You can over smoke meat and when you over smoke meat the smoked meat will become bitter in taste and the smoke will over power the taste of the meat.
Hickory and mesquite wood can overpower sensitive meats like fish and poultry, but even bigger, stronger cuts like brisket can be ruined if over-exposed to hickory or mesquite smoke for too long.
Another way to over-smoke meat is by using too much wood.
Smoked meat that has not been cured can sit out for at least 2 hours.
After 2 hours the smoked meat can grow bacteria and could make you sick.
However if it's cured smoked meat then it can be left out for a few days.
Smoked Sausage that has not been cured does need to be refrigerated.
Smoked Sausage that has been cured can be left out overnight.
However if it's just simple smoked sausage then it cannot and should not be left out overnight or it could grow bacteria and make you sick.
For simple smoked meats that are not cured they can be left out for at least 2 hours and after that they need refrigeration.
Smoked meat does need refrigeration to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Smoking the meat does not prevent bacteria from growing on the meat so it must be refrigerated within 2 hours.
Before refrigeration people used a combination of smoking, curing and drying to preserve meat.
Today we simply smoke it without curing or drying, so it needs to be refrigerated because moisture promotes the growth of bacteria.
Smoked meat can be kept for four days, as long as it was refrigerated within two hours of being removed from the smoker.
If you properly wrap and freeze your smoked meat, it can last up to three months.
Meat that has been smoked will be safe to eat for up to four days after it has been cooked.
The meat must be stored in the fridge within two hours of cooking.
If you want to save the meat longer, you can wrap it tightly, place it in an air-tight container and freeze it.
How do you know if smoked meat is bad?
Smell is perhaps the quickest and most reliable indicator.
Meat that is off will have a nasty smell that immediately makes you turn away.
Keep in mind that just because there isn't a rotten smell doesn't mean it's safe.