How Long Food Lasts

Meat / Smoked or Processed

How long do hot dogs last?

Quick answer

Hot dogs keep 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 1-2 months in the freezer.

  • Hot dogs 2 weeks in the refrigerator · 1-2 months in the freezer
  • Opened 3-7 days in the refrigerator · 1-2 months in the freezer
Form

Fridge

From purchase

2weeks

Freezer

Can be frozen: yes

1-2months

Pantry

No known time

-

Mine has been in the fridge for

Refreeze after thawing in the fridge?

United States
Yes
United Kingdom
Only after cooking

How long do hot dogs last in the refrigerator?

  • Hot dogs2 weeksFrom purchase
  • Opened3-7 daysAfter opening

Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 °F or below.

Your fridge should be set between 0 and 5°C.

How long do hot dogs last in the freezer?

  • Hot dogs1-2 months
  • Opened1-2 months
  • Chicken hot dogs, opened1-2 months
  • Chicken hot dogs, unopened1-2 months

Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.

Your freezer should be around -18°C

A freezer acts as a pause button - food in a freezer won’t go bad and most bacteria cannot grow in it.

Can you freeze hot dogs?

Yes.

How to thaw hot dogs safely

  1. In the refrigerator
  2. In cold water, cook it right after thawing
  3. In the microwave, cook it right after thawing
  4. Cook it from frozen

There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.

Check the water frequently to be sure it stays cold. Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately.

It is safe to cook foods from the frozen state. The cooking will take approximately 50% longer than the recommended time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry.

You should defrost your food in the fridge so that it doesn’t get too warm

It’s also important to use food within 24 hours after it’s been fully defrosted

Can you refreeze hot dogs?

  • In the United StatesYes
  • In the United KingdomOnly after cooking

Food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking, although there may be some loss of quality.

Foods thawed by the cold water method should be cooked before refreezing.

After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods.

You can freeze food again once cooked, but you’ll only be able to reheat it once after that

Can hot dogs be stored at room temperature?

Official sources give no room-temperature (pantry) storage time for hot dogs.

All forms at a glance

FormFridgeFreezerPantry
Hot dogs2 weeks1-2 months-
Opened3-7 days1-2 months-
Chicken hot dogs, opened-1-2 months-
Chicken hot dogs, unopened-1-2 months-

What the official sources say

“Hot dogs Unopened package, 2 weeks; Opened package, 1 week”

“Unopened package 2 weeks 1 to 2 months”

“Hotdogs, unopened 2 weeks 1-2 months”

“Frankfurters, bologna 2 weeks”

Frequently asked questions

How long do hot dogs last in the refrigerator?

Hot dogs: 2 weeks; Opened: 3-7 days.

How long do hot dogs last in the freezer?

Hot dogs: 1-2 months; Opened: 1-2 months; Chicken hot dogs, opened: 1-2 months; Chicken hot dogs, unopened: 1-2 months. Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Can you freeze hot dogs?

Yes.

Can you refreeze hot dogs?

In the United States: Yes; In the United Kingdom: Only after cooking.

Can hot dogs be stored at room temperature?

Official sources give no room-temperature (pantry) storage time for hot dogs.

Good to know

Other figures given by the sources for close variants:

  • Hot dogs Fridge 1 week
  • Hot Dogs and Luncheon Meats: Hot dogs Fridge 1 week
  • Beef Hot Dogs, Opened Package Fridge 7 days Freezer 1-2 months
  • Hot Dogs and Other Cooked Sausage Fridge 7 days
  • Hot dogs, Opened package Fridge 1 week Freezer 1-2 months
  • Chicken Hotdogs, after opening Fridge 1 week Freezer 1-2 months
  • Chicken Hotdogs, unopened Fridge 2 weeks Freezer 1-2 months

Related foods

Sources

We always show the most cautious time among official sources. Last verified: October 1, 2026.

Values we do not display (8)

Values below were set aside: unconfirmed by a second independent source, or contradicted by a shorter time.

  • Chicken hot dogs, opened, fridge: 1 week (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
  • Chicken hot dogs, unopened, fridge: 2 weeks (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
  • Opened, fridge: 1 week (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
  • Opened, fridge: 1 week (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
  • Opened, fridge: 7 days (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
  • Opened, fridge: 7 days (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
  • Opened, fridge: 1 week (foodsafety.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
  • Opened, fridge: 1 week (pubs.ext.vt.edu, a source gives a shorter time)