Can You Eat Raw Sausage? Why You Absolutely Should Not!

Sausages are available in a variety of varieties. They are available in ready-to-cook packages or raw.

Most processed meats are subject to strict quality checks before they reach the final consumer. But, the whole manufacturing process isn’t foolproof.

Even the process of making the sausages could sometimes cause food contamination.

A few people believe that eating raw sausages and meat could give them more nutrients since cooking foods usually eliminate certain nutritional value, but there’s more to this story that isn’t just nutritional value.

Can you eat raw sausage? No. Meat, whether cooked or raw, should not be eaten without cooking. There are specific instructions on every sausage packet that explains how the meal will be cooked. Consuming raw meat can cause numerous health risks, which could overshadow any benefits gained from it.

If you’ve been told that eating meat in raw form is the way to live a long, healthy, and happy life, you should reconsider!

Although this belief could be derived from some practices, there’s plenty to think about before you consume commercially processed meat. Find out more below.

The Reasons You Shouldn’t Eat Sausages That Isn’t Cooked

Humans have been eating raw meat in various cuisines for a long time. Yes, you read it right. Numerous cuisines include raw meat dishes. Not only that, these dishes are also considered a very tasty delicacy.

So, how do you consume meat that is raw in the first place? Before we get started and then go on to explain the reasons why it’s not good to eat meat that is raw sausage first, it is important to clarify a few things.

Humans don’t like eating raw meat for two primary reasons: raw meat is very difficult to digest, and raw meat could be contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella.

The first one is about digestion. Unsurprisingly, raw meat can be difficult to digest. While not true that all meat is the same, some might be more digestible than others.

For instance, chicken cut into paper-thin slices or horse meat minced can be eaten easily in some dishes we’ll explore in a minute.

This particular animal is edible raw. However, there’s a big risk of an asterisk. Although they might be easier to digest, nearly every animal is infected with bacteria. This is the second reason why we shouldn’t consume raw meat.

Raw meats are bound to be contaminated by bacteria due to inherent problems in meat processing and the enzymes in the muscle fibers in the meat. The same is true for sausage makers who make raw sausages too.

Although meat processing facilities are tightly controlled and controlled, the processes the meat goes through are susceptible to accumulating bacteria.

The Tradition Of Consuming Raw Meat

As we mentioned, various food styles have included raw meat as a part of their culture.

For instance, Japan is famous for eating raw meat in various ways.

It is eaten in Mexico, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, Indonesia, and more.

So, how can they eat meat and not get sick? The reason people aren’t sick from eating raw meat in these exquisite food items is due to their preparation.

It is made by master chefs or knowledgeable street vendors. The meat is then blanched by boiling the water for a certain time to kill off any bacteria present on the outside of the meat.

After the meat has been cooked just in the middle, it’s removed to be further processed.

The cooking area is removed carefully to reveal the uncooked layer beneath that is free of any bacteria–well, most of them.

We say this because even though bacteria are thought to penetrate 0.3 millimeters from the surface of food, they can still re-infect the food using different methods.

The cooked surface is free of contaminants and is eliminated by cutting deeply enough to ensure there is no risk for bacteria to grow underneath the cooked meat.

However, despite everything prepared, bacteria could still be able to get into the meat through external transfer.

If you believe that eating processed raw meat is safe, we’d suggest not consuming it regardless of the claims of benefits.

The analogy of making and eating raw meat could be easily translated to explain why it’s not safe to eat raw sausage.

The US has strict laws against food preparation that is not properly done however, even if sausages are produced according to the strictest guidelines, the meat is vulnerable to spoilage.

It could be due to an unclean batch or contamination of the machine at the factory.

How To Eat Sausages

One way to ensure the safety and health of your food is to cook the meat according to the manufacturer’s instructions or the recipe’s instructions.

Sausages can be cooked using simmering, frying, or any other technique that uses heating. The combination of these methods may also be employed in the cooking of sausages. The most efficient way to do it is by following the guidelines on the package.

If you don’t have any instructions to cook regular sausages, cook them in an oil-based pan or boil them in water for approximately 15 minutes at moderate temperature.

It is ideal for achieving a temperature of 160degF, typically accomplished by cooking for 12 to 15 minutes. This is the ideal method to cook meat properly and make sure it’s free of bacteria.

You’ll know that the sausage has become done when its color changes between pink and a white texture that is uniform on both sides.

You could even pull out the sausage and cut the sausage in half to examine the inside. The sausage must be uniform throughout.

You can cook, bake air fry, bake deep fry, and pan-fry sausages with this method. Keep moving them around until they’re cooked on every side. The excess cooking can dry the meat, so be cautious when timing the sausages.

Other Questions Asked

After discussing why you should never consume cooked sausage and never eat it raw, let’s take a look at some of the questions about the topic!

What Happens If You Eat Raw Sausage?

Be calm and talk with a physician. Medical personnel could place you under surveillance for some time to check the possibility of you becoming sick.

The ideal possibility is that nothing should occur, but the worst-case scenario is a severe case of food poisoning, which can be treated easily when you’re being monitored.

Even though consuming a small amount of raw meat might not be a major issue, the circumstances in which the meat was prepared and how well it was cooked can play an important role in determining whether you’re susceptible to getting unwell or otherwise.

Are sausages packed in airtight containers safe to eat?

No. However well the food was packaged, prepared, and packed, there is bound to be the risk of the food becoming affected by the various phases of food processing at home.

Many factories employ the same equipment for processing several batches of meat, and you could also get bacteria from a dirty kitchen counter.

If one of the batches is exposed to any machine in any process stage, the subsequent batches could as possibly be contaminated.

That’s why all manufacturers must provide proper cooking instructions to avoid causing infection regardless of whether the food is cooked under strict regulations.

Is It Safe To Eat Rare Steaks?

Contrary to what is commonly believed, rare steaks can be harmful, particularly to those at risk who could easily contract food poisoning.

As a rule of thumb, keep in mind that there’s no definitive way to ensure the safety of cooked or raw meat. If you are unsure, simply cook it until cooked!

Norah Clark

Norah Clark

Norah Clark, the founder and editor of YummyTasteFood! She's a seasoned food writer and editor with over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry as a former pastry chef, sous chef, and barista. When not writing about food, she explores new recipes or travels the world for culinary inspiration.