How Long Can You Keep A Ham In The Refrigerator Before Cooking

Food Storage - How long can you keep...

HAM - BAKED/COOKED AT HOME, LEFTOVERS

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How long does cooked ham last in the fridge? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - refrigerate ham within two hours of cooking.
To maximize the shelf life of cooked ham for safety and quality, refrigerate the ham in shallow airtight containers or wrap tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Properly stored, cooked ham will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
To further extend the shelf life of cooked ham, freeze it; freeze in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, or wrap tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap.
How long does cooked ham last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 3 to 4 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
The freezer time shown is for best quality only - cooked ham that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
How long does cooked ham last after being frozen and thawed? Cooked ham that has been thawed in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator before cooking; ham that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be eaten immediately.
How long does cooked ham last at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; cooked ham should be discarded if left for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
How to tell if cooked ham is bad? The best way is to smell and look at the ham: signs of bad ham are a sour smell and a slimy texture; discard any ham with an off smell or appearance, do not taste first.

Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here