How Long Does Ham Last? Tips for Storage and More

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Trying to figure out if your ham has spoiled or simply lost a little bit of freshness? Identifying bad ham is easy, and we’ll show you how to do it. In this article, we’ll break down the signs ham has gone bad, examine its shelf life, and help you out in the future with some best practices for storage.

Things You Should Know

  • Ham is bad if it smells off, develops discoloration, or begins to feel sweaty or slimy.
  • Store ham in the fridge by wrapping it in foil, butcher paper, or plastic wrap. Alternatively, you can use an airtight container or freezer bag and set it in the fridge.
  • Ham will typically last 3-5 days in the refrigerator or 1-2 months in the freezer.
Section 1 of 4:

Signs Ham Has Gone Bad

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  1. Ham should smell enticing—fresh, salty, and smokey. If your ham smells like sulfur, gasoline, or skunk, throw it out. The sniff test is usually a pretty solid test to determine if ham has gone bad.
  2. Fresh ham is a shade of pink and the fat is white (if there’s a glaze it’ll be darker shade or brown). When ham starts to go bad, it will typically turn gray, green, or even blue.
    • You may want to cut off the discolored parts use the rest, but none of the ham will be safe to consume if some of it has changed color. [1]
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  3. Ham should have a soft and moist texture, but it won’t leave any wet or greasy residue behind on your skin. Slimy ham is a sign of bacterial growth, so don’t consume it if it’s wet or oily. Some bacteria may cause ham to become sticky, too. In any case, avoid ham that doesn’t feel right in your hand.
    • This will be especially notable on sliced ham. If you’ve got a whole ham with a crust or glaze, you may not notice this as easily.
  4. Black, brown, white, or green fuzzy material is mold, and if this stuff appears on your ham it’s time to throw it out. Ham should be totally uniform in color and texture.
    • You may be tempted just to cut off mold, but the fact that the mold appeared at all is a sign that the ham isn’t edible anymore. [2]
  5. Those “use by” dates aren’t arbitrary. If you’ve bought packaged ham that has an expiration date on it and that date passes, do not tempt fate by eating the ham anyway. [3]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Store Ham

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  1. Spread the plastic wrap, paper, or foil out on the counter, set your ham in the center, and tightly fold the wrap, paper, or foil over the ham in overlapping layers. Set the ham directly in the refrigerator.
  2. If you’ve got a bigger piece of ham, grab an airtight freezer bag or an airtight container and place the ham inside. This will help the ham retain its moisture and keep it from going bad. Set the container or bag inside the fridge.
    • Cut the ham into smaller pieces if your bags or containers aren’t big enough.
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Section 3 of 4:

How long is ham good for?

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  1. Fresh uncooked ham, cooked store-bought ham, and uncured cooked ham will all last under a week in the fridge. This covers deli cuts, uncooked cutlets, sandwich meat, country ham, and honey-glazed ham. After 5 days, discard your ham as it will have gone bad. [4]
    • A whole ham will tend to last around 1 week in the fridge.
    • Prosciutto, dry Italian ham, Spanish ham, and Serrano ham can last 2-3 months in the fridge.
    • Canned ham will last up to 6 months to 2 years if it isn’t opened. Once open, you’ve got the typical 3-5 days.
Section 4 of 4:

Can you freeze ham?

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  1. If the ham is unopened, just set the container in the freezer. If the ham has been opened, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then, set the wrapped ham inside a freezer bag. Push the air out of the bag then seal it and set it in the freezer. [5]
    • There are two exceptions to the 1- to 2-month rule. Fresh, uncured, and uncooked ham will last up to 6 months, while fresh, uncured, and cooked ham will last 3-4 months.
    • Thaw frozen ham in the refrigerator before using it.
  2. Instead of leaving the ham wrapped up in a freezer bag, try sealing it in plastic if you have a vacuum sealer! Set the ham inside a clean vacuum-sealing bag. Then, set the bag in the sealer and remove the air. Place it inside of your freezer and enjoy it within the next 4 months. [6]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-if-you-eat-moldy-food/
      2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-if-you-eat-moldy-food/
      3. ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/cold-food-storage-charts
      4. ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/cold-food-storage-charts
      5. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/food-storage-safety/can-you-freeze-ham/
      6. ↑ https://www.diys.com/cooked-ham/

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