How long does Cured Ham last? Ham is pork cut from the leg part. It is preserved by curing it wet or dry, with or without smoking.
Curing is the process of preserving meat with acid, salt, and sugar in order to remove excess water from it and prevent spoilage.
A cured ham is usually linked while a fresh one that has not been cured will have a pale pink color.
Country ham ranges from pink to mahogany color.
The ham is precooked and can be ready to eat or not, depending on the consumer’s choice.
Cured meats contain chemicals and additives like nitrates, while uncured may contain only salt.
So, how long does cured ham last unopened in the fridge?
Cured Ham that will still require cooking before it can be consumed will last 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator with a temperature lower than 40⁰F. Once cooked, this ham will last 4 days in the refrigerator.
The longevity of a ham is determined by its type, method of preparation, temperature and humidity of storage, a container for storage, and how soon it is stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
It is recommended that you use an airtight container to avoid the penetration of contaminants.
To be sure of long shelf life, store ham in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking.
Wrap it tightly with foil and freezer wrap, then place it in a container and refrigerate or freeze.
How Long Does Cured Ham Last After Opening?
After opening, the cured cooked ham will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days while country ham can last up to a week after opening.
For longer shelf life, transfer to the freezer.
Canned ham has best-by dates on the package that should be followed, although it can stay a few extra weeks.
But, once opened, consume within 3 – 5 days.
An opened package of ham deli will last 5 – 7 days in the refrigerator.
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How Long Does Sliced Ham Last?
Sliced ham is ham that has the package opened at the counter, hence it will last 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
To maximize the shelf life, keep it properly wrapped, tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Ensure the refrigerator is at a temperature less than 40⁰F.
It can also be frozen for the best quality and it will keep for 2 months.
Note that the freezer should be at a temperature of 0⁰F for better results.
Once sliced ham begins to show a slimy or filmy appearance, it should be thrown away.
Any odd smell is a sign that the sliced ham can no longer be eaten.
Worse is when mold or growths are found on the package, dispose of them immediately.
Can You Freeze Cured Ham?
Cured meats keep very well in the freezer and ham is not an exception.
Storing it immediately will give you that sweet, savory taste for as long as 1 year,
Without any alteration of taste or texture at all.
It will be just as it was the first time. It is very important to allow the ham to cool in the fridge before freezing.
Wrap properly in an aluminum foil or freezer paper, then place in an airtight container or freezer safe bag, and seal properly.
You should label the container so you can keep track of the dates.
Refreezing is not a problem for ham, however, you can only refreeze a thawed ham only if thawed in the fridge
Other processes of thawing cannot be refrozen.
Freeze within 3 days after thawing and do not leave ham outside the fridge for more than 2 hours.
Note that the quality may reduce because some moisture has been lost in the first thawing.
How Long Does Cured Ham Last In The Freezer?
Store in the freezer for as long as 1 year, but it is best enjoyed within 6 months.
For sliced ham, slice into preferred size and separate into portions.
Wrap each portion separately in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bags, label, and freeze.
To thaw/defrost, simply refrigerate for 24 – 48 hours, the size of the ham depends on how long it will take for it to defrost.
Keep the ham wrapped in aluminum foil in order to retain moisture.
You can eat straight from the fridge or heat it up.
There are other ways to defrost ham like defrosting smaller portions in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes.
Microwaving on the lowest power is also another means of thawing ham.
No matter the method you choose, always remember that you should never thaw ham at room temperature,
It is harmful and can enable bacteria to thrive.
Technically, ham can be kept frozen indefinitely, but it will not taste so good if left sitting in the freezer for years.
That is why 12 months is recommended at most, and 6 months is for peak quality and taste.
How Long Can You Keep A Smithfield Ham In The Refrigerator?
Smithfield hams will keep longer than country hams.
While country hams will keep for only 6 months, Smithfield hams will stay for 1 year.
Refrigerated cooked Smithfield hams will last at least 6 weeks,
would stay longer than that if you’re lucky and if properly stored.
Uncooked Smithfield hams are cured for a longer time and taste more salty and dry.
When ready to cook, soak for hours (36 or longer), in order to draw out the excess salt from the ham.
Remember to change the water often.
After soaking, wash thoroughly and scrub to avoid molds which are very common on uncooked hams.
When cooking in the oven, use the appropriate temperature and cook for the stipulated amount of time.
Ensure the oven door is closed till cooking is over.
Smithfield ham is best enjoyed when served at room temperature.
