Know All the Facts About Summer Sausage & How to Cook

Imagine, you’re living in an era where the refrigerator hasn’t been invented yet. How would you store food and dishes then? 

Well, the concept of preservation was created when cold storage wasn’t an option. Even now, many food items, especially meat are getting processed for further use without any special storage. A big example of this is the summer sausage

So, what is summer sausage? It is a European-style semi-dry sausage that people use for many occasions. Is it only found in summer? Actually, no. You’ll see people giving gift baskets on holidays containing snacks and summer sausage rolls—an all-season product to find in grocery stores. 

Then, what’s so special about this item? The surprising fact about summer sausage is the taste. It remains good for a long time at room temperature. ScienceDirect has labeled it as “Shelf Stable”

Besides, the curing process and possible dishes made with it are also something you must know as a cooking enthusiast. That’s why we’ll focus on key facts to learn about summer sausage today. 

Key Takeaways

• The best type of summer sausage contains lean beef and a small amount of good fat
• Many think it is an American-origin food. But it was first seen made by German locals
• Most of the time, summer sausages are used to make quick meals or snacks
• You can eat this sausage both raw and cooked
• Although it is a good source of protein, one must avoid eating regularly to avoid heart and kidney failures; as cured meat contains a high amount of salt
• Don’t rely on market sausages, make some at home; it’s very easy
• The best thing to pair with summer sausage is cheese

What Is Summer Sausage

Summer sausage is a type of preserved food without chemicals. It is cured or dried, ready-to-eat, and semi-dry meat. It can be made of different meat blends. Some companies even sell them by mixing several edible meats in 1:3, 1:4, and 1:1 ratios. 

The main concept of the item is to lower pH and increase its longevity. The meat is minced and cured with different herbs or spices for preservation. 

If you slice a summer sausage, you’ll see a meaty red color inside with white sprinkles. It tastes a little tangier than your regular beef or bacon. 

Mostly, summer sausage is used as a snack, appetizer, or side dish. You can eat this smoked sausage uncooked or fried. The flavor of aged meat hits differently than the fresh slices you often eat. 

What is Summer Sausage Made of

There are different types of summer sausage or salami based on the meat origin. Among them, beef summer sausage is the most popular as they go with most beliefs and cultures. 

In the southern part of the US, you’d see sausage wraps with 25% pork and 75% beef or vice versa. Manufacturers collect the best parts with subtle softness and fat to mince and create sausages. 

Luxury restaurants can serve venison summer sausage in different dishes. Venison meat is a bit pricier than beef because of its rarity. 

One thing you should know is most summer sausage types are semi-dry. Due to aging, they contain 15-20% less moisture than fresh cuts. The percentage can differ a bit based on the type of curing or meat used to make rolls. 

Why is it Called Summer Sausage

The name was inspired by the purpose of preserving meat during winter to use in summer. 

Back in the early days, there was no system to freeze and store meat for freshness. Any meat would turn inedible quickly during the summer season. 

As a countermeasure to this problem, Europeans started to cut and mince different meats during winter. And let them pass through several preservation processes like curing, smoking, fermentation, etc. to preserve their quality and edibility in summer. 

The History of Summer Sausage

Summer sausage originated in central European countries such as Germany, Poland, Austria, etc. 

The tradition of making sausages is more than 5000 years old. Although the process and quality have changed throughout the years. You can find many poets and novelists mentioning the term sausage in their writing. 

For example, the prince of comedy, Epicharmus, wrote a drama named “Orya”, which means “The Sausage”. The Greek poet Homer also mentioned sausage in his legendary “Odessy”. 

So, it’s clear that the Roman and Greek empires were the places where sausages became famous. Later on, The process spread around Southern Europe. We guess that sausage turned into a food habit in areas like Poland, Germany, etc. around 500-1000 years ago. The summer sausage method was also invented at that time most probably. 

