summer sausage

{{Short description|Sausages that can be kept without refrigeration}}

File:A larger summer sausage..jpg

Summer sausage is an American term for a sausage that can be kept without refrigeration until opened. Summer sausage is made of beef, pork, or sometimes venison.{{cite book | last = | first = | authorlink = | title =Venison Cookery | publisher = The Quarto Group| series = | volume = | edition = | date = 1997 | location =London | pages =113 | language = | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9grcFdM2iskC&dq=summer+sausage&pg=PA113 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9781616739027| quote=}} Summer sausage is fermented, and can be dried or smoked, and while curing ingredients vary significantly, curing salt is almost always used. Seasonings may include mustard seeds, black pepper, garlic salt, or sugar.{{cite book|author1=Dennis Buege|author2=Robert Gene Cassens|author3=University of Wisconsin—Extension. Cooperative Extension Programs|title=Manufacturing summer sausage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5MYpAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=20 January 2013|year=1980|publisher=University of Wisconsin—Extension}}{{cite book|author=Daniel Francis Wessley|title=The role of microorganisms in the manufacture of summer sausage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V25GAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=20 January 2013|year=1960|publisher=University of Wisconsin—Madison}} Fermentation of summer sausage lowers pH to slow bacterial growth and give a longer shelf life, causing a tangy taste. Summer sausages are often included in gift baskets sold by American online and mail order retailers like Harry & David, Wisconsin Cheeseman and Hickory Farms.

{{cite news | last1 = Lalomia| first1 = Felicia| last2 =Baker | first2 = Nashia |title = The 15 Best Meat And Cheese Gift Baskets For Your Charcuterie-Loving Friend: They'll hardly "brie-lieve" it! | newspaper =Delish | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =August 8, 2023 | url = https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/g37598718/best-meat-and-cheese-gift-baskets/ | accessdate = September 16, 2023}} Armour has produced summer sausage for over 100 years.{{cite news | last = | first = | title =Foods for the Motorboatman | newspaper =MotorBoating | location = | pages =34 | language = | publisher = | date = June 1917| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=GICZHOnha1QC&dq=armour+summer+sausage&pg=PA34 | accessdate =September 17, 2023 }}

Historically, summer sausage predated refrigeration and referred to meats that could be consumed "in the summer months" when high temperatures would cause fresh meats to spoil. For this reason, they became popular gifts during the winter holidays, especially in German-American settler communities.{{citationneeded|date=August 2023}}