You wouldn’t be the only one who ate ham during the holidays or any other time. It doesn’t matter if you like yours glazed with apple cider and mustard, sliced and served with an herb crème fraîche, or a simple spiral-cut bought at the last minute. Lamb is traditionally served at Easter in many parts of the world because it is linked to the biblical story of Passover. However, ham is a more popular protein choice in the United States during the holiday and is often used instead of turkey on Thanksgiving.
Most people choose to buy either fully cooked ham or country ham. Both are cured in either a wet or dry salt brine before being smoked, and country ham is also aged. Since ham is already preserved when you buy it, it’s a cooked cut that does better in the fridge than some others. However, if you have extra slices in the fridge, you’ll want to know how long they should last.
Salt-cured or country ham is cherished for its intensely salty, rich meatiness. But how long does this preserved product last? Depending on the curing and storage methods, a country ham can keep for anywhere from a few weeks up to a year or longer. Let’s examine the shelf life for whole and partial hams under different conditions.
How Salt Curing Preserves Ham
Curing with salt is one of the oldest preservation methods, Country ham is packed in salt for 4-12 months during the curing process This high concentration of salt inhibits bacterial growth and enzymatic breakdown of the meat
The salt also draws moisture out of the ham making it impossible for remaining bacteria to thrive. This combination of dehydration and salt saturation allows country ham to be shelf-stable much longer than an uncured fresh ham.
Maximizing Shelf Life of Whole Country Ham
For the longest shelf life, country ham should be stored whole and uncut. An intact country ham can last:
- At room temperature – Up to 1 year
- Refrigerated – Up to 2 years
- Frozen – Indefinitely
Room temperature storage gives the best quality, as refrigeration can compromise the ham’s texture. A dry, well-ventilated area like a cool basement is ideal. The ham may become extremely hard at room temp, but this does not indicate spoilage.
For the longest shelf life, keep the ham hanging or propped up, not lying flat. This allows air circulation to prevent mold growth on the underside. The ham may develop some surface mold, but this can be trimmed off.
Cut Ham Has Shorter Lifespan
Once the country ham is sliced, its shelf life decreases dramatically to:
- Refrigerated – 2-3 months
- Frozen – 1-2 months
This is because cutting exposes the sterile inner ham to air, light and handling. Preserving conditions are compromised.
Wrap cut ham pieces tightly in plastic wrap to help exclude air and slow mold growth. Refrigeration is necessary to slow spoilage in the absence of the ham’s protective exterior barrier.
Signs of Spoilage in Aged Ham
Look for these signs that your country ham has passed its peak:
- Mold penetration deeper than 1/4 inch
- Rancid or unpleasant odor
- Dry, crusty patches
- Greenish tinge
- Slime formation
- Shriveled appearance
Surface molds can simply be trimmed off, but deep contamination cannot be remedied. An ammonia smell, greenish tint, sticky residue or shriveling indicates bacteria have spoiled the ham. Time to discard!
Some dryness and hardening is normal even in unspoiled aged ham. But if the ham seems excessively light in weight, dried out or hollow, it is also past its prime.
Tips for Maximizing Shelf Life
Follow these guidelines to safely prolong the lifespan of your country hams:
- Select high-quality cured hams from reputable producers.
- Store whole hams at 55-70°F with adequate ventilation if room temp.
- Wrap cut ham tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- Freeze for long-term storage of whole or sliced ham.
- Rinse ham before cutting to remove surface mold.
- Discard moldy portions and trim ham 1/4 inch below any spoiled spots.
- Use cured hams within recommended time frames.
With proper curing, handling and storage, an uncut country ham can develop wonderfully complex flavor for up to a year at room temp. Even cut hams keep their signature salty taste for months when refrigerated or frozen. Just be vigilant for any signs of spoilage in your aged country pork.
Frequency of Entities:
ham: 43
salt: 10
cured: 7
country: 12
shelf life: 5
refrigerated: 5
frozen: 5
room temperature: 3
mold: 6
spoilage: 3
Most ham will last about five days in the fridge
If you’re not sure if you can wait a few more days to make that ham sandwich or eggy ham strata, read this. The USDA says that the ham you and your family ate for Sunday brunch could last for another two to three days. According to the news source, spiral hams that have been opened and cooked at home will stay fresh in the fridge for three to five days afterward. Country ham, on the other hand, will stay fresh for up to a week. Fresh, uncured ham is basically just a big piece of pork leg that hasn’t been brined or smoked. The USDA says it will only last three to four days in the fridge.
These ham leftovers will last longer if you put them in the freezer if you’re not going to eat them in the next day or so. The USDA says that cured and fully cooked hams that have been opened and cooked can be frozen for one to two months. Country ham should be used within one month of being frozen. Fresh, uncured cooked ham has a longer freezer life of three to four months. According to the USDA, frozen ham is safe to eat for a very long time. The only things that change are the taste and texture.
When putting ham in the fridge, the most important thing is to make sure it’s sealed and out of the way of air so it stays moist. If you want your ham to last longer, put it in the fridge as soon as possible after cooking. Hams that sit out at room temperature can go bad faster.
If you are carving a whole ham, you should try to store it with as little damage as possible. This is because there is less surface area that will be exposed when it is still whole than when it is cut up, which stops moisture loss. It’s best to loosely wrap a piece of a whole ham in thin cloth, like a tea towel that’s been slightly dampened. This will protect the outside while still keeping the meat moist. For this exact reason, you can even buy ham bags, but you probably don’t need them unless you’re eating a lot of full hams.
For ham slices, youll need to get a more robust seal to protect them. Wrap your ham loosely in foil, parchment, or, better yet, layers of paper towels that can soak up extra water. Then, put your ham slices in containers that can’t be opened. Rigid plastic containers or zip-top bags work fine; just make sure that you get rid of all the air in the container before sealing it to keep the ham from going bad. This should keep them fresh for the full three to five days.
Cutting into a Traditionaly Cured Country Ham after 22 months!
FAQ
How to store a salt cured ham?
How long is cured ham good for in the fridge?
Is a 2 year old frozen ham still good?
How long is salt cured meat good for?
How long does cured ham last?
If you’ve bought a cut of cured ham, prepare to make the most of it, as we’re going to find out how you can care for it! How Long Does Cured Ham Last In The Fridge? Cured ham will last in an average refrigerator for up to 7 days. This gives you a good week to enjoy it to completion.
How long can ham be without refrigeration and still be safe?
Most food experts recommend that ham, should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. After that time, you should discard it.
Is salt curing a ham?
Yes, salt curing is simply another term for dry curing. This is a process of coating the meat with a salt cure rub which draws out the moisture. This method reduces the weight of the ham anywhere from 18-25% which results in a more concentrated ham flavor.
How long can a cooked ham stay fresh?
For cooked ham, place it in an airtight container once cooled; this will keep it fresh for consumption within 3-4 days. If you’ve opted for bone-in ham, it can often be refrigerated in its original packaging for up to a week without compromising its quality. For longer-term storage, freezing is the best option.