How long do hot dogs last?

An unopened pack of hot dogs keeps about 2 weeks in the fridge from purchase. Once opened, eat them within 1 week. In the freezer, they keep their quality 1 to 2 months.

Food	Fridge	Freezer
Hot dogs	2 weeksfrom purchaseOpened: 1 week	1–2 monthsfrom purchase

Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.

How to tell if hot dogs have gone bad

A slimy surface or cloudy, milky liquid in the pack.
A sour or off smell.
A dull gray or brown color, or any mold.
A bloated, puffy pack.

How to store hot dogs

Keep the unopened pack in the coldest part of the fridge.
Once opened, put the rest in a sealed bag or container, or wrap the pack tightly.
Hot dogs are already cooked, but heat them until steaming hot before eating: like deli meat, they can carry listeria.
Refrigerate cooked hot dogs within 2 hours and eat them within 3 to 4 days.

Can you freeze hot dogs?

Yes, for 1 to 2 months. Freeze them in the unopened pack, or wrap opened ones in a freezer bag. Thaw them in the fridge, or cook them straight from frozen in simmering water.

Questions

Can you eat hot dogs cold, straight from the pack?

US health agencies advise heating hot dogs until steaming hot, 74 °C (165 °F), especially for pregnant people, young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, because of the risk of listeria.

Can you eat hot dogs after the date on the pack?

Go by the times from purchase: about 2 weeks for a sealed pack kept cold, 1 week once opened. If the hot dogs are slimy, smell off or the pack is bloated, throw them out whatever the date says.

How long do cooked hot dogs last?

3 to 4 days in the fridge, like other cooked meat leftovers.

Add hot dogs to ShelfLife, and get a reminder before the opened pack runs out of time.

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