refrigerate after opening.. summer sausage?

I had some the othe other day that did not say refrigerate after opening and it was fine over a two day hike. I had the same brand and it looked a bit funny after 4 days so I didn't eat it.

I always carry some summer sausage. As you know, in almost all stores, it is displayed on an unrefrigerated rack. It also has a "best by" date stamped somewhere (often readable) on the package. Many say "Refrigerate After Opening".

Cured sausage is an ancient method of preserving meats when they didn't have electric refrigerators. So, there is a lot of history to it.

I buy small packages of sausage, 6 ounces or 8 ounces or up to 12 ounces. I plan to eat the entire sausage in less than two days after opening, and keep the sausage in a clean plastic zip bag after opening.

So, on a five day trip I can carry as many as three (3) small sausages, according to this plan. Try to get different brands/flavors if you can.

A butcher told me, off the record, that these sausages are so loaded with preservatives, that they should be fine for several days if kept clean, and if there is a good period left before the "best by" or "Use By" date.

I would not recommend storing these refrigerated past the use by dates. You can feel the texture change sometimes, and eventually they will smell bad.

I've used summer sausages this way for almost 10 years now.

Summer sausage keeps quite a long time unrefrigerated. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Have had open sausage 3 days or so with little to no change.

Sodium Nitrate kills off botulism bacteria.

I buy various types of meat sausages in tiny 1-oz or 2-oz sizes. That way, one is consumed for each meal and no packages are stored open.

And then there is Trout Pate.

–B.G.–