How long do hot dogs last in the fridge and freezer?
In short: hot dogs keep 1 week in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. Frozen at 0°F (−18°C), food stays safe indefinitely, and the best quality lasts 1 to 2 months.
Storage times at a glance
| Type | Fridge (40°F / 4°C) | Freezer (0°F / −18°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Opened package | 1 week | 1 to 2 months |
| Unopened package | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 months |
Unopened versus opened
An unopened package of hot dogs keeps 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Once you open it, the clock drops to 1 week, so reseal the package or move the rest into an airtight container right away.
Signs hot dogs have spoiled
Throw hot dogs out if the liquid in the package has turned cloudy or milky, the surface feels slimy, or they smell sour. Discoloration, especially gray or green patches, is another sign they are past their best.
Heat them until steaming
Hot dogs are fully cooked, but they can carry Listeria, a bacteria that keeps growing at refrigerator temperatures. People who are pregnant, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system should eat hot dogs only after reheating them until steaming hot, not cold from the package.
How to store deli and cured meats
- Once a package is opened, the shorter opened-package time applies, whatever the date printed on the label.
- Reseal opened packages tightly or move them to an airtight container.
- Freeze in portions you can use at once; thawed deli meat is best used for cooking.
- People who are pregnant, older adults and people with weakened immunity should follow official advice on deli meats, such as heating them until steaming hot.
Freezer times are about quality, not safety
Food kept continuously frozen at 0°F (−18°C) stays safe indefinitely; the freezer times above are about flavor and texture. Label packages with the date you froze them.
Avoid freezing, thawing and refreezing the same food. Every cycle damages texture and flavor, and food that thawed outside the refrigerator gives bacteria a chance to grow. Raw food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen, with some loss of quality. Food thawed in cold water or in the microwave must be cooked before it goes back in the freezer. Never refreeze food that thawed on the counter or stayed out more than 2 hours. Freeze in small portions so you only thaw what you need.
When in doubt, throw it out
These times assume food was handled safely and refrigerated promptly. If the package shows a use-by date that comes sooner, follow the label. Trust your nose too: if food smells sour, rancid or simply off, or looks slimy or moldy, throw it out, even within these times. The reverse is not true: the bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the smell or appearance, so food that smells fine past these times is not safe either. Never taste food to check whether it is still good.
Never lose track of the date again
The hard part is rarely knowing the rule; it is remembering when you put the food away. FridgeBuddy lets you scan the barcode and printed date, choose how early you want a reminder, and see what to use first across your fridge, freezer and pantry.
Source: USDA cold food storage chart on FoodSafety.gov, last reviewed by the agency on September 19, 2023. This guide is for general information; always follow the label and your local food-safety authority.
Frequently asked questions
How long do hot dogs last in the fridge?
1 week at 40°F (4°C) or below, according to the USDA cold food storage chart.
Can you freeze hot dogs?
Yes. Kept frozen at 0°F (−18°C), food stays safe indefinitely; for the best quality, use it within 1 to 2 months.
Related FridgeBuddy guides
- Bacon — Fridge and freezer storage times.
- Deli meat and lunch meat — Fridge and freezer storage times.
- Cooked ham — Fridge and freezer storage times.
- Prosciutto and dry-cured ham — Fridge and freezer storage times.
- Food storage chart — Fridge and freezer times for every food in this guide.
- Food expiration tracker — Get reminded before food in your kitchen expires.
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