How To Tell If Sausage Is Spoiled? 5 Clear Signs

Sausage is one of the most well-loved snacks, and there are good reasons for that.

Sausages are spicy, sweet, and healthy. You can have your sausage at any time of the day as a snack, accompanied by most other foods. Sausages are mostly sold ready to eat, but the process is easy and fast for those who wish to cook them.

All these reasons make sausages a top snack for many people.

How To Tell If Sausage Is Spoiled?

If your sausage has gone bad, there are several ways to tell. First, the sausage will be slippery when touched. Second, the sausage could have a terrible odor; third, you could notice black, white, or grey spots on the surface. Fourth, you could also see a possible color change. Any single or combination of these traits means the sausage has spoilt.

What Are the Signs of a Spoiled Sausage?

Well, sausages get spoiled due to the presence and proliferation of bacteria. Each of the signs you notice has bacterial activity behind it. Some easy ways I can tell my sausages have gone bad from bacterial activities include:

• Foul smell: A terrible odor of the sausage, like for many other foods, means the rotting process has already begun. Hence, the sausage has gone bad. In sausages, the off-smell may vary but you’ll most likely experience an odor close to rotten eggs or meat.
• Slipperiness: Bacteria will always cause the sausage casing to become greasy and sticky. When the texture is sticky, the best option is to discard the sausages.
• Molds: When sausages go bad, they show black, grey, and white spots. If you can spot any of these on the sausage, the spoilage may have begun.
• Color change: Before spoilage, the sausage is pinkish or reddish when still raw. However, if you notice the color change to brownish or grayish, it indicates the spoilage is already taking place.
• Expiry date: Most of the sausages you have will have been purchased from your local grocery shops. By law, all packed edible products have a sell-by date, after which they are deemed unfit for consumption. If your sausages have reached this date, then it is advisable to discard them.

How Do Different Types of Sausage Get Spoiled?

Sausages differ based on their preparation and the type of meat used in making them. That impacts how long they stay edible. Signs of spoilage may also vary from one kind of sausage to another.

Although the signs mentioned above are common, here is a short description of how to tell whether other common sausages have begun to spoil.

• Italian sausage: It has a shelf life of about five days when bought and refrigerated. When they have gone bad, they show dark coloring on the inside, indicating they are past their prime.
• Chicken sausage: They can last for about four days when refrigerated and longer in the freezer. If the color turns greyish, it is time to throw it away.
• Pork sausages: Fresh pork sausages are bouncy and firm. Again, they are pink-colored without weird spots. Spoilages show up as discoloration near the edges and odd whitish, blackish, or greyish spots.
• Summer sausages: Summer sausages are semi-dry sausages that can be kept without refrigeration. They are often dried, smoked, or cured. Summer

How Can I Preserve Sausages?

Sausage preservation is similar to that of other perishable foods. The techniques you decide to apply in preserving sausages may vary depending on how long you want them preserved.

Again, it will also depend on the types of sausages. Here are a few of the commonly used methods to preserve sausages.

• Freezing: It is one of the most used for preserving sausages, thus extending their shelf life. Freezing means cooling the sausages to low temperatures of about -5 °F, thus preventing most spoilage-causing bacteria from proliferating on the sausage. Freezing can keep some sausages suitable for up to six months.
• Refrigeration: It is also a way of cooling the sausages to inhibit the growth of bacteria but not at extreme temperatures like freezing. Doing this could keep the sausages suitable for several weeks, say five to six. Definitely longer than if they are kept at room temperature.
• Sealed containers: One of the ways bacteria get access to food materials is through exposure to air. There are so many bacteria in the air that could lead to food spoilage. Covering your sausages tightly will prevent exposure, thus increasing the time they remain suitable for consumption.
• Cool and dry environment: This technique works best for summer sausages, which can remain unrefrigerated for close to five weeks and still be suitable for consumption. However, for this to happen, they must be kept in a dry and cool place with a temperature below 90 °F.

What Are the Dangers of Consuming a Spoilt Sausage?

Eating a spoilt sausage could lead to food poisoning. That is a health hazard and could show in several ways. Here are some of the most notable symptoms of eating spoilt sausages.

• Nausea
• Headaches
• Uncontrolled sweating and fever
• Malaise
• Stomach cramps
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Joint pains
• Diarrhea

If the Sausage Casing Has Weird Spots, Can I Remove it and Cook the Sausages?

One of the weird myths about spoilt sausages you will hear people say is that they can make it edible again by removing the casing. However, once you realize the case has weird spots or is greasy, it also means there is potential spoilage inside the sausage.

As such, removing the casing and then eating it could pose health risks, and you could show the symptoms mentioned in the earlier section. Thus, the best solution is to discard the sausage if you notice weird spots or a greasy texture.

Frequently Asked Questions to How To Tell If Sausage Is Spoiled?

Conclusion to How to Tell If Sausage Is Spoiled?

Sausage that is spoiled will have strange spots or discoloration, an off-putting smell, and a greasy texture. If your sausage shows any of these signs, they are best thrown away than risk food poisoning.