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What are the different kinds of sausage?
Though sausages are commonly associated with European cuisine – think wursts from Germany, kielbasa from Poland, and salami from Italy – they’re also found in many other cuisines around the world. In South Africa, they have boerewors, which are spiced with coriander leaves and cloves. In Japan, they have kamaboko or fish sausage. And in the Philippines, they have a sweet and garlicky longganisa.
Despite there being different kinds of sausages worldwide, they all fall under four main categories – fresh, smoked, cured, and cooked.
Fresh sausages
Breakfast sausage links, loukanika, and sausage patties are your basic unsmoked, uncooked sausages. You’ll often find these packed in plastic in freezers at the supermarket. These types of sausages must be boiled, grilled, or cooked in a pan before consumption.
Smoked sausages
Smoked sausages like kielbasa, saveloy, and andouille are slow-cooked in a smokehouse and can be eaten straight from the pack.
Cured sausages
Cured sausages like salami and chorizo are salted and fermented, and usually don’t need to be cooked. These dry, hard sausages can also be stored in the pantry with no refrigeration.
Cooked sausages
Cooked sausages like bratwurst, blood sausage, hotdogs, and frankfurters are pre-cooked then frozen. Though they’re pre-cooked, we still recommend either grilling or boiling these snags before serving.
How long does cooked sausage last in the fridge?
According to USDA, pre-cooked sausages last up to two weeks in the fridge if unopened and one week after opening. When stored in a freezer, pre-cooked sausage can last one to two months. Look out for a use-by date on the packaging too.
Leftover sausages can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days, and in the freezer for two to three months. When you’re ready to use frozen sausages, just place them in a bowl or plate on the lowest shelf in your fridge and wait for them to thaw out. Fully thawed sausages will be soft and easy to pull apart.
How can you tell if a sausage has gone bad?
There are three things to watch out for when checking if a sausage has gone bad. First, a funky acidic aroma. Second, an odd texture – either too slippery or too hard. And third, a change in colour – if a sausage looks greyish or has grown brown, green, or black spots, get rid of it right away!
What can you do with leftover sausage?
If you have any leftover sausage that you don’t want to go to waste, here are five ways you can cook the leftover sausage.
1. Easy step-by-step fried rice
Fried rice is an easy-to-cook and comforting meal that can be made entirely out of leftover rice, mixed veggies, and sausages. If you have any leftover Chinese sausage, try whipping up this easy, Chinese-style fried rice.
2. Italian beef sausage macaroni
While there are many ways to incorporate leftover sausage into pasta or stew, we love this hearty Italian beef sausage macaroni recipe.
3. Sausage and red capsicum frittata
A frittata is a dish similar to an open-faced omelette. You can put pretty much whatever ingredient you want in a frittata, from veggies like potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and spinach, to meats like chicken, beef, and sausages. Try this sausage and capsicum frittata recipe.
4. Roast chicken sausages and capsicum tray bake
If you’ve got any leftover chicken sausages, put together this healthy recipe of roast chicken snags, capsicum, cherry tomatoes, oregano, balsamic vinegar, and onions.
Sausage gravy
Sausage gravy is another comforting dish that’s usually poured over biscuits and served for breakfast in Southern parts of the US. It’s made by heating small bits of sausage in a skillet with milk, flour, salt, and pepper. Here’s a no-frills recipe that even beginner cooks can follow.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 ½ cups milk
- Salt and pepper
- Two sausages
- Biscuits
Directions
- Heat biscuits in an oven.
- Tear the sausages into small pieces and throw them into a large skillet.
- Heat the sausage bits for about six minutes, then coat them in flour.
- Add milk, stirring the mixture until it turns into a thick gravy.
- Let it simmer for one to two minutes.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour over toasted biscuits and enjoy!
