Summer sausage is a popular snack and charcuterie staple With its tangy, salty flavor and chewy texture, it’s no wonder why people love it. If you’re a fan of summer sausage, you may have tried the offerings from Harry & David But you might be wondering – is their summer sausage actually fully cooked and ready to eat?
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Harry & David’s summer sausage and whether or not it’s pre-cooked. We’ll also provide background on what exactly summer sausage is and how it’s made.
What is Summer Sausage?
Summer sausage is a cured, fermented, and dried sausage that originated in Europe before refrigeration. It was designed to be shelf-stable and able to last through the summer months without spoiling.
These days, summer sausage is still cured and smoked, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be shelf-stable. It’s more of a ready-to-eat snack sausage known for its tangy flavor.
Traditional summer sausage uses a mixture of ground beef and pork. The meat is seasoned with garlic, peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander, and cure ingredients like nitrites. It is stuffed into casings, fermented, smoked, and dried.
The fermentation and smoking give summer sausage its signature tangy and rich taste. The drying concentrates the flavors and firms up the texture.
How is Summer Sausage Made?
While recipes can vary summer sausage is generally made using the following process
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Grinding The meat (usually beef and pork) is ground up. This allows the cure to penetrate throughout.
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Mixing: The ground meat is mixed with curing salt, spices, and starter culture. This is what gives summer sausage its characteristic tang.
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Stuffing: The sausage mixture is stuffed into casings, usually fibrous ones around 70mm in diameter.
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Fermenting: The stuffed sausages are held at 95-100°F and 85-90% humidity to ferment and cure for 1-3 days. This lowers the pH and develops flavor.
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Smoking: After fermenting, the sausages are hot smoked at low temperatures of 120-140°F. Smoking can last up to 2 weeks.
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Drying: The final step is drying the sausages until they lose about 35% of their original weight. This concentrates the flavors.
Once dried, the sausages are fully cooked and ready to eat!
Is Harry & David Summer Sausage Fully Cooked?
The short answer is: Yes!
Harry & David offers both beef summer sausage and beef & pork summer sausage. According to their website, both varieties are made from cured, smoked, and fully cooked meat.
This means that Harry & David’s summer sausages can be eaten as is without any additional cooking required. You can enjoy them cold straight from the package or lightly heated to bring out more flavor.
Harry & David produces their summer sausage using traditional smoking and drying techniques to ensure the sausage is shelf-stable when sealed. However, they still recommend refrigerating after opening to maintain freshness and quality.
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Harry & David’s summer sausages are made from cured, smoked, and dried meat.
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They are fully cooked all the way through during production.
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No additional cooking is required before eating them.
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Refrigerate after opening to keep them fresh.
Tips for Enjoying Harry & David Summer Sausage
Now that you know Harry & David’s summer sausages are pre-cooked and ready to eat, here are some tips for enjoying them:
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On a Charcuterie Board: Thin slices of summer sausage pair perfectly with cheeses, fruits, nuts, jams, and crackers for a DIY charcuterie spread.
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In Omelets or Frittatas: Dice the sausage and add it to omelets or frittatas for a savory, protein-packed breakfast.
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In Pasta: Sauté diced summer sausage with vegetables like peppers, onions, and spinach. Toss with pasta and Parmesan for a quick dinner.
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As a Pizza Topping: Slice the sausage thinly and use it as a topping on homemade or frozen pizzas.
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In Salads: Crumbled summer sausage adds great texture and flavor contrast to leafy green or pasta salads.
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As a Sandwich Filling: Layer thin slices of summer sausage with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mustard on your favorite bread or roll.
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On Crackers: Top crackers with slices of summer sausage, cream cheese, pepper jelly, or sharp mustard for an easy appetizer.
However you choose to use it, Harry & David’s convenient fully cooked summer sausage is the perfect easy-to-use protein for snacking, appetizers, or quick meals. Keep a stash on hand for those busy weeknights!
Storing Harry & David Summer Sausage
To keep Harry & David’s summer sausage fresh once opened, follow these storage guidelines:
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Keep refrigerated at 40°F or below.
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Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil to prevent drying out.
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Use within 2-3 weeks for best quality and flavor.
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Slices will last 3-4 days in the fridge.
Unopened, properly stored summer sausages can last 2-3 months in the fridge. Freeze for longer storage.
Other Popular Brands of Pre-Cooked Summer Sausage
Harry & David isn’t the only brand that makes pre-cooked summer sausage ready for snacking. Here are a few other popular options:
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Jack Links: They make a variety of smoked summer sausages from beef, turkey, venison, and more. Their Old Fashioned Pork & Beef Summer Sausage is a classic.
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Evergood: Look for their Habanero Cheddar Venison Summer Sausage for spice. Their seasoned summer sausages are smoked up to 10 hours.
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Oberto: Oberto’s Sweet ‘n Spicy Beef Summer Sausage has a touch of sweetness. Their Oh! Boy Oberto brand is very popular.
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Johnsonville: Johnsonville’s Summer Sausage comes in beef and cheddar beef, with a nice garlicky bite.
So next time you’re shopping for summer sausage, look for these brands to find sausages that are ready to enjoy without additional cooking!
The Bottom Line
Harry & David’s summer sausages are made from cured, smoked, and fully cooked meats. They can be eaten straight out of the package with no additional prep or cooking required. Just slice and enjoy!
Use their convenient sausages for easy-to-prepare snacks, appetizers, meals, or charcuterie boards. And be sure to refrigerate after opening to maintain quality and follow suggested storage times.
So go ahead and indulge in some tangy, savory summer sausage without any worries about pre-cooking. Harry & David’s got you covered!
Harry & David 2.8-lb Meat & Cheese Charcuterie Assortment on QVC
FAQ
Is summer sausage already cooked?
How do you eat Harry and David summer sausage?
Does summer sausage taste good cooked?
Is summer sausage cured?
Can you eat summer sausage at room temperature?
Summer sausage is perfect for snacking, picnics, and charcuterie boards. It is typically served thinly sliced and pairs well with wine and cheese. It is also great on sandwiches. You can also fry it up or toss it in a casserole, but the real beauty of summer sausage is that it’s simple, ready-to-eat, and tastes great at room temperature.
Can you eat summer sausage after buying it?
Summer sausage is cured, dried, and smoked, which is why it can be consumed right after you buy them. It’s usually served on sandwiches and charcuterie boards. Although not necessary, cooking summer sausage enables you to create a quick hot meal when combined with other foods.
Can you cook summer sausage?
Summer sausage is often found on charcuterie boards and in sandwiches. Since it’s dried, cooking summer sausage isn’t required, and you can consume it right after you buy it. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t cook or fry it. If you want a hot meal, summer sausage can be prepared in several ways and combined with other dishes.
How long do summer sausages last?
Once opened, semi-dry sausages can last for about three months refrigerated and between one and two months in well-regulated freezers. De-thawed meat should be eaten immediately without refreezing. As for cooked summer sausages, they typically don’t last very long. The accumulated moisture significantly reduces their lifetime.