Easy to prepare and loved by children and adults alike, hot dogs are a staple in many American homes.
However, sometimes you buy too many natural hot dogs or a package gets pushed to the back of the refrigerator for a few weeks. By the time you’re ready to cook the hot dogs, you may find yourself wondering whether they’re still good to eat.
We’re going to cover how long hot dogs last as well as how to tell if they’re fresh so you and your family can safely enjoy them. Table of Contents
Hot dogs aren’t sold raw, they are fully cooked. That’s why it’s ok to eat them out of the package; it’s not raw meat.
Understanding the Expiration Date on Hot Dog Labels
To understand how long your hot dogs are good for, it’s helpful to become familiar with product labels.
On packaging you may find a date with “best-by,” “sell-by,” or “use-by” which can be a little confusing.
The USDA states that “sell-by” refers to how long a store should display the product for sale—check to see if this date hasn’t passed when you’re purchasing hot dogs in the store. A “use-by” date is the last day a producer recommends eating a hot dog, and a “best if used by” date indicates when the hot dogs will pass peak quality.
In general, you should consume uncooked hot dogs before the “use-by” date or within two weeks of the “best-by,” “sell-by,” or “best if used by date.”
Opened Hot Dogs (Uncooked)
Once you open your hot dogs, the storage time decreases. However, a package of opened, uncooked hot dogs can still last up to two weeks.
The best way to help your open hot dogs last as long as possible is to store them properly. Place the hot dogs in a ziplock bag, squeeze out excess air, and then seal the bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator until you’re ready to enjoy.
If you’ve cooked up a plate of hot dogs only to find you have leftovers, you’re probably wondering how long these cooked hot dogs will stay good.
First off, you should never leave cooked hot dogs sitting out at room temperature for more than one hour. If a plate of cooked hot dogs has been sitting out for a few hours, it’s best to throw them out.
With proper storage, cooked hot dogs will last for three to four days. To help keep them fresh, place them in an airtight bag or container and then store them in the refrigerator.
When it comes time to enjoy your leftover hot dogs, you can try out recipes such as Hot Dog Fried Rice and Kid Friendly Chili Mac with Cheese and Hot Dogs.
If you don’t think you’ll use your leftovers within a few days, you can place them in an airtight bag and pop them in the freezer. If properly sealed, they can last for up to two months.
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FAQ
Are Nathan’s hot dogs already cooked?
Is it OK to eat raw hot dogs?
Can you eat Schneiders hot dogs raw?
Can you eat hot dogs straight from the jar?
Can you eat raw hot dogs?
The FDA has done extensive research into food safety. They do not recommend eating raw hot dogs straight from the packet. There is a bacteria known as Listeria which is known to grow inside processed meat products such as hot dogs. This bacteria can only be killed off if the hot dogs are cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can you eat plant based hot dogs raw?
Yes, you can eat plant-based hot dogs raw. However, it is important to cook them properly before eating. Raw hot dogs can harbor harmful bacteria like salmonella, which can cause food poisoning. Can you eat vegan hot dogs raw? Yes, you can eat vegan hot dogs raw. However, it is important to cook them properly before eating.
Can you eat unheated hot dogs?
Yes, hot dogs are already cooked. But they can nevertheless be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes—the pathogenic bacteria that cause listeriosis—when they are processed and packaged at the factory. So eating unheated hot dogs puts you and your family at increased risk of food poisoning.
Are raw hot dogs bad for You?
Raw hot dogs can pose a health risk due to the presence of harmful bacteria like salmonella. To reduce your risk of food poisoning, follow these tips: -Make sure that the hot dogs are pasteurized – this means that they have been treated with heat to kill any harmful bacteria.