How Long Will My Holiday Ham Keep?
Ham Storage Chart from Foodsafety.gov
|
Type of Ham: |
Refrigerate |
Freeze |
|
Fresh (uncured) Ham, uncooked |
3 to 5 days |
6 months |
|
Fresh (uncured) Ham, cooked |
3 to 4 days |
3 to 4 months |
|
Cured Ham, cook-before-eating; uncooked |
5 to 7 days or "use-by" date* |
3 to 4 months |
|
Cured Ham, cook-before-eating; after consumer cooks it |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
Cooked Ham, vacuum sealed at plant, undated; unopened |
2 weeks |
1 to 2 months |
|
Cooked Ham, vacuum sealed at plant, dated; unopened |
"Use- by" date* |
1 to 2 months |
|
Cooked Ham, vacuum sealed at plant, undated or dated; opened |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
Cooked Ham, whole, store wrapped |
7 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
Cooked Ham, half, store wrapped |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
Cooked Ham, slices, store wrapped |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
**Country Ham, uncooked, cut |
2 to 3 months |
1 month |
|
Country Ham, cooked |
7 days |
1 month |
|
Canned Ham, labeled "Keep Refrigerated," unopened |
6 to 9 months |
Do not freeze |
|
Canned Ham, labeled "Keep Refrigerated," opened |
7 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
***Canned Ham, shelf stable, opened |
3 to 4 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
Lunch Meat Ham, sealed at plant, unopened |
2 weeks or "use-by" date* |
1 to 2 months |
|
Lunch Meat Ham, sealed at plant, after opening |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
Lunch Meat Ham, sliced in store |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
|
Prosciutto, Parma or Serrano Ham, dry Italian or Spanish type, cut |
2 to 3 months |
1 month |
*Company determines its "use-by" date and stands by it.
** A whole, uncut country ham can be stored safely at room temperature for up to 1 year. The ham is safe after 1 year, but the quality may suffer.
*** An unopened shelf-stable, canned ham may be stored at room temperature for 2 years.
