How long do hot dogs last?

Checked 25 Oct 20268 official publishers, 9 sources

Unopened: 2 weeks in the fridge and 1-2 months in the freezer for best quality.

Official stance

“Avoid Choose these instead ... Unheated deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs ... Deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs ... reheated to 165°F or until steaming hot” CDC

Storage times for hot dogs by state and place
StateCounter / pantryFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Unopened 2 hours max CDC 2 weeks safety FDA FoodKeeper Extension Extension Sources disagree: 3 weeks Extension 1-2 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension FDA Extension Extension
Opened 2 hours max CDC 2 days Extension Sources disagree: 1 week FDAFoodKeeperExtensionExtension 1-2 months best quality FDA Extension
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStateCounter / pantryFridgeFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Unopened-2 weeks1-2 months
Nebraska ExtensionUnopenedNot recommended2 weeks1-2 months
FDA 2018Unopened-2 weeks1-2 months
NDSU ExtensionUnopened-2 weeks1-2 months
Utah State University ExtensionUnopened-3 weeks-
University of Illinois ExtensionUnopened--1-2 months
CDC 2025Unopened2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Opened-1 week-
Nebraska ExtensionOpenedNot recommended1 week-
FDA 2018Opened-1 week1-2 months
NDSU ExtensionOpened-1 week1-2 months
CDC 2025Opened2 hours--
University of Wisconsin-Madison ExtensionOpened-2 days-

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • “Freeze in original packaging.” Extension
  • “Cook bacon or hot dogs before eating.” Extension

What the sources say

An unopened package of hot dogs keeps 2 weeks in the refrigerator according to FoodKeeper, the FDA storage chart, the Nebraska Extension chart and the NDSU Extension food storage guide.1324

After the package is opened, those four sources halve that to 1 week.1324

Utah State University Extension, which calls them frankfurters, lists a longer optimum storage time of 3 weeks in a vacuum package at 38 to 40 °F.51324

A University of Wisconsin-Extension sheet on food product dating is much stricter once the package is open, saying to use or freeze opened hot dogs within 2 days, so for opened packages the sources disagree.81324

The same Wisconsin sheet reminds readers to cook hot dogs before eating them.8

For the freezer, FoodKeeper, the FDA chart, the Nebraska chart, NDSU and the University of Illinois Extension all give 1 to 2 months, and Illinois suggests freezing frankfurters in their original packaging.13246

The FDA and NDSU charts give that same 1 to 2 months whether the package has been opened or not.34

Nebraska Extension marks hot dogs as not safe at room temperature.2

On its Listeria prevention page, CDC places unheated hot dogs on the avoid list for women who are pregnant, newborns, people 65 or older and people with a weakened immune system, and offers hot dogs reheated to 165 °F or until steaming hot as the alternative.9

Rules that apply here

The 2-hour ruleFridge and freezer temperatureFreezing and refreezing
Deli meatBaconSalami

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 98: Hot dogs. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Hot dogs. DOP_Refrigerate: 2 Weeks; Refrigerate_After_Opening: 1 Weeks; DOP_Freeze: 1-2 Months
  2. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Hot dogs Not safe 2 weeks (unopened); 1 week (opened) 1 to 2 months
  3. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Hot dogs, opened package 1 week 1 - 2 months unopened package 2 weeks 1 - 2 months
  4. 1 • FN579 • Food Storage GuideNDSU Extension. NDSU Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25. hotdogs, unopened package 2 weeks 1 to 2 monthshotdogs, opened package 1 week 1 to 2 months
  5. Food Storage in Home | USU. Utah State University Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Frankfurters vacuum package 38-40°F refrigerator 3 weeks
  6. Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Frankfurters 1 to 2 monthsFreeze in original packaging.
  7. Preventing Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Never leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F).
  8. Safe and Healthy: Food Product Dating. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Packaged (bacon and hot dogs) Eatup to 2 weeks past date. Once opened, use or freeze within 2 days.Cook bacon or hot dogs before eating.
  9. Preventing Listeria Infection | Listeria Infection | CDC. CDC. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Avoid Choose these instead ... Unheated deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs ... Deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs ... reheated to 165°F or until steaming hot