A few centuries ago when Germans started to settle in the US mainland, the food also got mixed with the local cultures. Soon after, it caught the attention of industry giants like Old Wisconsin. Now, you’ll find tons of different brands and names selling this item across the country. 

Is Summer Sausage Healthy: Nutrition Values

Summer sausage is healthy. It is high in fat and protein whereas the sugar level is next to zero. 

We’ve reviewed several resources to learn the actual value of one serving of summer sausage. It depends on the main ingredients, such as the meat source and seasoning. 

As beef sausage is globally popular, we’re presenting data collected from Nutritionix on beef summer sausage. 

• Calories per serving: 208 cal
• Fat: 22% (17 g)
• Cholesterol: 14% (41 mg)
• Carb: 1% (1.9 g)
• Protein: 9.8 g
• Vitamin D: 3% (0.6 mg)
• Minerals (Calcium, Iron, Potassium): 9%

[Note: The estimated numbers are for 2 Oz or 56 grams of beef summer sausage.]

Salamis can be a good source of protein and minerals. Well-processed summer sausages are good for snacking frequently. Traditional processing requires no antibiotics or preservating chemicals. So, the smoked meat can be as good as fresh ones. 

Some sausages are made of fatty meat with lots of LDL cholesterol. They can be harmful to consume regularly. We suggest avoiding them in any case. 

Also, commercial sausages can contain a high amount of salt. Patients with cardiac issues need to make the consumption of processed meat minimal. 

Eat Well Guide has recently scored a beef sausage product from a local brand. Their review is given below. 

It shows exactly what we told you moments ago. Ingredients used to process or enhance meat and taste are something you need to think of before purchase. 

There are two options for you, either buy sausage packs from a trusted seller or make it in your kitchen. 

Food companies provide the names and amounts of the ingredients on the packaging. You can define the quality from them. Still, we think making some sausages at home using organic ingredients would be the most reliable and healthiest option. 

Why Is it Different From Regular Sausage?

The definition of regular sausages can differ from man to man. In some areas, Pepperoni sausage is more available than smoked or Bologna sausage, so pepperoni is the regular one there. In other areas can find Bologna or Breakfast sausage more available and regular.

Those were some examples. So, it’s hard to define the exact differences between summer and other processed meats. As each one has its own characteristics and taste qualities. 

However, we can give you a small brief. Summer sausage can be eaten without cooking or frying. But most other options need some sort of processing. 

This type of sausage can have different tastes based on the curing salts and herbs used for processing. Whereas other ones can have specific tastes. Another special thing about it is you’ll visibly separate fat and meat. 

Does Summer Sausage Need to be Refrigerated

The answer is both yes and no. Most of the time, you’ll find summer sausages that are shelf-stable until you unwrap them. 

Intact sausage packs can be left in the kitchen for months. But when you unwrap it, it gets in direct contact with the temperature, wind, and moisture. If you’re living in an area where it’s not too hot, you can eat unpacked sausages for more than 7 days without refrigeration. 

When you’re buying summer sausage from a grocery store, see if the products are stored in a fridge. If so, it means the item is a frozen food that you must always store in the fridge. Sausages displayed on normal racks are shelf-stable. 

Also, see the care label on the packaging. It will tell you to freeze the meat after unpacking if needed. 

Remember that use of curing salt in a high amount omits the need for refrigeration. And summer sausage is all about processing the meat with smoking, herbs, and curing salts. So, do look for the ingredients used in the product.

How Long Does Summer Sausage Last

We left some summer sausages in the kitchen after using them a bit recently to review. As our location remains more than 40 degrees at the peak of summer, we thought the item might not last a couple of days. Surprisingly, it tasted almost like before. But the next day, it started to taste a little funny. 

So, our verdict is you can leave open sausage packets in the kitchen for almost a week in cold weather and around 2-3 days during spring or autumn. And if you refrigerate your homemade summer sausage properly, it might last more than 3 months. 

