How to Freeze Sausage Patties After Cooking

Freeze cooked sausage for later use.

Leftover sausage does not have to go to waste, you can freeze it and consume it days later. Sausage that is cooked, frozen and then reheated is quite tasty and is convenient, especially when little time is available to cook the sausage from scratch. To prevent cross-contamination and freezer burn, there are several rules you should observe when freezing cooked sausage. The sausage must also only be frozen within certain temperatures and for a specific amount of time.

Things You'll Need

• Storage container or freezer-safe wrap
• Tape
• Marker or pen

Instructions

1. Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.

2. Cook the sausage in the frying pan or oven as you normally would. Place the cooked sausage on a clean plate or cutting board, don't place the cooked meat on the same surface used to prepare the raw sausage. Allow the sausage to reach room temperature.

3. Wash your hands with soap and warm water after cooking is complete. You must freeze the sausage within four days of cooking.

4. Put the cooked sausage in a freezer-safe container or wrap. Plastic and glass containers with tight lids or plastic wrap are suitable for long term storage in the freezer. Make sure the sausage is tightly wrapped and no air can get through to cause freezer burn.

5. Place a piece of tape on the wrap or container. Write the type of sausage and the date. You must use the sausage within three months.

6. Place the wrapped sausage in a freezer at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

References

• Home Food Safety: Food Safety Tips for Fresh Sausage
• USDA: Sausages and Food Safety -- Sausage Storage Chart
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Agriculture; Freezing Cooked and Prepared Foods -- Combination Dishes; Frances O. Van Duyne; 1984