Ah, yes, liverwurst, the rich, creamy sausage that everyone loves on their sandwiches. Often tasting more like pâté, this delectable meat has been a brunch favorite for centuries.
The only thing we don’t like about liverwurst is that it goes bad way too soon for our liking. In fact, you can only store liverwurst in the fridge for up to 6 days before it goes bad.
So, the big question is: can you freeze liverwurst to make it last longer?
Absolutely! By putting your liverwurst in the freezer, you can enjoy this delicious sausage for up to 2 months.
But when stored incorrectly, liverwurst can spoil much sooner than you think. At the very least, it can absorb foreign odors in the freezer.
So, how do you freeze liverwurst properly?
Keep on reading to find out.
Can Liverwurst Be Frozen?
Yes. Liverwurst freezes quite well, much like other hams and sausages. Due to its high-fat content, liverwurst spoils quite quickly in the fridge. So, the best option to extend its lifespan is to keep it in the freezer.
When stored properly, frozen liverwurst can last up to 2 months with little to no change in flavor and texture.
With that in mind, let’s talk about how to freeze liverwurst properly:
How To Freeze Liverwurst?
Liverwurst is fully cooked before it is packaged and sold. However, this doesn’t make it last very long in the fridge.
The best way to store liverwurst long-term is to keep it in the freezer. Here’s how:
- Cut your liverwurst if you prefer easier thawing. Otherwise, skip this step.
- Separate the meat into portions unless you plan to eat the whole thing in the future.
- Wrap your liverwurst in cling wrap. Use multiple layers to help the sausage retain its shape (take note that liverwurst is soft!)
- Label the sausage with today’s date, then put it in a spot in your freezer where it won’t get squashed by other items. To be safe, put it in an airtight plastic container.
- Store for up to 2 months.
If you are freezing liverwurst slices, here are some additional tips:
- If you bought the sausage whole, slice it thicker than you normally would. Doing so can help the meat retain its shape.
- Place your liverwurst slices between wax papers so that they don’t stick together when you freeze them.
Yup, freezing liverwurst is that easy. However, you have to make sure that you don’t put other things on top of it; this soft sausage can easily bend out of shape.
- Important Tip: Keep your liverwurst at the very back of the freezer and in the bottom layer. This is the spot with the coldest temperature, which should help make your liverwurst last longer.
Although liverwurst can last up to 2 months, we definitely recommend eating it sooner rather than later.
Can You Freeze Cooked Liverwurst?
If your sausage has already been heated up, you can still freeze it with no problem. However, it might become drier than uncooked liverwurst, so it might be better to just eat your cooked liverwurst all at once.
To freeze cooked liverwurst, we suggest using an airtight plastic container instead of a bag. Cooked liverwurst is softer and can therefore get mushed easily when kept in a bag.
Can You Freeze Homemade Liverwurst?
Yes! Just like store-bought liverwurst, you can keep your homemade sausage in the freezer indefinitely.
However, since homemade liverwurst contains fewer preservatives, it might not last as long as store-bought liverwurst. To ensure food safety, we suggest keeping your liverwurst in the freezer for up to a month only.
And again, always look for signs of spoilage before eating your liverwurst.
When you’re ready to use your meat, here’s what you need to do:
How To Thaw Frozen Liverwurst?
The best way to defrost frozen liverwurst is to put it in the fridge overnight. The slow thawing will allow the meat to thaw evenly and prevent it from drying out.
But what if you’re in a hurry? Can you thaw liverwurst in the microwave?
Nope, defrosting liverwurst–or any type of sausage, for that matter–in the microwave is not a good idea. It will make your sausage drier and can leave cold spots in the middle of the meat.
After you thaw your liverwurst completely, you can use it as is. Spread it on toast, bagels, and English muffins, or add it to open-faced sandwiches.
Alternatively, you can also heat it up liverwurst. You can fry it up with butter, toss it with oil and onions, or pop it in the microwave for about 10 seconds–yum!
Either way, make sure to use liverwurst as soon as you take it out of the fridge. Do not leave liverwurst at room temperature for longer than two hours. (*)
Also, we do not recommend refreezing thawed-out liverwurst. You can try it, but it’s likely going to make your sausage dry and unpleasant to eat.
More than that, thawed-out liverwurst may have already started growing bacteria if you have left it out for too long. Putting it back in the freezer won’t kill the bacteria–it will just stop the growth.
How To Tell If Liverwurst Is Bad?
Signs of spoilage for liverwurst are the same as in most foods. If your liverwurst smells bad, tastes weird, has a slimy texture, or has changed in color, throw it out immediately. (*)
Looking out for signs of spoilage is especially important if you eat your liverwurst uncooked. So, even if you have frozen your liverwurst, always be wary of strange signs. Food poisoning is no joke!
FAQs
It will last in the fridge for about a week. liverwurst is a type of sausage that is made from pork or beef liver, bacon, and bread crumbs. It is usually smoked or cured, and has a strong flavor.
Yes, liverwurst is a good source of protein and vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is important for red blood cell production, nerve function, and DNA synthesis. Protein is necessary for the growth, repair, and maintenance of muscle tissue.
Braunschweiger is a type of liverwurst that is made with pork and beef livers. In other hand, Liverwurst can be made with a variety of meats, including pork, beef, chicken, turkey, and venison.
Final Thoughts
And that’s all we have for the question: Can you freeze liverwurst? As you can see, it’s super easy to freeze liverwurst, and it’s much easier to thaw it out.
Just remember to use an appropriate container and make sure your freezer is below 0. Liverwurst, in general, spoils quite easily, so you don’t want to take any chances!
Want to know more about freezing sausages? Don’t worry; we have every informative guide you need in our blog–be sure to check it out!
Up Next: How do you freeze Braunschweiger?
