Is it safe to eat cold hot dogs? - Complete guide

Hot dogs, sausages and frankfurters are very popular foods, and even make a quick snack when eaten cold out of the fridge. However, as popular as hot dogs are, are they safe to eat cold?

The answer to this is somewhat mixed. There are many different types of sausages, some are already fully cooked and some need to be warmed up before eating.

Some sausages can be eaten cold, while others cannot. Here’s everything you need to know about whether or not it’s okay to eat cold hot dogs.

check the label

The best way to find out more about your hot dog or sausage is to check the label on the package in which it is sold. If hot dogs are fully cooked when sold, it is okay to eat them cold.

Labeling will also give you good information about other factors, such as safe handling, cooking instructions, and ingredients and nutrient contents. Most of the manipulations require that the sausages be kept cold in the refrigerator, even if they are fully cooked, partially cooked or raw.

If the label says that hot dogs or sausages are partially cooked or raw, you should avoid eating them cold . They could contain bacteria and other nasty things that could cause food poisoning and other illnesses. You always have to cook them before consuming them and eat them right away.

listeria

Listeria is one of the main concerns when eating cold hot dogs.  It is a bacterium that lives in soil, dust, animal waste, water, and many other substances. If a person eats food with traces of listeria in it, he can get sick and get food poisoning.

Healthy people who come in contact with listeria will feel sick for a few days, but for others, the infection can be serious and even deadly, especially for pregnant women, infants, and the elderly.

Listeria can grow in cold temperatures , such as in a refrigerator, and is often found in deli meats, such as hot dogs, that have not been properly processed. For this reason, many people choose to heat their hot dogs, instead of eating them cold.

The basic symptoms of listeria are diarrhea, nausea, fever, and muscle pain. If these symptoms are experienced, it is best to seek medical attention.

types of sausages

There are many different types of sausages to choose from, so it can get quite confusing which ones can be eaten cold and which ones need to be pre-cooked.

Sausages can be made from red meat, such as beef, pork, lamb, or veal, or from poultry, such as turkey or chicken.

To avoid foodborne illness, all raw sausage containing ground beef, lamb, pork or veal should be cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Those containing minced chicken or turkey should be cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sausages sold as ready-to-eat are dry, semi-dry, or cooked.  They can be smoked, without smoking or cooked. Semi-dry sausages are usually fully cooked when heated in the smokehouse, and then partially dried. Cooked sausages are fully cooked before packaging and can also be smoked.

What sausages can be eaten cold

Cooked or smoked sausages can be eaten cold, unless stated on the label. They are made up of one or more types of minced or ground meat that has been seasoned and smoked or cooked.

Some sausages that fall into this category are

• hot dogs
• liver sausage
• bologna
• cooked bratwurst
• knockwurst
• cooked salami
• cooked thuringer
• braunschweiger
• dry kielbasa

These sausages are usually found in the deli section and can be kept in the fridge for up to a week before being eaten, but again, it is important to check the label for safe handling and storage.

What sausages should be cooked

Fresh sausages should always be cooked before being eaten.  These sausages are made from meat food products that have been reduced to minced or finely minced meat and may contain different meat by-products such as hearts, kidneys or livers.

Fresh sausages are usually seasoned, cured, and may contain binders to maintain their shape. These sausages must be kept well refrigerated and cooked properly before eating.

The sausages that fall into this category are

• fresh pork sausages
• Fresh beef sausages
• breakfast sausages
• Whole pork sausages
• italian sausages
• white kielbasa

Safe storage of sausages

One of the best ways to ensure that sausages are safe to eat is to practice safe storage. Since there are so many different variants of sausage, there will be different storage guidelines.

You should always respect the different dates that appear on the labeling, and understand their different meanings:

• The expiration date is used to let the store know how long it can store the product for sale. The product must be purchased before the date expires.
• The “best before ” date is the date indicated for the product to be used earlier to ensure the best taste and quality, it is not a purchase or food safety date, but rather guidance on the best time to consume the product.
• The expiration date is really important. The product should not be consumed after the expiration date to ensure that it is at its highest quality, and that it has no chance of spoiling.

How to preserve sausages

• Fresh no-cook sausages - These sausages can be kept in the fridge open or unopened for up to 2 days, and can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• Fresh sausages after home cooking - Home cooked sausages can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days, and can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Dried sausages - Dried sausages can be kept for up to 6 weeks in the fridge, and 3 weeks after opening. They can be frozen up to 2 months.
• Hot dogs (cooked sausages) - Cooked sausages can be kept in the refrigerator unopened for up to 2 weeks. Once opened, the sausages should be consumed within 7 days, and can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• Semi- dry sausages - Semi-dry sausages can last up to 3 months unopened in the fridge, and 3 weeks after opening. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months.

Can hot dogs be reheated?

If you’ve had a family gathering or overcooked to eat, you might find yourself with some leftover hot dogs. It can be confusing to know if hot dogs are safe to reheat the next day, but if stored correctly, reheating them is perfectly possible.

Here are some safe ways to reheat hot dogs:

Microwave - Wrap the hot dog in a paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds on full power. Check the temperature and heat more if necessary. If the hot dog is splitting around the edges, it has been overcooked.

Oven - Reheating hot dogs in the microwave is a good method if you have a lot of hot dogs to heat up. Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange the hot dogs in a single layer and cover with foil to prevent overcooking. Bake the hot dogs for five minutes, until they are hot and have a slight color change.

Related questions

Can frozen hot dogs go bad?

It is best to keep hot dogs frozen for up to 2 months. This is the period when the quality and flavor of the hot dogs will be the best. However, longer frozen hot dogs can be eaten, but they will not have the same flavor and quality as fresher ones.

Can I freeze cooked hot dogs?

If stored properly, cooked hot dogs can stay in the fridge for 3 days.  If you want to extend the shelf life of your hot dogs even further, you can freeze them in freezer bags or airtight containers. You can freeze them for up to 2 months, and you just have to thaw and reheat them before eating.

What is the best way to cook a hot dog?

There are many different ways to cook hot dogs, but the best way to cook a hot dog for the best flavor and quality is to heat it in a skillet. Add a small amount of water to the pan and heat until the water starts to boil. Add the hot dogs and cook until done.

Eating cold hot dogs

The key to knowing if a hot dog can be eaten cold is to read the label. If the label says “precooked” or “smoked”, you know that it can be eaten as is. However, if it says “partially cooked” or “raw,” you must cook it thoroughly before eating it. If you don’t, you could come into contact with listeria or other bacteria that could cause illness.

Hot dogs are the perfect snack on the go or to eat as a family. You just have to make sure that you store and prepare them properly and you will be safe.