share on PinterestJill Chen/Stocksy United With sol many flavors and varieties, it ’ s no wonder that you ’ re crave sausage. But is it safe to eat during pregnancy ? The flying answer is yes, you can enjoy sausage safely when you ’ ra pregnant. That said, there are some food rules you ’ ll need to follow to ensure you and your baby preceptor ’ thymine catch pale. hera are the types of sausages you can safely eat, notes for preparing them, and when you should call the doctor if you have concerns.
When sausage is OK during pregnancy
Before you sink your teeth into that tasty bratwurst, it ’ s important to know that there are four independent types of blimp. All are made with ground meat that ’ second mix with assorted seasonings, fatness, salt, and possibly preservatives or fillers. The kernel mixture is then stuffed into a convenient case ( much made from animal intestines ) or sometimes pressed into patty shape .
- Fresh sausage is made from uncooked meat that’s either chopped, ground, or pureed. Examples include Italian sausage, Mexican chorizo, bratwurst, breakfast links, and sausage patties.
- Pre-cooked sausage, as the name implies, is made from pureed meat that’s precooked either before or after stuffing into casings. Examples include hot dogs, bologna, frankfurters, mortadella, and some German-style “wursts” (but you should always double-check with your butcher).
- Smoked sausage is another type of cooked sausage that’s smoked in either a smoker or smokehouse over a slow-burning fire. Examples include andouille and kielbasa.
- Cured sausage is what you might often see on a charcuterie board. It’s made with fresh meat that’s salted and then left to air-dry for weeks or months. Examples include Spanish chorizo, coppa, and Genoa salami.
thus, what ’ second safe ? Any type of blimp that is impertinently cooked is condom to eat, provided that you eat it while it ’ s inactive hot and not after it ’ south been sitting out a while. You ’ ll need to pay attention to temperature, excessively, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) :
- For sausage made with lamb, pork, beef, or veal, aim for an internal temperature of 160°F (71.1°C).
- For varieties made with turkey or chicken, aim for a bit warmer — 165°F (73.8°C).
This means that your favorite fresh sausages ( breakfast links, pork barrel blimp, italian sausage, some bratwurst and bockwurst, etc. ) and cooked/smoked sausages ( hot dogs, braunschweiger, cotto salami, polish blimp, kielbasa, etc. ) are likely safe provided you ’ ve followed these food safety guidelines. Related : safely handling meat, poultry, and fish
When sausage is not OK during pregnancy
You may want to pass on cured sausages ( besides called cold cured meats ), like salami, pepperoni, certain chorizo, and prosciutto. That is, of course, unless you cook them in full before eating. For exercise, you may be very well to eat pepperoni atop a pizza that has been baking at high heat in your oven. The USDA notes that cured meats may harbor E. coli, which is a bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. While the use of salt, lactic acid, and early ingredients does much kill off bacteria, bad people ( including pregnant people and children ) are best off sticking to heat-treated meats. With all types of sausage, the worry is eating undercooked or differently pollute meat that can lead to foodborne illnesses. evening precooked meats, like hot dogs, can harbor bacteria like Listeria and shouldn ’ t be eaten without heating adequately. Another business with kernel is with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii that can cause an infection called toxoplasmosis. About 50 percentage of toxoplasmosis infections in the United States are caused by eating foods like undercooked meats. pork, lamb, and venison are peculiarly high on the risk number, so take worry with sausages made with these meats or avoid them raw.
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Safely handling and cooking sausages at home
Cook all fresh sausage to an inner temperature of between 160°F ( 71.1°C ) and 165°F ( 73.8°C ), depending on the meat. When cooking pre-cooked sausages, aim to get them steaming hot or 165°F ( 73.8°C ). You can purchase an cheap food thermometer on-line or at a big box store. And, while tempting, never sneak a bite of blimp to sample before it ’ second fully cooked.
Cross-contamination is another concern. Before preparing early foods, always clean any ignore boards, countertops, utensils, knives, or early kitchen items that come in contact with raw meats. Simply washing well with dish soap and hot water system — and then rinsing well — is sufficient. While you ’ re at it, be certain to separate any raw meats from other ingredients in your refrigerator or when you ’ re prepping a meal. While it may seem like overkill, you may even want to make certain you keep them apart in the grocery cart as well. All sausages ( except cured varieties ) can go bad without proper refrigeration even before unfold. here ’ s a guide for how long you can store in the electric refrigerator or deep-freeze, depending on the type .
| Type | Before opening | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh sausage (uncooked) | 1–2 days | 1–2 days | 1–2 months |
| Fresh sausage (previously cooked) | n/a | 3–4 days | 2–3 months |
| Cooked sausage | 2 weeks | 7 days | 1–2 months |
| Cured sausage | 6 weeks in pantry; indefinitely in refrigerator | 3 weeks | 1–2 months |
last, but not least, constantly wash your hands thoroughly with warmly saponaceous water after handling kernel. Related : Food safety during pregnancy
Other considerations during pregnancy
One link ( 70 grams ) of a typical italian blimp packs an impressive 14 grams of protein. however, it besides contains 27 percentage of the casual fat and 26 percentage of the daily salt recommendations for the average adult. so, enjoy your darling sausages in easing along with enough of fresh fruits, vegetables, wholly grains, dairy, and other protein-rich foods. And if heartburn is plaguing your pregnancy, you might want to skip on the blimp, hot dogs, pepperoni, and similar foods. These can be triggers for heartburn, which means they get your digest acids brew and cause that atrocious burn in your esophagus. not fun at all. If you ’ ra looking for a substitute, you might even consider trying plant-based alternatives, like Beyond Sausage. It comes in three flavors — Original Bratwurst, Italian, and Sweet Italian — and boasts 16 grams of protein per link with less saturated fat than its animal counterparts. Related : The ultimate steer to vegan kernel substitutes
Signs you’ve consumed unsafe sausage
Feeling a short off ? Stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever may be signs of photograph to bacteria, like E. coli or Listeria. Contact your doctor of the church if you think you may have eaten contaminated foods. Symptoms of toxoplasmosis include things like :
- fever
- headache
- muscle pains
- stiff neck
- swollen glands
Some people may not notice any symptoms at all. unfortunately, that doesn ’ triiodothyronine mean the contagion can ’ metric ton hybrid the placenta and reach your baby. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between 300 and 4,000 babies are infected with toxoplasmosis each class in the United States. It can lead to a range of health issues for babies, including hearing loss, blindness, or intellectual delays. Some children may not develop these issues until years after they ’ ra bear. If you notice symptoms or have concerns you may have eaten naked or undercooked sausage, speak with your sophisticate for future steps. Your health care supplier may want to monitor you and your child more closely to look for signs of infection or complications.
The bottom line
You can enjoy many of your favorite sausages throughout your pregnancy. Be sure to store your kernel properly, prepare foods with clean utensils and on clean surfaces, and cook to appropriate temperatures to kill off likely bacteria and parasites. When in doubt, consider skipping a dish if you can ’ thyroxine verify these steps were followed. It ’ south well worth the excess mother to ensure you and your baby stay healthy .
