Of course, foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember that hot dogs, like a lot of other proteins, usually have a sell by date and not an expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely eat them for a short time even after the sell by date has lapsed if they were stored properly.

How to tell if Hot Dogs are bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your hot dogs have gone bad. Some common traits of bad hot dogs are dull, slimy flesh and a sour smell. They will change from a reddish color to a brown or gray color.

To tell if frozen dogs have been there too long, you will see freezer burn starting to appear on the hot dogs. Freezer burn appears in dull white patches (slightly different looking than regular ice) which are in the hot dogs. Since hot dogs are so moist, their freezer life is shorter due to ice build-up. Freezer burned hot dogs should be thrown away.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Hot Dogs to extend their shelf life?

You can help hot dogs keep fresh longer by storing them in your refrigerator immediately after use. Once prepared, hot dogs should be stored in a tightly closed container to keep out moisture and other contaminants. For a long-term option, you can freeze your hot dogs while preserving their taste if you use a freezer safe container.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Hot Dogs:

How long are Hot Dogs good for when prepared in a dish?

How long do hot dogs last? That depends. How long does bread last? In general, they last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Hot Dogs lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Hot Dogs.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Hot Dogs shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!