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SMART SHOPPING: Mild Versus Hot Italian Chicken Sausage

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When shopping for Italian chicken sausage, either hot or sweet, look first for fresh sausage. Fresh sausage contains meat that has not previously been cured or cooked, so it is important to remember that it must be kept in the refrigerator and be thoroughly cooked before eating. The meat is contained within a thin casing that is edible. Mild Italian chicken sausages (right) contain white meat chicken and fennel seeds as the most prominent flavorings. Hot Italian chicken sausages (left) add red chili pepper flakes for heat and paprika for color. It is not uncommon for garlic to be mixed in for added flavor (though this is not typical for pork sausages). Be aware that hot sausages can range in heat from mildly hot to very hot.