Most importantly, check the expiry date and other labels from the manufacturer. It will you the “best before” date. 

5 Ways to Eat Summer Sausage

Summer sausage is a great snack item of course, and we’ve already told you this a few times. Most Americans use summer sausages to make instant sandwiches, subs, and salads. Apart from them, there are other few other ways to enjoy beef sausages too. 

Here are some ways to eat or use summer sausages. 

Sausage Pizzas

Pepperoni sausages are famous for making mouth-watering pizzas. But sometimes, you can replace it with fresh salami or summer sausage slices. 

You need to make thin slices of summer sausage and distribute them evenly as the main topping. Let the slices have a crispy texture in the oven. When you bite the pizza, you’ll feel a different meaty flavor with creamy cheese. 

In Hams & Sandwiches

Trying to make an instant breakfast? Make slices of the summer sausage and combine them with vegetables between breads. As this sausage comes ready to eat, you can make quick recipes like subs or sandwiches during camping or journey breaks. 

With Salads

A few bites of fat-free meat can enhance a plain salad. It must be hard to depend on salads only to improve your bowel or put off weight. So, adding a little bit of protein won’t do a big harm. 

Take some cubes of sausage and fry them to make half-crispy. Then, mix all the cubes and vegs with dressing, oil, cream, etc. And, it’s done!

Pairing with Drinks

Having regular fries with hard drinks is too plain. Some spicy and exotic snacks with booze would cheer your mood. If you’re drinking red wine or beer, get a bowl of roasted sausage cubes mixed with other crackers. 

Fried or Grilled

Summer sausage comes with all types of herbs and spices to make the raw meat edible. So if you’re planning to organize a picnic in your backyard, grill cured meat instead of raw pieces to save time and effort. 

Summer Sausage and Cheese

The combination of summer sausage and cheese is like the duo of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. There are also summer sausages with cheddar cheese. That’s why we’re discussing this famous combo separately. 

The creamy and salty flavor of cheese blends with the herns inside the meat and creates something unique that will trigger your tastebuds. A fun fact is you can add any type of cheese with summer sausages. Original Swiss cheese can omit the hard flavor of meat. 

You’ve seen meat boxes, casseroles, pizzas, etc. combining different types of cheese and various sausages, either cooked or raw. 

Food companies like Wisconsin and Dublin Jerky sell cheddar summer sausages that have lots of cheese loaded inside. When you cook or fry them, you’ll find a creamy texture good enough to cover the raw smell and taste of beef or venison. 

Summer Sausage Brands

Thousands of options appear when you look for the best summer sausage brands. Each one sells various types of processed meats. 

You might be out of ideas and thinking of gifting food baskets to your relatives, including branded summer sausages. Well, we can’t define which type of summer sausage would fit your gift wrap. As it varies depending on your taste and preference. 

However, we can help you by naming some brands that we trust when buying sausages from grocery stores. 

• Wisconsin Cheeseman: One of the oldest names in the United States. Their authentic meat items are in demand throughout the year. 
• Johnsonville: Another American company that offers tons of variety. Recently the company is also guiding consumers by providing their in-house recipes and concepts.
• Dearborn Brand: This is a trusted brand preferred by several local restaurants. The pricing might seem a bit high. But the quality is firmly assured in every meat item here.

Summer Sausage vs. Salami

Summer sausage and salami are used interchangeably. Summer sausage is a semi-dry processed meat. Whereas salami is a completely dry and textured item. 

Both these items have different origins. But their purpose or use are almost identical. Here are some common differences between these two snack items. 

