Jimmy Dean Original Pork Breakfast Sausage is a popular choice for a quick, protein-rich morning meal. Knowing the shelf life of this product is crucial for both safety and quality. People often want to know how long they can keep breakfast sausage in the freezer or fridge before it goes bad.
If you keep Jimmy Dean Original Pork Breakfast Sausage in the fridge, unopened packages can last for up to two weeks, as long as the expiration date hasn’t passed. When fresh sausages are opened, they should be eaten within 3 to 5 days to keep them safe and fresh. When stored in the freezer, Jimmy Dean Sausage stays fresh for longer. An uncooked product can stay fresh for up to two months. Fully cooked sausage products can have a significantly longer freezer shelf life.
Jimmy Dean is a popular brand of pre-cooked breakfast sausages and sausage links loved by many. However, like any meat product, Jimmy Dean sausages have a limited shelf life. Knowing how to properly read expiration dates is crucial to enjoying Jimmy Dean sausage safely.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about reading expiration dates on Jimmy Dean sausage products. You’ll learn how to decipher the date codes, understand the different dates, and properly store sausages for maximum freshness. Let’s get started!
Overview of Jimmy Dean Sausages
Founded in 1969 by country music singer Jimmy Dean the Jimmy Dean brand offers a wide array of pre-cooked frozen sausage products. Some of their most popular items include
- Breakfast sausage patties and links
- Smoked and maple-flavored sausage
- Turkey sausage
- Pre-cooked bratwursts
- Sausage, egg and cheese croissants
Convenient and tasty, Jimmy Dean makes it easy to enjoy delicious sausage any time of day. However, like any processed meat, their products have a limited shelf life and must be stored and handled properly.
Reading the Expiration Date Codes
To determine freshness, you’ll need to locate and decipher the expiration date code printed on the Jimmy Dean sausage package. Here’s what to look for
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Closed dating: The date code is typically a closed code intended for manufacturer use. It will consist of 6 digits in an “MMDDYY” format.
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Location: Check the front or back of the package. The date is often printed near the nutrition facts.
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Format: The first two digits refer to the month, the next two digits are the day of the month, and the final digits represent the year.
For example, a code of “091222” would translate to an expiration date of September 12, 2022. This closed code indicates when the product was produced and should be sold by.
Understanding the Different Expiration Dates
There are a few key dates to be aware of when checking freshness
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Sell-by date: The recommended deadline for retailers to sell the product. You can still store sausage for some time after this date.
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Best-by date: The final date recommended for peak quality and freshness by the manufacturer. Sausage may still be good for a short period beyond this date.
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Use-by date: The final date recommended for use or consumption of the product. Sausage is unlikely to be of acceptable quality beyond this point.
The sell-by date is the most conservative, while the use-by date indicates the maximum shelf life. Check your package for any of these dates.
Tips for Properly Storing Jimmy Dean Sausage
To maximize the shelf life of Jimmy Dean sausage after opening, follow these storage tips:
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Keep unopened packages stored in the refrigerator below 40°F. Use within 1-2 weeks.
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Once opened, reseal packages tightly and use within 3-5 days.
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Freeze sausages in airtight packaging within the use-by date if you don’t plan on eating them right away.
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Store cooked sausages separately from raw meat to avoid cross-contamination.
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Don’t let sausages sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours before refrigerating.
Following the date codes closely and proper storage helps keep Jimmy Dean sausage fresh and safe to eat.
How to Tell if Jimmy Dean Sausage is Spoiled
Watch for these signs that your Jimmy Dean sausage has gone bad:
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Change in color: Unnatural hues like gray, brown or green indicate spoilage.
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Slimy texture: The meat feels sticky, tacky or mushy.
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Off odors: Rancid, sour or ammonia-like smells.
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Mold: Fuzzy white, green or blue mold growing on sausages.
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Past use-by date: Product is past recommended date on the package.
When in doubt, remember it’s better to be safe than sorry. Discard sausage with any signs of spoilage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about reading expiration dates on Jimmy Dean sausages? Here are some common FAQs:
Q: Can I eat Jimmy Dean sausage after the sell-by date?
A: You can eat it for up to 1-2 weeks after the sell-by, but it’s best before the use-by date.
Q: How long is Jimmy Dean sausage good for frozen?
