How Long Does Ham Last In The Freezer & Fridge? | Stoltzfus Meats (2024)

How Long Does Ham Last In The Freezer & Fridge? | Stoltzfus Meats (1)

Cayla Stoltzfoos |

Millions of homes will celebrate Easter with a delicious ham as the main entrée of their holiday meal.

How long will ham last in the freezer or refrigerator? That is a question that many people have. The answer, however, depends on a few factors. Ham can last in the freezer for up to six months if unopened and in the fridge for about seventy-five days. However, if you want to extend the shelf life of your ham, you can freeze it.

Still unsure about the safety of your ham? Read further for more guidelines regarding how long ham lasts.

At Stoltzfus Meats, we sell old-fashioned smoked ham that is perfect for your holiday feast! This Easter ham is slow-cured with hickory hardwood smoke, has no fillers, no MSG, and is gluten-free.

Order your Easter ham online in time for your holiday celebration and know your guests will be impressed with how moist and tasty it is. It’s truly a celebration ham. Find out what makes our hams different here.

Our bone-in hams and boneless hams are also great options for holiday meals. We offer cooking instructions for both ham varieties. Our bone-in, boneless, and smoked hams are favorites among our award-winning family of quality meat products.

Following are some guidelines on how to get the most out of your ham.

How Long Does Ham Keep In The Fridge?

If you have a whole ham, it can last in the fridge for up to seventy-five days. If you have a half ham, it will last for about sixty days.

Ham that has been precooked or spiral cut will last for about one week. You may find sliced ham on the market with packaging that suggests it has a longer shelf life but that likely means MSG or higher-than-usual nitrites and nitrates have been used to preserve it.

The best way to determine how long your ham will keep in the refrigerator is to check the packaging and throw it away if it is past the expiration date. Once the packaging or wrap on your ham is open, you should consume it within five days.

How Long Does Ham Last In The Freezer?

Ham can be stored in the freezer for up to six months. If you plan on eating it within two months, we recommend storing it in the fridge.

If you are going to freeze your ham, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This will help lock in its natural juices and help to keep the ham from drying out.

How Should I Store Cooked Ham?

Cooked ham can be stored in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to two months. Make sure to store it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This will help to prevent the ham from drying out.

Does Bone-In Ham Last Longer Than Boneless Ham?

The answer to this question is no. Both types of ham will last the same amount of time in the fridge or freezer.

A boneless ham is easily sliced, which is nice when serving guests or during family gatherings. A bone-in ham, however, is somewhat of a “gift that keeps giving.” The bone can be used for making soups and stews for future meals.

(Use any leftovers from your Stoltzfus Old-Fashioned ham to make Chicken Cordon Bleu!)

When Should You Throw Out Ham?

If your ham has been stored in the fridge for more than five days after the package has been opened or in the freezer for more than six months, it is best to throw it out. Ham that has been exposed to temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit should also be disposed of.

At Stoltzfus Meats, we sell boneless smoked ham that is perfect for your holiday feast! This ham will retain its flavor and quality in the fridge for up to seventy-five days and up to six months in the freezer unopened.

How Can You Tell If Ham Is Bad?

There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your ham has gone bad. These include:

  • mold on the surface of the ham
  • a slimy or tacky texture
  • a sour smell
  • discoloration of the meat, gray in color

If you notice any of these signs, it is best to throw the ham away immediately. It’s not worth the risk of food poisoning.

How Long Does Ham Last In The Freezer & Fridge? | Stoltzfus Meats (2)

Old-Fashioned Smoked Ham

Our old-fashioned smoked ham has all the qualities of a skinless, shankless ham without having to deal with the bone. An excellent choice for your holiday feast.

Order your ham online.

Buy It Now

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How Long Does Ham Last In The Freezer & Fridge? | Stoltzfus Meats (2024)

FAQs

How Long Does Ham Last In The Freezer & Fridge? | Stoltzfus Meats? ›

Technically, freezing ham will keep it safe indefinitely, but it might not taste good after years of sitting in the freezer. To determine how long frozen ham lasts and maintains its quality, here's what foodsafety.gov says: Fresh, uncured, uncooked ham: 6 months. Fresh, uncured, cooked ham: 3 to 4 months.