But storage should be in a cool, dry area where Smithfield ham will last for 2 years without deterioration and 6 weeks in the refrigerator.
It can be frozen but it is recommended to freeze without bones.
How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Ham Last In The Freezer?
It will last 1 week after the manufactured date.
It can be frozen to preserve the texture and flavor and give it an extra shelf life of 2 months.
Cooked ham that has been vacuum sealed will last 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Studies have shown that vacuum-sealed hams last for 6 – 10 days in the freezer.
Vacuum sealed Ham will stay for 3 – 5 times longer compared to normally stored beef in bags or plastic containers.
Ideally, refrigerate vacuum-sealed Ham for 1 – 2 days after it has been opened.
Several factors affect how long and how well vacuum-sealed Ham will keep in the freezer;
The type of ham, the temperature of the freezer, and the duration of time it is kept in the freezer.
Vacuum sealing foods helps keep air and moisture out, which will increase the shell life.
Does Cured Ham Need To Be Cooked?
A cured ham is considered precooked and does not necessarily need to be cooked again, except by choice.
Dry-cured ham can be eaten like that because it has low – water content, which does not support bacteria growth, you’re safe.
If you’re to cook this ham, use a large cooking pot and cover the ham with water.
Cook at a temperature of 180 – 185⁰ for 20 – 25 minutes, till the temperature of the ham, is 150 – 155⁰F.
Sometimes, cured meat has no form of heat applied to it and you may be the type that likes heat-applied foods,
So, cooking cured ham will be your choice.
You cannot tell an uncooked ham by just looking at it, the label will provide a guide by which you can know it.
Some labels have instructions that ‘it requires cooking.
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How Long Does Cooked Ham Last In The Refrigerator?
Cooked ham will last in the refrigerator for 3 – 5 days if the refrigerator is kept at a temperature of 40⁰F or less.
To further extend the shelf life, keep it well wrapped in an aluminum foil and covered in an airtight container before cooling.
It is recommended that you open ham only when you’re about to use it, in order to preserve it and elongate its life span.
Ensure you refrigerate the ham within 2 hours of cooking.
The airtight container should be shallow for best results.
Since bacteria grow rapidly in temperatures 40⁰ – 140⁰F, discard cooked ham if left out for more than 2 hours.
Does Cured Ham Go Bad?
Ham will stay 5 to 7 days if cured. It stands a better chance than uncooked which can only last 3 – 5 days.
Whole, uncut, dry-cured ham can last 1 year at room temperature after which it may still be safe but the quality will decline.
Bad ham will cause food poisoning,
And ham spoilage occurs when it is not properly stored or when it has been kept for too long.
Ham will definitely go bad especially if left in a room where bacteria can thrive,
So, keep it in a cool, dry place, in an airtight container.
There are some visible signs of spoilage to look out for in a bad ham – discoloration, smell, and appearance of molds.
It is recommended to discard ham once you’re no longer too sure.
How To Tell If Cured Ham Is Bad?
The common signs of spoilage in cured hams are;
Off-odors and off-flavors, discoloration and production of gas, production of slimy texture, decrease in PH.
The smell is so strong and pungent that it will cause you to scrunch your nose.
The texture is so slimy and sticky, making it gross to feel.
The discoloration causes an unappealing look.
Factors responsible for spoilage are oxidation and microbial growth.
The worse discoloration is green or any other weird color.
What does Cured Ham Taste Like?
Cured Ham is usually salty and unfit for those who need to be mindful of their sodium intake.
It does not taste as natural as uncured ham due to the addition of nitrates and other preservatives.
Sugar-cured ham has a hint of sweetness, and savory flavors like that of a glazed brown sugar, honey, or mustard.
While prosciutto is the commonly known Italian-cured ham, with salt.
What Are The Best Substitutes For Ham?
What happens if you can’t get your hands on ham? Or if you run out of ham in the freezer?
Do you need to forfeit that sumptuous meal you were about to prepare? Or skip lunch because you can’t find ham?
No. You won’t be settling for less either because the following are the best substitutes for ham;
Pork, BBQ chicken (with removed skin), canned tuna, salmon, cheese, bacon, and soy ham.
Can Bad Cured Ham Make You Sick?
Yes, you could either throw up immediately or stay in discomfort for a few hours.
Spoilt ham will cause food poisoning when it becomes contaminated with harmful bacteria.