A: Properly frozen, it will maintain quality for 2-3 months past the use-by date.
Q: Can Jimmy Dean sausage be refrozen once thawed?
A: Only refreeze if thawed in the fridge. Do not refreeze sausage left at room temperature.
Q: Why do sausages change color when cooked?
A: Pink color in cooked sausages is from the curing salts added which help preserve the meat. It’s natural and safe.
Q: Can I microwave Jimmy Dean frozen sausages?
A: Yes, microwave as directed on package. Check for hot spots and cook thoroughly.
Q: What is the white stuff on raw sausage?
A: The white substance is solidified fat and protein. It’s normal for raw sausage and safe to consume when cooked.
The Bottom Line
There you have it! With this complete guide, you can easily decipher those confusing Jimmy Dean sausage expiration codes. Be sure to pay close attention to the use-by date for optimal freshness and follow proper storage guidelines. Taking a quick look at the package date and watching for signs of spoilage can help you safely enjoy the convenience and flavor of Jimmy Dean’s popular breakfast sausages.
Maximizing Sausage Flavor and Quality
When making Jimmy Dean Original Pork Breakfast Sausage, it’s important to pay attention to the right way to cook it so that the unique flavors stay intact and the sausage lasts as long as possible without losing its quality.
For the best taste and quality, Jimmy Dean Sausages should be cooked to 160°F, making sure the middle is no longer pink. The flavors are best released through proper cooking:
- Stove: Brown sausage patties evenly by turning them over a lot of times over medium heat.
- Spread the sausages out evenly on a baking sheet and bake in a hot oven until they reach the right internal temperature.
- Microwave: Sausages can be heated in the microwave on a plate that is safe for microwaves, but this is not recommended for the best flavor.
For the best flavor, the sausage’s spices and seasoning should be left to brown a bit. This doesn’t happen when sausages are microwaved, though.
The shelf life of Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage depends on storage conditions:
- If you put sausages in the freezer, keep them at 0°F or lower to keep them fresh for up to two months.
- Refrigerator: Unopened fresh sausage can last up to 2 weeks. Once opened, it’s best consumed within 3-5 days.
Check the date on the package and notice if the color, smell, or texture of the sausage has changed. This will let you know when it’s no longer safe to eat. There are certain seasonings and ingredients in Jimmy Dean sausages that give them their unique flavor. Following these rules will help keep their quality.
Freezing and Thawing Guidelines
To keep Jimmy Dean sausage from freezer burn, put it in a heavy-duty freezer bag or a container that won’t let air in. A vacuum-sealed package provides additional protection. The freezer temperature should be set at 0°F to keep the sausage frozen. Jimmy Dean Original Pork Breakfast Sausage can stay frozen for about 6 months and still taste great if kept this way.
When thawing, the sausage should be moved from the freezer to the fridge and left there to slowly thaw. This method can take several hours, typically overnight. This will work faster if you use the microwave, making sure to set it to 20% power and defrost at 20% 30-second intervals, checking on it often until the sausage is thawed. After thawing by any method, cook the sausage immediately and do not refreeze it.
If you want to figure out how good Jimmy Dean Original Pork Breakfast Sausage is, you need to look at it, smell it, and feel it. These signs will help you tell if the sausage is still fresh and safe to eat or if it has gone bad and needs to be thrown away.
- Color: Fresh sausage should exhibit a bright pink color. Changes in color are a strong sign that the sausage may have gone bad. To tell if the sausage is no longer fresh, look for signs of spoilage like gray or greenish parts.
- Mold: Keep an eye out for mold, which can show up on the surface of the sausage as fuzzy or slimy spots. This is a very clear visual sign that the sausage needs to be thrown away right away.
- Smell: Fresh sausage typically has a mild meaty smell. It’s possible that the sausage has gone bad if it smells bad, like sour or ammonia-like. Believe your nose; if the sausage smells funny, it’s better to be safe than sorry and throw it away.
- Fresh sausage is usually firm but not hard to the touch. If the sausage feels slimy or sticky when you touch it, it means it’s going bad.
- If you press on a sausage and it gives off water or liquid, or if it’s mushy, it’s probably gone bad and you shouldn’t eat it.
Utilize these methods to ensure that the Jimmy Dean Original Pork Breakfast Sausage consumed is of optimal quality.