreds of mozzarella cheese to go with the ground sausage inside the bread. If you can, shred your mozzarella because the packaged kind doesn’t always melt right because of the preservatives. But don’t worry—if you have to use store-bought bread, it won’t stink!!
- a big egg that has been beaten to brush on top of the dough That way, your bread cooks up a lovely golden brown.
- baking sheet – sprayed with cooking spray.
This Is The Tastiest Sausage Bread Roll Recipe I’ve Ever Eaten! Easy Sausage Roll
FAQ
How long do sausage rolls last out of the fridge?
Do you freeze sausage rolls cooked or uncooked?
How many calories are in a sausage bread roll?