Early in the morning, you sit down to relish your delicious breakfast – eggs and sausage. However, the moment you take a bite of your sausage, a distinct smell of rotten eggs hits you. Ugh!
Why does this happen? Is it something in the sausage itself, or is it just a coincidence? Why your sausage smells like rotten eggs?
Sausage smells like rotten eggs due to three reasons mainly. The sausage may be made from spoilt pork. Secondly, it’s the packaging – the vacuum-packed pork may hit with a weird odor when opened for the first time. And finally, it may smell like sulfur because of boar taint.
So, how do you know which one is responsible for your sausage’s smell? Let’s explore.
Here is the list of different types of sausages and their shelf-life.
| Sausage Type | Self Life in Refrigerator | Self Life in Freezer |
| Unopened Bologna and Frankfurters | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Opened Bologna and Frankfurters | 3-7 days | N/A |
| Summer Sausage (Semi-dry sausage) | 2-3 weeks | 6 months |
| Smoked Sausage (e.g., Mettwurst) | 1 week | 1-2 months |
| Fresh Sausage | 1-3 days | 1-2 months |
| Smoked Breakfast Sausage Links, Patties | 1 week | 2 months |
| Open Dry Smoked Sausage (e.g., Pepperoni, Jerky, Dry Salami), opened | 1 month | N/A |
What Does A Sausage Smell Like?
Sausages come in a variety of flavors, and most of them have a distinctive smell. In general, sausages will have a slightly salty, meaty smell. They may also have a slight aroma of garlic or other spices used in the meat.
The scent of sausage is created by the mix of ingredients that go into it. Of course, pork is the main ingredient, but there are also spices like fennel, bay leaves, salt, pepper, etc. Then there’s the smoke smell from the smoking process.
All of these smells come together to create the distinct scent of sausage. It’s a smell you won’t forget once you’ve experienced it.
Why My Sausage Smells Like Rotten Eggs?
Several reasons may lead your pork sausage to smell like rotten eggs. However, not all the reasons indicate that the sausage is gone bad. Let’s take a look at some common reasons.
1. Spoiled Meat
If your sausage smells like rotten eggs, it could be because it may contain spoiled meat.
When the meat begins to spoil, it emits a sulfuric gas that gives it a distinctively unpleasant odor. If you notice this odor coming from your sausage, it’s best to dispose of it.
Eating spoiled meat can cause food poisoning, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and other potentially serious symptoms.
2. Vacuum Pack
We usually buy sausage from a local butcher or supermarket, and the packages are sealed in a vacuum pack. The vacuum-packed process completely removes the oxygen and creates seals in the meat. This process is called cryovac.
The cryovac process may build up gas inside the package, which produces a gas that smells like a rotten egg. So, when you open the sausage, your nose may get hit by the sulfur smell.
Smells in a vacuum pack may go away in a few minutes, and this smell doesn’t mean the sausage is gone bad.
3. Problems In Storage
Another possibility is that the sausage was not properly stored. If it is not stored in a cool, dry place, bacteria can also grow and cause it to smell bad.
In addition, if the sausage is not stored properly and allowed to freeze or get too warm, the casing can become old and go bad. It will cause the sausage to spoil and give off an unpleasant odor.
Furthermore, bacteria may also grow and cause it to smell bad if the sausage is not cooked properly.
However, if you are not sure what the problem is, you should throw the sausage away to be safe.
4. Boar Taint
Boar taint is a term used to describe the smell of a pig when it reaches puberty. The boar taint usually produces two types of hormones – androstenone and skatole.
The androstenone is found in male pigs, while skatole is found in female pigs. The intestinal bacteria are responsible for skatole.
If your sausage contains boar taint, it may increase during the cooking and make your sausage smells like eggs.
Things To Do If Your Sausage Smells Like Rotten Eggs
Depending on the reasons, you can take different steps if the sausage smells like eggs.
You can get rid of the smell in most cases if you rinse the sausage in running water. But, you have to be careful during this process as the meat may go off or the casing may also be spoiled.
If rinsing doesn’t fix the issue, the sausage is most likely gone bad. And, you should not eat that as spoiled sausage is harmful to your body.
As mentioned earlier, all smells are not bad, indicating breakdown and spoiling. So, when you find any smell on your sausage, you should also check the color. If it is started to turn grey or contains a green tint on the body, it might not be edible.
In addition, you can check if the pork sausage is slimy to touch. If you feel it slimy, you should trash the sausage immediately.
However, before throwing a sausage out, you can give it a try to get rid of the smells.
How To Get Rid Of Smells From Sausage?
If your vacuum-packed pork smells bad, remove it from the package and keep them in the air for 30 minutes. It will give you an idea if the sausage has really gone bad. If you don’t smell anything after 30 minutes, the sausage is safe to eat.
Another trick you can follow is rinsing the sausage in cold water. But make sure you don’t splash any water. If your sausage has any germs, a splash of water may spread the germs.
After washing the sausage links, dry them with a paper towel and keep them at room temperature for 30 more minutes. If the sausage is good, you should now see the natural color. Also, the egg’s smell should be gone too.
Preventing Your Sausage Smelling Like Rotten Eggs
There are a few simple things you can do to keep your sausage smelling fresh and delicious.
- Make sure you buy a fresh sausage. When you go to a deli store, check the sausage before buying. Look for any signs of decay, mold, or any stains on it.
- Check the expiry date.
- It is better to consume your sausage as soon as possible instead of storing them for many days.
- If you want to store them for a few days, make sure you keep them in the refrigerator and don’t store it for more than five days. However, keep them in the freezer if you want to store them longer than five days.
- Don’t keep the sausage in the freezer for more than three months. Usually, after three months, the quality begins to deteriorate.
- Vacuum-seal the sausage link if you intend to keep them a long time in the freezer. You can also use vacuum-sealed containers for longer shelf life with intact flavors, such as Lasting Freshness Food Storage Containers.
Why Does My Pork Smell Like Rotten Eggs?
Pork that smells like rotten eggs is likely spoiled and should not be eaten.
The foul odor is usually caused by bacteria growing on the meat. Pork is particularly vulnerable to bacterial growth because it is a rich source of protein. When bacteria break down the protein, it releases a sulfur compound that smells like rotten eggs.
If you notice this smell when cooking pork, it’s best to discard it.
What Does Sausage Smell Like When It’s Bad?
When sausage is bad, it has a very distinct smell. It is often described as being sour and unpleasant. The odor will be incredibly strong, and it will make your nose wrinkle in disgust.
However, the bad sausage smells like rotten eggs or sulfur in most cases. The sausage may also have a slimy texture and may be discolored. If you see any of these signs, it is best to throw the sausage away.
In addition to that, if you see any mold on the sausage, throw it away immediately. If the sausage is beginning to turn gray or has dark spots, it’s also time to toss it.
What Does Pork Smell Like When It Goes Bad?
When pork goes bad, it emits a sour, putrid smell. It is because the meat has begun to decompose and is full of bacteria. If you come across pork that smells like this, it is best to trash it.
However, some packaged pork may smell like ammonia, which may feel like a sour smell. Usually, this smell comes out due to package and process. So, you should not be confused between ammonia smell and sour smell.
Final Words
Are you still thinking about “why your sausage smells like rotten eggs?”
Any number of factors could be causing your sausage to smell like rotten eggs – spoiled meat, packaging, storage, and boar taint. However, the important thing is to figure out the source of the problem and make the necessary changes.
If you’re using freshly bought sausage and it still smells bad, it’s probably gone bad, and you should return it or buy a new one.
