You must be wondering how to preserve Italian sausages. As a result of the ongoing pandemic, many of us purchase food in larger quantities and struggle to preserve them without subjecting it to spoilage. I know, preserving food; especially sausages, is not an easy practice for everyone.
Do not worry! This article has answers to all your question about freezing Italian sausages. The following table of content will navigate you to the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Keep reading!
Can You Freeze Italian Sausage?
Yes, you can freeze Italian sausages for a period of one to two months. It is important to keep Italian sausages refrigerated all the time. Even if you store them under 0 °F, it won’t do any harm to the sausages.
You may already know that Italian sausages can be stored for a longer time, unlike some other sausages. However, consuming them at least within 2 months gives you the best taste.
How to Freeze Italian Sausages
You may be thinking about how to freeze Italian sausages without encountering any issues. Here is an easy step-by-step guide to freezing Italian sausages.
Step 1: Cook it before you freeze it
First, cook the sausages as per your usual recipe or on medium-high heat. Once sausages start to turn light brownish, reduce the heat on the stove. Let the sausages get rid of excess fat and completely turn off the heat.
Allow them to cool entirely before keeping them in the freezer.
Step 2: Keep it in an air-tight container
Always repack the sausages after cooking in an air-tight container or a freezer bag. Avoid using the retail packaging because it is not designed to a long time freezing.
Make sure you tighten the bag without letting excessive air enter. I recommend you use double packaging if you want to freeze it for a long time.
Importantly, keep away raw meat from the cooked sausages. Do not put both in one bag because mixing them can cause cross-contamination.
Step 3: Label and Date
You never know when you will take it out of the refrigerator to consume after freezing. Probably by the time you may be forgotten when you put your Italian sausages away in the freezer. Therefore, stick to the date it was packet and how long it can be kept. It makes your life easy. You can just decide when to have it by looking at the date because the meat is not meant to keep forever.
Step 4: Store at or below 0 °F
The final step is to put them in the freezer. It is necessary to store food under 0 °F to maintain the food quality. Let it freeze over.
How Long Do Italian Sausages Last without Freezing?
The raw Italian sausages cannot preserve more than 2 days. After purchasing, the sell-by date may expire while the storing period. Therefore, it is always best to consume them within the first two days of purchasing.
How Long Italian Sausages Last in the Freezer?
Like I mentioned earlier, properly stored Italian sausages last up to one to two months. It will remain safe even longer than that. However, it depends on the quality of packing and freezing. Therefore, make sure your packing prevents air bubbles from entering.
How to Reheat Italian Sausages?
Before reheating the frozen Italian sausages, you need to know the best way to thaw them. The finest practice is to leave it in the refrigerator without keeping it on the kitchen counter. If you wonder why the outer layers of sausages tend to thaw faster than the inner parts. Therefore, the outer layer is vulnerable to bacteria and other pathogens. If you need to prevent them from happening, make sure you keep them in the refrigerator itself.
Then, you can heat thawed sausages in the microwave for about 3-4 minutes. Finally, it is ready to serve.
Also note that, if you are defrosting all the frozen sausages, consume them all on the same day. Refreezing thawed sausages again is not going to work. Even if you do, there are chances of changing the taste and texture.
Does Freezing Affect the Taste?
Simply the answer is no. Freezing does not affect the quality of Italian sausages. You already know that the Italian sausages can be stored for nearly one to two months in the freezer. The freezing rarely causes taste changes, and Italian sausages do not subject to it.
However, you have to follow the steps of freezing thoroughly. It is up to you to take the responsibility of protecting the taste of the sausages. Indeed, it depends on your packing quality. First, freeze it properly and then thaw it properly. If you do not respect the rule, I cannot assure you of its delicious taste and amazing texture.
How to Identify if Sausages are Bad after Freezing?
The best way is to smell the sausages. If they give a disgusting sour smell, avoid consuming. In addition to that, dull color and slimy texture are signs of bad Italian sausages. You better throw them away if you identify differences in color and smell. Otherwise, you will have to go through food poisoning effects. The sausages are more vulnerable to bacteria. Therefore, make sure yours are not poisoned.
Final Thoughts
It is possible to freeze and keep Italian sausages for one to two months. As Italian sausages do not contain any preservatives, make sure you are strictly following the methods of freezing. You can enjoy the good taste as long as you respect the methods.
I hope this article will help you to store your excess Italian sausages during the pandemic. Let us know your thoughts and ideas. We would love to hear.