	Summer Sausage	Salami
Origin	German-Americal areas	Italy
Type	Semi-dry (15-20% moisture0	Full dry
Making	Processed through smoking, curing, etc.	Unsmoked and left for several days for fermentation
Ingredients	Different meats, curing salts, herbs and spices, etc.	Mainly pork with different herbs and seasonings
Taste	A tangy robust flavor with slight juiciness	Dried unique flavor where spice is more noticeable
Texture	Soft round texture with slight visibility of fat	Various shapes with the solid appearance of fat pieces.
Uses	Mainly for snack items, easy to use	Multiple uses including main dishes
Nutritional Values	High in calories and fats	High in protein and carb

As you can see, summer sausage is mainly a snack ingredient that provides a mild meaty taste in the presence of different spices. But salami is good for those who want to avoid extra fat and calories. 

Both have some benefits and drawbacks. It depends on which features you’re looking for. 

Can You Eat Summer Sausage When Pregnant

Healthline considers sausages safe for pregnant women with some conditions to add. Summer sausage is cured and semi-cooked before production. So, the bacteria that can grow and spoil the value of a dish is barely alive in that sausage. That’s why this snack is safe for future moms most of the time. 

But there are some catches. This cured meat can have some extra salts that can risk cardio performance. So, snacking on it shouldn’t be frequent. 

Also, make sure you finish your sausage within 3 weeks of opening the packet. And always heat the meat before eating. 

Another fact is summer sausage is a type of deli meat. Deli meat or delicatessens refer to precooked processed meats that are ready to eat. Pregnant women can eat deli meat if it is properly heated at 165 ℉. But it is best if such food is avoided completely (Source: Baby Center). 

Can You Eat Summer Sausage Without Cooking

You can easily eat summer sausage without baking, cooking, or frying. Just make sure sausages get the room temperature after taking them out from the fridge. 

Unpacked sausages that have been outside for several days should be fried or cooked. Because there might be possibilities of bacteria growth. 

Cured meats that were out for too long should be the last thing you want to eat uncooked. 

Is Summer Sausage Casing Edible

Only a few sausage casings or wraps are edible. Cases made of animal intestines are edible. There are some covers known as collagen cases, which are also edible. 

But the odor and flavor of these fibrous casings can be tricky and change the main meat. The best course of action would be to peel off the casing, whether edible or not, and eat. 

Times You Shouldn’t Eat Summer Sausage

A recent social media post from WHO says, “A low-salt diet with minimally processed foods reduces your risk of premature death by protecting your heart and kidneys.”  

If you’re a patient with high BP, you need to avoid eating sausages daily. Some processed meats also contain high amounts of fats. People trying to put off weight need to be careful while eating red meat sausages especially. 

Children, especially toddlers can crave fancy items like cheese and sausages. You can give them rich food as a treat. But don’t think of using those items as regular meals. 

We’ve already said that pregnant women must avoid eating summer sausages if possible. 

Frequent consumption of summer sausage can put some pressure on your stomach and bowel. It can also lead to fatal diseases like ulcers and cancer. 

How to Tell if Summer Sausage Is Bad

When summer sausages are kept in an environment where bacteria can grow rapidly, they become inedible. Some common signs are: 

• The inner color of the processed meat here is either reddish or pink with some white sprinkles. But rotten sausages can have grayish or green marks around them. 
• Bad summer sausage will smell awful. 
• You might find the sausage either too wet or dry
• Molds will start to grow here and there
• Expired meat will taste funny and extra tangy. 

A small suggestion is to check the expiry date every time before use. And keep the open sausages in a dry place. If you’re not planning to use the leftover sausages anytime soon, pack and freeze them properly. 

Summary

Well, that was some discussion indeed. If we tried to point out every single detail, it could’ve taken a whole day for you to read and understand. But that isn’t necessary because you’re not doing any PhD. in summer sausages after all. 

We’ve covered almost everything to understand what type of processed meat summer sausage is and how to enjoy this famous meaty snack. You can also try making your type of sausage following our instructions. 

Meanwhile, keep following us as we’re coming back to you with some exciting recipes you can make with summer sausages. 

But hey! We can help you make something healthy too. Read our article on homemade healthy snacks to know more. 

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