How Long Are Hot Dogs Good For After Opening The Package?

Having a grilled hot dog is one of those simple summertime pleasures people look forward to all winter. Nostalgic at the ball game and a crowd-pleaser for guests at a barbecue, these humble franks put a smile on the faces of young and old. When serving them for the masses it's always crucial to have enough, meaning you usually have leftover dogs once everyone has gone home. You might not want to eat them immediately after a grilled hot dog feast with friends, and you probably wonder how long they will last.

The good news is once you've opened a package of ballparks, you still have ample time to use them. An opened package of hot dogs will last for a full week in the refrigerator if properly stored. If they haven't sat out long, they should be a great addition to the grill next weekend.

However, if you parked your hot dogs on the counter for longer than a couple of hours, they should be tossed out. Weenies exposed to temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit for that period are prone to bacteria like E. Coli and Listeria growing, which can make someone ill. When grilling outdoors, it might be worth freezing some ice in aluminum trays and putting your uncooked dogs inside to keep them cool should they become leftovers. Before refrigerating them, however, there are extra precautions you can take to ensure the quality of your frankfurters stays top-notch.

While you can just refrigerate hot dogs in the package they came in, there are better ways to store them to maximize their shelf life. A simple way to give uncooked franks an extra barrier against bacteria is to wrap the package with plastic or aluminum foil. If you want to be even more protective of your dogs, remove them from their original packaging and transfer them to an sealable container. The "sell-by" date on the package may pass while the hot dogs are in the fridge, but as long as they are refrigerated and show no signs of spoiling, they will be perfectly fine to eat.

Freezing hot dogs is also an option; frozen frankfurters will remain at their best quality for 2 months in the freezer, though they will be safe to consume for as long as they are there. When storing them this way, it's best to put them into a freezer-safe plastic bag to prevent them from getting freezer-burned.

If you get into a package of opened hot dogs and are overwhelmed with a sour smell or a slimy texture, those dogs have seen better days. An off smell or discoloration and sliminess are clear indicators it's time to cut your losses and throw them out. Before they reach that point, make the most of leftover franks by incorporating them into a creative dish.

By no means do hot dogs need to be grilled. The sausage-like nature of frankfurters makes them a versatile ingredient that can be integrated into almost any dish. For some quick bites that don't require silverware to eat, homemade pretzel dogs are tasty treats that don't require much prep time. Cheesy hot dog taquitos are another finger food that will use up your weenies and satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

If you want a heartier meal, try a cowboy stew. It's a one-skillet meal made with ground beef, hot dogs, and barbecue sauce that will satiate the most ferocious appetite. A chili cheese dog casserole with baked cheese over a cornbread crust will have those who eat it coming back for seconds. 

Or, maybe you don't want to cook anything too extravagant to use up your opened hot dogs. You can always simply boil them and hold them in a thermos with hot water on the counter. Put out some buns, sauces, cheeses, and other toppings and create a build-your-own station where anyone can make a hot dog just the way they like it indoors. Whatever you do, check the quality of your franks if they've previously been opened before preparing them. If it's been over a week and the smell is off, that dog won't hunt.