If the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, sandwiches should only be left out for one hour. Otherwise, they can be left out for two hours. But it depends on the type of sandwich.
McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin is a popular grab-and-go breakfast sandwich. It has a sausage patty and an egg on an English muffin. But like any perishable food, it requires safe handling to avoid foodborne illness. How long does a Sausage McMuffin have to be out before it’s no longer safe to eat?
Knowing the fridge and room temperature storage limits for cooked foods containing eggs and meat can help ensure your McDonald’s breakfast doesn’t end up making you sick In this guide, we’ll cover how long Sausage McMuffins can sit out and still be safe to consume.
What is the Shelf Life of Sausage McMuffins at Room Temperature?
According to the FDA Food Code, cooked foods should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours before being refrigerated This includes cooked breakfast sandwiches like the McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin.
Bacteria grows rapidly on perishable foods between 40°F and 140°F. So, if you leave a Sausage McMuffin out at room temperature for two hours, it could get too many bacteria in it to be safe to eat.
If the air temperature is above 90°F this 2-hour window is reduced to just 1 hour. So no matter the climate Sausage McMuffins shouldn’t be left out more than 2 hours after cooking before cold storage.
How Should You Store Leftover Sausage McMuffins?
To safely store cooked Sausage McMuffins for later consumption:
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Allow to cool completely, then refrigerate or freeze within 2 hours of cooking.
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For fridge storage, place in a sealed container or resealable plastic bag. Use within 3-4 days.
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For freezer storage, use an airtight freezer bag. Keeps for 2-3 months frozen.
Proper rapid cooling and cold storage prevents bacteria like salmonella from multiplying to dangerous levels on perishable cooked foods.
Can You Reheat a Sausage McMuffin After Refrigeration?
Yes, a refrigerated Sausage McMuffin can safely be reheated and eaten if it has been stored properly at 40°F or below.
To reheat:
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Use microwave, oven or skillet to reheat to 165°F internal temperature.
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Check for hot spots and stir or flip during reheating for even heating.
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Bring gravy or sauces to a boil when reheating on the stovetop.
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Only reheat once; do not let cool and reheat again.
Reheating to 165°F kills any bacteria that may have multiplied during fridge storage. But leftovers should be consumed soon after reheating for food safety.
What is the Best Way to Reheat a Frozen Sausage McMuffin?
To safely thaw and reheat a frozen Sausage McMuffin:
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Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. Do not thaw at room temperature.
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Reheat thawed sandwich in the oven at 350°F until hot, about 15-20 minutes.
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Microwave thawed sandwich on high for 30-60 seconds until hot throughout.
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Do not refreeze thawed sandwiches; refrigerate and consume within 3-4 days.
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Alternately, reheat frozen McMuffin in oven at 375°F for 15-25 minutes until steaming hot.
Heating until steaming or 165°F internal temperature kills harmful pathogens that could be present and makes frozen Sausage McMuffins safe to eat again.
How Can You Tell if a Sausage McMuffin is Bad?
Watch for these signs that a Sausage McMuffin has spoiled and should be thrown out:
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Mold growth on any part of the sandwich
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Unpleasant odors like sourness or rotting
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Change in color or soggy appearance
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Odd tastes when sampled after reheating
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More than 4 days old after refrigerator storage
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Left out more than 2 hours before refrigerating
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Frozen longer than 2-3 months in freezer
When in doubt, remember it’s better to be safe than sorry. Discard questionable sandwiches instead of risking foodborne illness.
What are Some Sausage McMuffin Food Safety Tips?
Follow these food safety practices when handling Sausage McMuffins:
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Refrigerate within 2 hours of purchase if not consuming immediately.
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Freeze for longer storage. Thaw in fridge before use within 2-3 months.
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Check insides are hot after microwaving. Appearances can be misleading.
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Don’t let sit out more than 2 hours total after cooking, including meal prep and eating time.
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Avoid cross-contamination. Use clean tongs, trays, plates and utensils.
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Discard sandwiches that are damaged, mishandled or past shelf life after cooling.
Adhering to proper storage, thawing and reheating guidelines reduces the risk of foodborne illness from perishable Sausage McMuffins.
What Should You Do if a Sausage McMuffin Was Left Out Too Long?
If you discover a Sausage McMuffin was accidentally left out at room temperature for over 2 hours:
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Discard it immediately even if it looks or smells normal. Bacteria are invisible.
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Do not taste or “smell check” sandwiches that could be spoiled. This risks illness.
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Clean any surfaces the sandwich touched using soap and hot water or a disinfecting cleaner.
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Be vigilant for food poisoning symptoms like nausea, fever or diarrhea over the next 1-3 days.
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Seek medical care if symptoms are severe, bloody, or persist longer than 24 hours.
Though it may seem wasteful, it’s critical to throw out mishandled sandwiches
Sandwiches made with perishable ingredients (such as meat, eggs, fish)
Two hours (or one hour if it’s above 90 degrees Fahrenheit) is the time limit for deli meat sandwiches like turkey, ham, chicken, bologna, and roast beef. It also applies to sandwiches with cooked foods like egg salad, chicken salad, and tuna sandwiches, as well as sandwiches with cut vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes.
The United States Department of Agriculture notes that it’s dangerous to eat cold cuts, sliced deli meats, cooked foods and cut vegetables that have been allowed to sit out at room temperature for two hours or longer (or 1 hour above 90° F). The reason is that bacteria grow rapidly when these foods are kept at temperatures between 40° F and 140° F. If sandwiches containing these ingredients have been left out of the fridge for longer than this timeframe, they should be discarded.
You should bring ice or a frozen gel pack with your sandwich if it has any of these perishable ingredients and you don’t plan to eat it within two hours of leaving home or will not have access to a refrigerator during that time. This will keep the sandwich cooler and safer for longer.
Is a Sausage McMuffin better with an egg?
FAQ
How long can a McDonald’s breakfast sandwich be left out?
How long does a sausage McMuffin last?
How long is McDonald’s breakfast good for?
How long can you keep Mcmuffin?
How long can you keep leftover sausage muffins?
Leftover Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McMuffins can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you want to freeze them, they can be kept for up to 3 months, making them an excellent meal prep option. ➡️ What are some serving suggestions for Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McMuffins?
How long can Egg McMuffins sit out?
Egg McMuffin can sit out for two hours. According to the FDA, after more than two hours at room temperature, you should rather not eat it, just like any other food from McDonald’s. This is hardly everything we can say about storing egg McMuffins, though. So, in this article, we will look into this much more closely. What are we waiting for then?
How do you make a Sausage McMuffin?
This Sausage McMuffin Recipe packs eggs, cheese, spinach and sausage for a perfect meal. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, crack eggs, and add salt, pepper, garlic and red pepper and whisk well. Add in spinach, cut up sausage and stir to combine. Pour into a well greased 9×13 baking pan.
Can you freeze Sausage & Egg McMuffins?
Egg whites tend to go a bit rubbery when frozen (in my opinion), but if mixed up with the yolks then cooked, they freeze fine. And in true McDonald’s form, these Sausage and Egg McMuffins are fab for food on the go. Wrap it up, shove it in a paper bag, grab a cup of coffee and scoff these down with one hand while driving.