Do Beer Brats Go Bad? [How Long Do They Last] (2024)

Do you love beer brats? They are one of my favorite summertime foods. But when you have leftovers, you’ll need to know how to store them properly in your fridge or freezer and how long they last before they go bad.

Unopened Beer Brats can last for about 14 days in the fridge. If open, then the sausages need to be used within two days. You can freeze raw and cooked Beer Brats to help them last longer. You can keep raw brats frozen for six months and cooked ones for two months.

So how do you freeze raw and cooked Beer Brats correctly? How can you tell if your Beer Brats are still good to eat? This article will discuss everything you should know.

Can Beer Brats Go Bad?

Beer Brats are some of the best sausages you can get, according to many people. They are German sausages that are spiced to perfection and taste incredible. Beer Brats are traditionally eaten cold, sliced thinly, and with sauerkraut.

Many people eat them as a snack or as a side dish to a meal. They can also be cooked and served hot on buns with condiments.

However, you can cook Beer Brats and have them as part of your main meal and eaten hot. Beer Brats are versatile sausages, which is why many people enjoy them in their own way.

There are times when you have raw or cooked leftover Beer Brats in your fridge that you might get concerned over if they have been left there for a few days.

This can raise questions about whether the sausages are still good to eat.

So, can beer Brats go bad while in the fridge? Beer Brats can spoil if left in the fridge for too long. This natural process occurs whether the Brats have been cooked or not, as they are made from meat that will start to decompose and go off over time.

How To Tell If Beer Brats Are Bad

Beer Brats have a reasonably short shelf life, so it’s essential to be aware of the signs that they are no longer safe for consumption.

Otherwise, you risk suffering from potentially severe effects like food poisoning. Food poisoning can be a serious condition that, if left untreated, can require hospitalization.

Determining the safety of your Beer Brats is easy; simply inspect their color, texture, and smell. If you observe any changes, it’s best to dispose of them as they may have expired.

Color

When looking at the color, they should be a rosy pink if raw and light brown when cooked. If the Brats have begun turning greyish, they are no longer safe to eat.

Although Beer Brats may appear edible if they have a slimy coating, even in small amounts, that’s an indication of spoilage and should not be consumed.

Visually assess your sausages for discoloration or slime-forming bacteria – but don’t forget the smell test! If it smells off, odds are you’ll want to prevent further food safety issues by tossing them out.

If the Beer Brats have a sour smell, or they smell any different from how they should smell in their raw or cooked states, then you need to be cautious about eating them.

How Long Do Beer Brats Last In The Fridge?

Knowing how to store beer brats will ensure they last as long as possible. That said, even if you store them in the fridge correctly, they will still expire at some point.

For this reason, it is essential to understand how long Beer Brats can remain in the refrigerator until they become spoiled.

The length of time your Beer Brats will last in the fridge will depend on whether the package is opened or closed.

If they are unopened and kept at a constant cold temperature, then the Beer Brats can last in the fridge for about 14 days.

However, they will not last as long once you open the Beer Brats. Opened Beer Brats will only last about two days when kept in the fridge.

Cooked Beer Brats can last for up to 3 days in the fridge.

If you are not planning to use the raw or cooked sausages within the two days after opening them, then you will need to freeze the Beer Brats to ensure they last longer so you can use them.

How To Freeze Beer Brats Correctly

If you can’t eat them within this time but want the sausages to last longer until you can eat them, it’s best to freeze them.

There are two ways you can freeze the Brats, and the method you use will depend on if you have cooked them yet or if they are still raw.

Let’s go through the methods you can use to freeze raw and cooked Beer Brats to ensure yours last as long as possible.

Freezing Raw Beer Brats

If your Beer Brats are still raw, then freezing them is relatively easy.

Keep the brats in their original packaging and place this in a Ziplock bag.

You can seal the bag tightly and place the raw Beer Brats in the middle of your freezer to help ensure they freeze evenly.

However, if you purchased in bulk at Sam’s or Costco, it’s best to open the package and use a food vacuum to seal the sausages. This allows you to freeze the right amount of brats you’ll need for your next cookout, preventing you from overcooking and spoilage.

Next, place them in the middle of the freezer, as it helps prevent

freezer burn, which helps them last even longer in the freezer.

Raw Beer Brats can last for up to 6 months when kept in the freezer, but they are best used within the first three as they are still extremely fresh during this time.

Freezing Cooked Beer Brats

If you have cooked Beer Brats that you need to freeze, this process is straightforward and will not take long. However, you will need to ensure the sausages have completely cooled down before you can freeze them.

Place the cooked beer Brats into a Sandwich bag and then into a Ziplock bag and close it tightly. Freeze the cooked Brats in portions, making it easier to prepare the proper amount you’ll need for your meals.

Remember that once they have been frozen and defrosted, you cannot freeze them again.

Cooked frozen brats can last for two months in the freezer, but it’s best to eat them before the one-month mark as they will taste fresher.

Final Word

Beer brats, like all other meat, have a short shelf life. Therefore, it is crucial to store them correctly, so they remain fresh and safe for as long as possible.

The next time you have leftovers, remember to freeze them and write the date on them if you don’t plan on eating them immediately, and keep an eye on the expiration date.

It will save you money and ensure that your brats are safe to eat when you’re ready to eat them.

Related Articles

• Brats Vs. Beer Brats
• Should You Poke Brats Before Grilling?
• Do Brats Taste Like Hot Dogs?
• What To Serve With Beer Brats?
• Best Beer to Cook Brats In
• How Do You Smoke Beer Brats?

Sources

https://diluigifoods.com/beer-brats-history/