American ham is a delicious standalone food, an ingredient in many recipes and works well for any meal from breakfast to Christmas dinner. Ham leftovers are pretty common, so it’s best you learn how to deal with them. How long does ham last in the fridge? Keep reading to find out, along with signs of spoilage, proper storage methods, and more!
What Is Ham?
Ham is a cut of pork from the back of the leg that’s cured and, typically, also smoked. Different ham varieties will use wet or dry curing.
In some grocery stores, you might find raw pork meat pressed to look like a roast that’s also called “ham”.
There are many types of ham across the globe: in Spain, you’ll find “jamon,” Prosciutto and speck come from Italy, and country ham is a well-loved delicacy in the Southern U.S.
Certain ham products have geographical naming protection. This means they can’t be sold with that name unless they come from a specific area or country.
How Long Does Ham Last In The Fridge?
The shelf life for fresh ham can vary a lot based on its type, how it was packaged, whether it’s sliced or whole, and other factors. As soon as you open the package or slice it, you have a new set of dates to deal with.
Follow FoodSafety.gov’s official guidelines for safe ham storage based on the type of product to make sure you know how long you have until it goes bad.
This kind of information is very useful as it lets you plan meals based on what you have in the fridge. In the long run, it will prevent a lot of waste!
Fresh, uncured, and uncooked ham can be kept in the fridge for 3-5 days. If you cook it, then make sure you eat it within 3-4 days.
A whole, cooked, store-bought ham, in an unopened package, stays good in the fridge for a week. If you buy cooked ham that’s halved, sliced, or spiral cut, it can be stored in the fridge only for 3-5 days.
If you’re looking to stock up your pantry and you need supplies that last longer, canned ham makes one of the best options. When refrigerated, and kept unopened, it lasts for 6-9 months.
Ham Storage Chart (Fridge & Freezer)
| Ham | Refrigerator | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Whole (Fresh, Uncured, Uncooked) | 3-5 days | 6 months |
| Whole (Fresh, Uncured, Cooked) | 3-4 days | 3-4 months |
| Whole Cooked (Store-Wrapped) | 1 week | 1-2 months |
| Cooked (Store-Wrapped, Sliced, Halved, or Spiral Cut) | 3-5 days | 1-2 months |
| Country Ham (Cooked) | 1 week | 1 month |
| Canned (Labeled “Keep Refrigerated”, Unopened, Whole) | 6-9 months | Do not freeze |
| Canned (Shelf-Stable, Opened) | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
| Prosciutto, Parma, Serrano, Dry Italian, Spanish Ham (Cut) | 2-3 months | 1 month |
The general guideline is, if you’re dealing with cooked ham in an opened packaging or homemade, it stays safe to eat for 3-5 days. If you don’t want to freeze it, the best way to keep ham fresh for longer is to keep it whole.
Whole, cooked, ham, can last up to 2 weeks in the fridge if vacuum-sealed.
How To Tell If Ham Has Gone Bad
We’ve all had that moment when we notice our fridge is full of leftovers and there’s no exact memory of how old they are. Even if you can’t remember exactly when you ate ham, these signs will let you know if it’s safe to eat or not.
Funky smell – Any cooked meat that’s not fresh won’t have an attractive smell. Of course, if it’s in more advanced stages of spoilage, the smell will be off-putting.
Unappealing texture – whether it’s fresh or cooked, ham should never be sticky, or slimy. This is a clear sign it’s gone bad.
Discolorations – Fresh ham, whether cooked or uncooked, is usually pink. Some uncured products can be paler. If you see any areas that have a gray, brown, or green shade, that’s proof it’s not safe to eat anymore.
Use-By-Date – Unopened ham past the use-by-date should not be consumed, even if it looks good. There’s no way to be sure it’s still good, so the safest option is to toss it.
How To Store Leftovers
The answer to how long does ham last in the fridge also depends on how you do it.
Storing ham leftovers correctly will keep them fresh for longer and make it easier to eat them while they’re still good. Let’s not forget the fact ham is yummy, and it’s a shame to waste it!
The primary goal when refrigerating or freezing ham is to limit exposure to air. This slows down oxidation and contact with bacteria.
Storing In The Fridge
Whole ham is best stored in a ham bag or wrapped loosely in a damp tea towel in the coldest part of the fridge.
If you’re working with sliced ham, wrap it in paper towels and place it in an airtight container or zip-lock bag. The paper towels will absorb excess moisture and keep your ham fresh for as long as possible.
Storing In The Freezer
Whether you’re freezing whole or sliced ham, you should tightly wrap it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in a freezer or vacuum sealed bag.
A whole cooked ham will last 3-4 months in the freezer. If you’re freezing ham that’s sliced, halved, or spiral cut, it will stay safe to eat for 1-2 months.
Don’t forget to label the ham and avoid throwing it away simply because you can’t remember how long it’s been there.
Best Tips For Keeping Ham Fresh
Food goes bad quickly when it’s in the “danger zone” (40°F to 140°F). Ideally, cooked ham should not be kept on the counter for too long. Put it in the fridge as soon as possible!
You can chill ham leftovers fast by refrigerating them in shallow dishes for an hour or so before wrapping them.
Slice ham right before serving to avoid dry meat. I also try not to slice more than we need at the moment. Whole ham keeps better in the fridge!
Make sure the temperature in your fridge is below 40°F. This is the best temperature for storing ham and food, in general.
F.A.Q.
There’s no definitive answer. The shelf life of ham depends on the type, whether it’s whole or sliced, cooked, or uncooked, and other factors.
Consult the ham storage chart above and if yours has a shelf life of under 5 days, the safest option is to toss it.
If your ham is 5 days past its expiry date, there’s a chance is has already gone bad, even if there are no obvious signs.
Eating bad ham can cause food poisoning. Some of the most common symptoms include stomach pain and cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
If you’re not sure the ham is still safe to eat, taste testing is not recommended. Even a small bite can lead to food poisoning.
Ham left at room temperature can spoil quickly. Temperatures between 40°F and 140°F (also known as the “danger zone”) speed up bacteria growth.
Ham shouldn’t be left in the “danger zone” for over 2 hours. As a result, you shouldn’t eat ham that was left out overnight.
Final Thoughts
It’s good to know how log does ham last in the fridge, although if you don’t store it properly, expect these times to be lower.
However, with the proper measures taken, it will stay fresh for the entire estimated shelf life.
We absolutely love twice smoked ham and if you have a smoker, I wholeheartedly recommend you try it. This is store-bought ham that’s already cooked and smoked, so the prep work is minimal.
You’ll be adding an extra layer of smokiness for incredible flavor, making it the perfect festive meal for your holiday table!
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Jason’s been firing up the grill for over 30 years after graduating from the US Coast Guard Academy. His love of finely-grilled steak and chicken led him to buy his first Weber grill to put on his apartment patio in 1992. Each military move led to a new grill (a mixture of gas and charcoal) until he fell in love with the Big Green Egg in 2008. Since then, he has added another 4 grills to the collection. Yes, he has a problem. Jason loves smoking in the ceramic BGE with exotic woods including olive wood from Egypt and hard to find varieties such as sassafras and orange wood. Jason takes the term “foodie” to a whole new level, jumping at the chance to take food tours and cooking classes during foreign travels. These have provided inspiration to incorporate new ideas into recipes when he gets back home. He has been featured in Fox News, Parade, Yahoo News, Kansas City Living and more. After retiring from the military and moving to southwest Florida, he has focused grilling and smoking locally sourced meats and fish (read: he likes to catch his own fish!)
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