How long is a frozen ham good for in the freezer? ›

Technically, freezing ham will keep it safe indefinitely, but it might not taste good after years of sitting in the freezer. To determine how long frozen ham lasts and maintains its quality, here's what foodsafety.gov says: Fresh, uncured, uncooked ham: 6 months. Fresh, uncured, cooked ham: 3 to 4 months.

Is ham still good after 7 days? ›

A fully-cooked, unopened, vacuum-sealed ham can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator, according to the USDA, but the clock starts ticking once you open that package. Sliced meat, like fresh cut ham or spiral-cut ham from the store, will last in the refrigerator for only three to five days.

How long can precooked ham stay in the fridge? ›

Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F.

How long will vacuum-sealed ham last in the refrigerator? ›

FoodSafety.gov provides several guidelines for safe ham storage depending on which type of product you have on hand: A full, vacuum-sealed ham: Two weeks. Slices, half or spiral cut: Three to five days. Luncheon meat: Three to five days upon being opened.

How long does honey baked ham last in the freezer? ›

Honey Baked Ham® and Turkey Breasts can be frozen for up to six weeks. To freeze unused portions of Ham or Turkey after opening, wrap them in aluminum foil and freeze within five days from receipt. To serve after freezing, remove from the freezer and place in refrigerator.

How long can you keep meat in the freezer after the expiration date? ›

Yes - if the meat was safe to eat prior to freezing and has been safely stored at 0°F, it is safe to eat. How long can I store meat in the freezer? Freezing at 0°F keeps food safe indefinitely.

How long does Christmas ham last in the fridge? ›

Christmas ham stored in the fridge, either on the bone or carved off and wrapped in plastic and foil, will keep perfectly well for up to two weeks. Ham wrapped in plastic and foil and then frozen will last in the freezer for up to a month.

Why is my ham slimy but not expired? ›

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.

Can vacuum sealed meat go bad? ›

It is important that you do not contaminate your meat and vacuum seal harmful bacteria in with your food. Vacuum sealing can extend the fridge life of meats as well, but because anaerobic bacteria can grow at temperatures above 3°F, all vacuum-packed refrigerated meats should be unsealed and cooked within 10 days.

How long can you keep a Smithfield spiral ham in the refrigerator? ›

Spiral Sliced Bone-In Hams may be kept refrigerated for seven to ten days. The Genuine Virginia Boneless Spiral Ham and the Hardwood Smoked hams may be kept refrigerated for up to two weeks. Spiral Sliced hams and Hardwood Smoked hams can be kept frozen three months and will retain their maximum flavor.

What is the best way to store ham in the fridge? ›

Storing your ham
  1. Soak a Ham Bag, pillowcase or tea towel in 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
  2. Wring out excess water and place ham in the Ham Bag, pillowcase or wrap in tea towel. Store in coolest part of fridge.
  3. Re-soak bag in solution every few days or when Ham Bag dries out.

How do you know if ham is freezer burned? ›

When meat gets freezer burn, it loses moisture from its surface and takes on a gray, brown, or gray-brown color. Meat and other foods with freezer burn might get a grainy texture or look dry and tough. You might find that freezer burn creates weird flavors, as well.

How long to cook a 10 lb frozen ham? ›

Frozen Ham Cooking Times
Type of HamWeight in lbsFrozen: Minutes/lb
Whole, bone-in10-1423-27
Half, bone-in5-727-36
Vacuum-packed, boneless6-1215-23
Spiral cut, whole or half7-915-27
8 more rows

How long will vacuum sealed meat last in the freezer? ›

Frozen Meats – Frozen raw meats that are properly vacuum sealed can be stored in the freezer from 1-3 years depending on the type of meat. However, raw meat that is not vacuum sealed will only last 1-12 months depending on the meat.

Can you eat ham past its use by date? ›

A use-by date on food is about safety. This is the most important date to remember. Never eat food after the use-by date, even if it looks and smells ok, as it could make you very ill. You can eat food until midnight on the use-by date shown on a product, but not after, unless the food has been cooked or frozen.

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