Johnsonville is one of the most popular sausage brands in the United States. Known for their flavorful smoked sausages and innovative products, Johnsonville has been a family-owned company since 1945. With such a trusted reputation, it’s no wonder their sausage is a staple in many households. But how long does it actually last in the fridge after opening?
Johnsonville sausages should be kept in the fridge at the right temperature to keep their quality and lengthen their shelf life. This complete guide will show you how to make your fridge last longer and tell you when it’s time to throw out your Johnsonville links.
Overview of Johnsonville Sausage Products
Johnsonville offers a wide variety of sausage products including
- Smoked sausage links and patties
- Fresh breakfast sausage
- Chicken, turkey, and vegetarian sausages
- Fully cooked brats and grillers
- Smoked ropes and summer sausages
- Italian style and chorizo sausages
- Ground sausage and meatballs
- New bacon-like sausage strips
With such a diverse range, storage times can vary between Johnsonville’s fresh and precooked sausages. But for any type, refrigeration is vital.
How to Store Johnsonville Sausage in the Fridge
To optimize freshness, store Johnsonville sausage:
- In original packaging or airtight containers
- Towards the back of the top shelf
- Away from fresh produce, ready-to-eat foods
Once opened, rewrap or transfer leftovers to a plastic bag, pressing out excess air Keep refrigerated at 40°F or below
The crisper drawer is too humid and promotes spoilage. The freezer can extend shelf life of unopened packages up to 2 months.
How Long Does Unopened Johnsonville Sausage Last?
An unopened package of Johnsonville smoked sausage links, brats, or other precooked types can be stored in the fridge 2-3 weeks past any printed “use by” date.
For fresh varieties like raw breakfast sausage, use within 5-7 days of purchase. Always follow date labels for maximum freshness.
Unopened packages last 1-2 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using frozen Johnsonville sausage.
What’s the Fridge Life of Opened Johnsonville Sausage?
After opening, Johnsonville smoked sausage links and fully cooked varieties last 3-5 days in the fridge. Raw fresh sausage should be used within 2 days.
Here are some other Johnsonville sausage fridge life estimates after opening:
- Fresh breakfast links/patties: 2-3 days
- Precooked brats/smoked links: 3-5 days
- Summer sausage: 2 weeks
- Ground sausage: 3-4 days
- Meatballs: 3-5 days
Monitor products for changes in color, texture, and odor. Discard promptly at any signs of spoilage. Don’t take chances with sausage past its prime.
Does Freezing Extend Leftover Sausage Life?
Freezing uncooked Johnsonville sausage after opening is not recommended, as texture and flavor degrade. But cooked leftover sausage casseroles or pasta dishes can be frozen up to 2-3 months.
Let cooked foods cool completely before freezing in airtight containers. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. Don’t refreeze thawed Johnsonville sausage.
How To Tell When Johnsonville Sausage Has Spoiled
Rely on your senses to check for the following signs that Johnsonville sausage has spoiled:
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Slimy texture – Good sausage feels firm. Discard if sticky or mushy.
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Grey color – Normal color fades as sausage spoils.
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Sour or ammonia odor – Trust your nose. Toss out foul-smelling sausage.
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Mold growth – Dry fuzzy spots signal unsafe spoilage bacteria.
When inspecting the sausage, always remember – when in doubt, throw it out! Consuming spoiled sausage poses health risks.
Safety Tips for Reheating and Consuming Johnsonville
To safely enjoy Johnsonville sausage:
- Always reheat fully cooked sausage links/patties to steaming 165°F internally.
- Cook fresh sausage like breakfast links to 160°F minimum internal temperature.
- Don’t eat raw fresh sausage. It requires thorough cooking for food safety.
- Consume leftover cooked sausage within 3-4 days, stored properly in the fridge.
- Freeze any sausages not eaten within recommended time frames.
Following basic food safety provides protection against foodborne illnesses. Take care when handling and consuming any raw meat products.
Does Packaging Impact Johnsonville Sausage Freshness?
Johnsonville uses both vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging to help extend shelf life.
Vacuum packaging removes oxygen from packages of smoked links and summer sausages. This prevents oxidation and drying out.
Modified atmosphere packaging replaces oxygen in packages with inert gases. This slows spoilage of fresh raw sausage.
Leave sausages sealed in their protective packaging until ready to use. Then promptly rewrap opened packages.
New Innovations from Johnsonville Sausage
In addition to their classic smoked links, Johnsonville constantly develops new products like:
- Sausage strips – A bacon-like shape with sausage flavor. 40% less fat than bacon.
- Fully cooked chicken apple sausage – Savory with sweet apple flavor. 70% less fat than pork sausage.
- Grillers – Precooked mini sausage ideal for grilling or sandwiches.
- Ground chorizo sausage – Spicy Spanish-style crumbles.
- Italian style Chicken Florentine sausage – Chicken sausage with spinach and cheese.
Browse all offerings at Johnsonville.com to inspire new meal ideas!
Storing Other Types of Sausage
The guidelines for Johnsonville sausage generally apply to other brands too. Here are some common fridge life estimates:
- Fresh raw sausage – 2-3 days
- Hard smoked sausage – 2-3 weeks
- Soft smoked sausage – 1 week
- Summer sausage – 2-3 weeks
- Precooked sausage – 3-5 days
- Kielbasa – 2 weeks
For optimal safety and quality, follow package date labels and freeze any extras. Proper refrigeration preserves freshness.
The Takeaway on Johnsonville Sausage Storage
With proper refrigerated storage, Johnsonville sausage stays fresh for excellent quality within these time frames:
- Unopened packages: 2-3 weeks
- Opened fresh sausage: 2-3 days
- Opened smoked links: 3-5 days
Keep Johnsonville sausage sealed in original packaging until ready to use. Then promptly refrigerate leftovers, monitoring closely for spoilage. Follow this fridge life guide to enjoy Johnsonville sausage at peak taste and texture.
Keep It Fun. Keep It Together.
Keep your plates full, keep your tables fuller, and whatever you do, don’t forget to keep it juicy.
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FAQ
How long do Johnsonville sausages last in the refrigerator?
How long can uncooked sausage keep in the fridge?
How to tell if Johnsonville breakfast sausage is bad?
How long does unopened fully cooked sausage last in the fridge?
Does Johnsonville Sausage have an expiration date?
Unlike other food products, Johnsonville sausage does not have a traditional expiration date printed on the package. Instead, they use a “Best Flavor By” or “Sell By” date. For products intended for frozen storage, a Best Flavor By date is printed on the case label indicating the date at which peak freshness is ensured.
How long does a sausage last in the fridge?
Sausages stored in the fridge can be good after five days as long as they were cooked before being stored. Anything after this, though, can be a bit of a gamble. Even being stored in the fridge, a sausage will still eventually go bad. It will last varying amounts of time depending on what type of sausage it is.
How do you store Johnsonville Sausage?
If you want to maximize the freshness and flavor of your Johnsonville sausage, there are a few tips you can follow: 1. Store in the refrigerator: Once you’ve purchased your Johnsonville sausage, make sure to store it in the refrigerator as soon as possible. The ideal temperature for storing sausage is between 32°F and 40°F. 2.
How long do Johnsonville brats last?
When it comes to Johnsonville Brats, cooked sausages can last up to five to seven days in the fridge if stored properly, while raw sausages should be consumed within two days of purchase or cooking.