Can Pepperoni Go Bad?: Did you find a bag of pepperoni slices when you are shuffling the meat drawer, You may have bought these a few weeks ago to try the pizza for your kids. If you want to know whether the pepperoni is good or not, you can check out this article.
In this article, we have provided you with everything about pepperoni like can pepperoni go bad? how long it last and many more. You can also check out our website for other food articles like Can miso go bad?
- Can Pepperoni Go Bad? How to Tell If Pepperoni is Bad?
- How Long Does Pepperoni Last?
- Can We Freeze Pepperoni? How To Freeze the Pepperoni?
- How To Store Pepperoni?
- Unknown Facts About Pepperoni
- How to thaw pepperoni?
- Can expired pepperoni make you sick?
- What does bad pepperoni smell like?
Can Pepperoni Go Bad? How to Tell If Pepperoni is Bad?
Yes, pepperoni can go bad but not as quickly as deli meats. Because pepperoni is a hard and dry sausage and is preserved with salts and nitrates. If the pepperoni is unopened, it will last about a month by keeping it at room temperature. If you want to know that the pepperoni has gone bad you need to know some signs.
- If the smell of the pepperoni stick has turned putrid or off in any other way than usual then the sausages are bad.
- If you feel that the meat is sticky, or if you see any mold or bacteria then discard the sausages.
- If your sausages are dried, you can just cut the dried part and you can use the rest.
- If the pepperoni slices are slimy and develop off smell, bad and altered taste then these slices are gone bad.
How Long Does Pepperoni Last?
Like most products, pepperoni also has the “best before date” or “best by” on the package. While for the refrigerated pepperoni, check for “Sell by date”. The shelf life of the packaged products will be longer than the expiry date if you store them properly and especially if the packs are unopened. Here we have prepared the list with the different types of opened and unopened packs of pepperoni along with their shelf life.
Check it out and know how long they last.
Types | Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer |
Pepperoni stick (unopened, sold unrefrigerated) | Best-by date | Best-by date + 2 to 4 weeks | 6 to 9 months |
Pepperoni stick (unopened, sold refrigerated) | Not Recommended | Sell-by date + 1 week | Not Safe |
Sliced pepperoni (unopened) | Not Recommended | Sell-by date + 1 week | Not Safe |
Pepperoni stick (opened) | Not Recommended | 1 to 3 weeks | Not Safe |
Pepperoni stick (opened, sold refrigerated) | Not Recommended | 5 to 7 days | Not Safe |
Sliced pepperoni (opened) | Not Recommended | 5 to 7 days | Not Safe |
When you like to buy pepperoni, prefer to buy sticks as the sliced pepperoni will not last longer like sticks.
Can We Freeze Pepperoni? How To Freeze the Pepperoni?
Yes, we can freeze the pepperoni to increase the shelf life of the pepperoni for more long time. But once you thaw it, you need to eat it or discard it. So, we have a separate process to keep the pepperoni in the freezer.
- If you are using sticks, just make them into slices to use at one time. Because once you thaw them, you cannot refreeze them.
- Use resealable bags like freezer bags, that will be able to squeeze the air easily. And also not only bags, you can also use airtight or freezer-safe containers.
- Then, finally label the container or freezer bag to know the date, because keeping the pepperoni in the freezer and eating it for a long time is not safe.
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How To Store Pepperoni?
Pepperoni is one of the most popular pizza toppings in America. To store the pepperoni we have a few different ways, based on how long you want pepperoni to last. Look into the Storage tips that are given below.
Here we will see how to store sticks to last long.
- The sticks usually come with a wrap or with a natural casing while buying them. As it has many preservatives you no need to keep them in the refrigerator.
- If your label suggests keeping it in the fridge, do it otherwise keep it at room temperature.
- If the stick package is opened then you need to keep it in the refrigerator.
- If the sausages are not so big, store them in the freezer bag by squeezing the much air as possible and sealing them.
- If the sausages are big you can wrap or cut them into pieces and then keep them in freezer bags.
As we have seen the storing of sausages, now we will see how to store the sticks.
- If you buy the pepperoni slices, you need to keep them in the refrigerator as they will be sold refrigerated.
- Once after opening, you can reseal the original packaging, by leaving the slices in it.
- You can easily keep them in a resealable bag for the leftover slices. Squeeze the air before sealing them.
- You can also keep the slices in the freezer bag and freeze them.
Unknown Facts About Pepperoni
Look into the points that were given below as we have discussed some interesting facts about pepperoni.
- A recent poll found that 36% of Americans add pepperoni to their pie while placing an order.
- Pepperoni was first used in American pizza.
- Pepperoni is a variety of salami.
- These slices or sausages are made from pork and beef.
FAQs on Does Pepperoni Go Bad
To thaw the pepperoni, you can leave it in the refrigerator overnight or you can keep it at room temperature for more than an hour before starting cooking with it.
2. Can expired pepperoni make you sick?
Yes, by eating the expired pepperoni you will get sick. You can see the symptoms of food poisoning like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. What does bad pepperoni smell like?
Bad pepperoni can smell like rotten eggs and sewage.
In a Nutshell
We as a team hope that we have provided you with the best information about whether can pepperoni go bad? and it is useful for you too. By storing the pepperoni properly, it can last long without going bad. It is always wise to heed the “best before dates” before purchasing pepperoni. Still, if you have any doubts, you can comment to us in the comment section and stay tuned for more interesting updates.