Does Ham Go Bad or Not? How long does Ham last?
You bought a big whole ham or stocked up on lunch meat.It is too much now that you think about it.How long does ham last?
You need to cook cured ham at home for a special occasion.You will not be able to eat all of the meat within a few days after cooking it.
We discuss deli meat ham, whole ham and even canned ham.No matter what you prefer, we have you covered.
I know there are some specialty products like country ham that are sometimes sold unRefrigerated and keep well at room temperature, but the vast majority of ham products need to be refrigerated.
No matter what type of ham you are dealing with, the same basic guidelines apply.
The meat should be wrapped well at all times.The ham is usually sealed in a pack.If you buy lunch meat at the deli counter, it's usually wrapped properly.
If you can't open the package, transfer the ham to a container or a bag.The ham can't pick up smells from the fridge because of those.
If you want the meat to last the longest, keep it in the far corner of the fridge and return it when you need it.
The room temperature is fine for canned ham.It's a good place to store the tins.
Store leftovers in the fridge once you open the can.The meat won't dry out and the smell will not leak into the whole fridge if they're well covered.
If you can, transfer the ham to a small container or tin and put it in a freezer bag.
As with pulled pork, freezing works well if you want to store ham for a long time.There are no excuses for not freezing ham.
If your ham requires any processing before it is eaten, make sure you take care of that before you freeze it.
This way, you won't have to worry about it later on, as your ham will be ready to eat.The texture of the meat can be altered by freezing, so a frozen ham won't be as good after cooking.
Thinking about the portions is the next step.If you have a big ham on hand, it is better to divide it into a few smaller parts, so each one is enough.You should make sure it doesn't go bad.
Before you freeze ham, consider slicing it.It is ready to go right after it thaws.If you bought a lot of ham at the deli, divide it into smaller pieces.
The best way to freeze ham is to use freezer bags, as they don't take as much space as containers.
Wrap the ham portion with aluminum foil before putting it in the bag.It's useful to have an extra layer of protection against cold air.The original packaging will do just fine if the ham is still open.
The only thing you need to do is protect the ham from the cold temperature and dry it out.
Depending on how it was prepared, the storage time for each type of ham is slightly different.Since those periods are similar, I won't cover them one by one and instead talk about general guidelines.
The ham will retain its quality for about 2 weeks if it is vacuum sealed.There is a use-by date on the label.The ham should be kept open for a few days past that date.
There are exceptions to the 2 weeks rule, like Prosciutto that can last for over 2 months, but there are only a few of them.
It lasts about 3 to 5 days if you open the package or if the ham is sliced at the deli counter.Same thing for fresh meat.
It is possible to retain quality for a few weeks past the best-by date for canned ham.You can eat the ham within 3 to 5 days.