Among all of the famous sandwich meats is bologna. Bologna is a delicious Italian sausage that can commonly be bought in a pack of slices for putting in a sandwich. While it has other uses, this is by far the most common usage of meat. If you buy a pack and do not make enough sandwiches to use it all, you may be wondering ‘how long does bologna take to expire?’
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Bologna Shelf Life
The shelf life of bologna is very comparable to the shelf life of other deli meats and sliced meats you can buy in any store. T
he shelf life is not incredibly long but it is long enough that you should have enough time to use the entire packet before it expires.
How Long is Bologna Good For in the Fridge?
In the fridge, bologna can last for up to 7 days. If the packaging is intact and the airtight seal is still there, you will not notice any differences.
However, similar to how bread goes stale, if exposed to too much oxygen, your bologna will start to harden and darken in color around the edges.
It will still be safe to eat, however, it may have a slightly worse texture than usual. This might not be as noticeable if you are using it for sandwich meat, yet it is still worth keeping in mind.
How Long is Bologna Good For in the Freezer?
When frozen, bologna can last for up to 3 months. This should give you plenty of time to thaw and eat it or put it in a sandwich.
It is heavily recommended that you freeze it in individual portions. Once the food has been thawed once, it is not recommended that you refreeze it.
Sectioning the food into portions can let you thaw only what you need as well as letting you have complete control over portion sizes for organization purposes. Write on the container when each portion was frozen so you know how long to keep them frozen for.
How Long is Bologna Good For at Room Temperature?
At room temperature with open or broken packaging, bologna should only be left out for 2 hours. Bacteria breeds rapidly on meat, especially at this temperature. So after 2 hours there will be so much bacteria that it is deemed unsafe to eat.
If the packaging is still intact and yet to be opened, you can store your bologna at room temperature. It’ll keep for up to a month if stored in the right conditions. These conditions are mostly keeping the bologna away from sunlight or a direct heat source. The pantry or a dark cupboard in your kitchen can be an ideal place to store this.
How To Tell If Bologna is Bad
If your bologna is bad, or you have a suspicion that it is, you can confirm this by both smelling and looking at the bologna. The first thing you should be able to notice is a rancid, pungent, and putrid smell coming from the bologna. This is caused by the bacteria breeding and growing so much that it is creating a smell.
The other way to check if your bologna is bad or not is to look at it. If there are any noticeable patches of discoloration or any formations of mold, you will know that it is bad. Other than this, you should also check to see if the surface of your food is slimy (for example, slimy carrots). This can also be a good way to identify if the food is bad or not.
FAQs On Bologna Shelf Life
Can you freeze bologna?
Bologna can be frozen and stored for up to three months. It is best to freeze it in portions so that you only thaw what you need instead of thawing the entire amount.
Does bologna go bad?
Bologna does go bad over time as bacteria will grow and build up on it. Eventually, it will get to a point where there are so many bacteria that it is unsafe to eat the bologna.
Can you get sick from old bologna?
Depending on how old the bologna is, your sickness will vary. If it is only slightly old then at worst you could get an upset stomach. If you are eating month-old bologna, there is a risk of food poisoning. It is best to keep track of how old food is so that you do not gamble.
What happens if you eat expired bologna?
Eating expired bologna is not always guaranteed to produce the same results. It depends on how long it has been since the bologna expired. The effects could range from an upset stomach, all the way to food poisoning.
How do you know if bologna is bad?
Smell your bologna. If the smell is bitter and rancid, you will know it is bad. This smell is caused by the bacteria growing on it reaching such a quantity where it produces a smell.
