It’s easy to end up with leftovers, especially when feeding a crowd. It can happen even for a well-loved food such as hot dogs. Wondering how long do cooked hot dogs last in the fridge? This is the type of information that can help you plan leftover meals and avoid waste. We’ve got your back!
Whether young or old, hot dogs are everybody’s favorite. People eat them everywhere, from backyard grills to ball games and city fairs. They’re easy to prepare for a quick snack or serve them with fancy toppings at a barbecue party.
More importantly, hot dogs go well with an impressive variety of foods. If you’re looking to enjoy them in different ways, try some of these creative sides for hot dogs.
Sometimes you end up with leftover cooked hot dogs and wonder how to store them properly for later use. We’ll show you that as well as how to tell if they’re safe to eat.
When stored correctly, cooked hot dogs can last up to four days in the fridge before going bad.
Keep reading to learn more about hot dogs, their shelf life, how to store them properly, how to reheat them, and how to know if they’ve gone bad.
Boiling Method Boiling is a gentle method to reheat hot dogs. Fill a pot with water and bring it to a simmer but not a rolling boil to avoid splitting the sausages. Submerge the hot dogs and let them heat for about 4-5 minutes or until heated through.
How To Thaw and Reheat
The best way to thaw frozen cooked hot dogs is to simply leave them in the fridge overnight. However, if you’re in a hurry, you can always opt for the microwave’s defrosting option.
After thawing, there are a few ways to reheat. You can grill, boil, or even steam them.
You can also wrap them in foil and reheat them in the oven. Do that until they’re sizzling hot inside and out.
Note: We made some amazing Hot Dog Burnt Ends. When we reheated the leftovers, we just scooped some into a covered bowl and heated in the microwave.
The Overall Shelf Life
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends sticking to the “use-by” date.
On the other hand, the “best by” date is more generic. Hot dogs, when stored properly, can stay safe to consume for up to two weeks beyond that date, but I would definitely be checking on them to make sure they haven’t spoiled. It’s good to be a bit paranoid when it comes to food safety.
How to Microwave a Hot Dog
FAQ
Can you eat leftover cooked hot dogs?
Can you heat up hot dogs twice?
Is it safe to reheat hotdogs?