Bad ham will have a dull look, slimy feel, and sour smell, with equally a bad taste;
It will be totally weird to see such unappealing food and still stuff it into your mouth.
Such food will definitely be bad for your health and will result in vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
Always follow safety precautions when handling, storing and consuming foods in order to prevent food poisoning.
Most people are vulnerable to food poisoning due to their status or health conditions or immune system.
It will take between 12 – 72 hours for a badly cured ham to begin manifestation in your system.
The bacteria incubate and manifest, causing symptoms, ranging from mild to severe which will last 4 – 7 days.
To prevent/avoid all these, store ham properly and discard it once signs of spoilage pop up.
How Long Does Smoked Meat Last?
It can be kept for 4 days in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer.
The secret to a long shell life is refrigerating it within 2 hours of being removed from the smoker.
Bear in mind that smoking does not make it resistant to spoilage,
It will only give it a variety of flavors and just extend the shell life a little.
However, the life span will also depend on what method is used to smoke the meat,
it is recommended to use hot smoking because high temperature destroys bacteria which become responsible for spoilage.
Other methods of smoking are; cold-smoke, warm smoke, and smoke roast.
Warm smoking is preferred for fish to preserve their texture.
It is not ideal for pork or poultry to be warm smoked because it will be in a danger zone and become unsafe.
Cold smoking leaves the meat uncooked and is done under 90⁰F.
Smoke roasting cannot count as a preservative method, it just adds flavor.
To be safe and have a longer shelf life, ensure the meat reaches a safe temperature.
Use the appropriate containers to store.
Although cold smoking will keep for a longer period, it will go bad if done improperly and cause very severe illness.
Many people are prone to bacteria and vulnerable to illnesses,
So, if you must try cold smoked food, use eggs, nuts, and cheese with less risk.
How Long Does Smoked Salmon Last?
Cold smoked salmon has a very short shell life. It will last 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 1 month in the freezer.
With proper storage conditions met, an unopened package of smoked salmon will last 2 – 3 weeks in the fridge,
once opened it should be consumed within 1 week.
Hot smoked salmon will last 2 weeks in the fridge, and 2 – 3 months in the freezer.
Store-bought smoked salmon will last a few days past the printed date due to the preservatives.
The safety of home-smoked salmon depends on;
Use clean utensils, at the right temperature before, during, and after smoking to prevent contamination by bacteria.
Your smoked salmon will last long/short depending on how it is smoked and packaged.
Avoid direct sunlight or heat, store in a cool, dry place. Wrap tightly before freezing or refrigerating.
How Long Does Cured Country Ham Last?
Country Ham can either be cooked or uncooked, each with different shell life.
Whole, uncut, and dry-cured country ham will last for 1 year at room temperature.
It will still be safe after 1 year only with a declined quality.
Uncooked but cut country ham will stay refrigerated for 2 – 3 months, and stay frozen for 1 month.
To store cured country ham, keep it in plastic packaging below 55⁰F.
Once opened, wrap tightly in wax paper, double wrap in foil, and store in the fridge.
Since country ham is normally perishable, it will last at room temperature for 1 – 2 hours,
After 5 – 7 days in the refrigerator, the frozen country ham will last 3 – 4 months.
Cooked or uncooked, country ham freezes, thaws and reheats well.
How Long Does Smoked Meat Last In Stranded Deep?
Meat smoked in the smoker of stranded deep tend not to spoil so quickly, except wrong actions are taken:
When using a stranded deep smoker, do not skin fish, meat, or birds, it will hasten the spoilage.
Smoked meat in stranded deep will spoil only if left on the ground,
But if kept in the smoker, it will be preserved.
Very old meat will still spoil, regardless of being smoked in stranded deep.
This smoked meat is preserved by smoking on a structure built in stranded deep.
This structure vibes a whole different dimension to the fire, providing slots on which food can be cooked.
The top part is mainly for smoking especially if the meat is left on there for long.
Meat passes through 2 stages in this smoker; first, it needs to be cooked, before it gets smoked.
Smoking in a stranded deep structure is beautiful! It cooks meat first after which it smokes it.
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Conclusion.
Ham is a cut of meat. Most dishes, especially in the African region, must include a part (if not whole) of meat.
Ham can come in handy in the kitchen when making dishes.
For you to be safe with your consumption, this article spells out clearly the lifespan of ham,
What to expect and when, and how to preserve and store. It also shows some substitutes for ham, just in case you run out of some.
Hope you enjoyed the ride!
Remember, how long does cured ham last?