How long does smoked ham last in the fridge?

We are approaching the season when people will be smoking ham and turkey and preparing for family gatherings.

Cooler weather means cold weather meals and there’s nothing better than a good smoked ham. Of course, smoked ham can be great any time of the year!

When you buy a smoked ham or smoke it yourself, there is usually a lot of meat to deal with. You may find yourself with leftovers for days.

So how can you tell when your ham is going bad or what can you do to keep it good until you can eat it?

How long does smoked ham last in the fridge? If your smoked ham has been stored properly in an airtight container, it should last 5-7 days in the fridge. Uncooked, well-sealed smoked ham can last 3-5 days, while smoked ham luncheon meat can last up to 2 weeks.

In this guide, we will explain how long smoked ham lasts in the fridge. We will share with you what you need to know about the duration of the ham.

We’ll also share some tips for making ham last longer and knowing when it’s time to toss the meat.

Read on to find out how long smoked ham lasts!

How long does smoked ham last in the fridge?

Smoked ham can be presented in many ways. You can also store it in various ways.

Another thing to know is that when you buy a ham in the supermarket, it is very possible that the ham is already cooked or even smoked, so make sure you pay attention to what you have bought.

This part is only slightly relevant to the information provided here.

The terms may change slightly depending on whether the ham is cooked when you buy it. In this guide, we mainly focus on a smoked ham that you have either smoked at home or purchased already cooked and smoked for yourself.

Here’s a quick reference table denoting some variations in storage and types of ham when it comes to keeping ham in the fridge. We have also included some freeze times in the table, although it is not our focus in this guide.

What you will notice in this table is that the way you store the ham or even buy it can make a difference. Note that the packaging can make a significant difference in how long your smoked ham will last in the fridge.

This is the general rule. Most smoked hams last up to 7 days. You can even vacuum seal your cooked ham and get a longer use of the ham.

How to store smoked ham to keep it fresh

We have what we hope are some useful tips for keeping cooked ham in the fridge. There are two different categories to consider. The first is uncooked smoked ham and the second is leftover smoked ham.

We think it’s important to look at these two situations so we can cover all the bases. Let’s start by talking about the leftover smoked ham. If you’re looking for the details on no-cook smoked ham, come next!

How to preserve leftover smoked ham

That smoked ham sure was absolutely delicious! There’s something about that smoky flavor that really sets ham apart.

Of course, by now you’re probably trying to figure out what to do with all those leftovers. Looks like you have enough ham left to feed an army.

While you probably have some ideas for making meals with your leftover ham, like adding it to broccoli and cheese soup , you’ll need to know how to store it in the meantime. a

Our tips are mainly related to storing smoked ham in the fridge, but we want to point out that you could freeze your leftover ham if you need it to last longer than the fridge provides.

Storing leftover ham in the freezer could give you about 3 months of time. Storing leftover ham in the fridge will give you about 5-7 days in total to consume it.

Here are our recommended steps for storing your leftover smoked ham in the fridge to keep it fresh:

1. Wait for your ham to cool down to room temperature. This is important for food safety.
2. Wrap the unused ham in plastic wrap. A double layer of plastic never hurts.
3. Next, wrap the ham in a layer of aluminum foil or place it in a bag or even a storage container. The key is that you want a double layer of protection to keep the ham fresh for as long as possible.
4. Keep it up to 7 days.

Here are a couple more tips. When you cut the smoked ham, cut only what you need and leave the rest uncut until you are ready to serve it. This can help preserve the natural moisture in the meat.

Next, we want to point out that with ham you don’t have to let it cool to room temperature to store it. In fact, we recommend that you pack it up and put it away as soon as possible after you’re done serving it.

How to preserve smoked ham without cooking

The good news is that an uncooked smoked ham fresh from the supermarket is fairly easy to store and keep fresh.

If the ham is unopened, it will last quite a while in your fridge. In fact, it will last almost twice as long as your leftover smoked ham could!

Although your ham will most likely be vacuum-sealed in a package, if you plan to freeze it, you’ll need to take a few extra precautions and perhaps wrap it in another layer of freezer paper or plastic wrap to ensure it’s fully protected.

As long as you leave the package unopened for uncooked smoked ham, you should be able to keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It will stay fresh with no problem as long as it’s not open.

If you open the vacuum-sealed package, we recommend that you wrap it, similar to the process we detailed above for cooked smoked ham.

You can use a layer of plastic wrap and then follow with a layer of aluminum foil or a storage bag or container. An uncooked smoked ham will most likely be easier to store with both.

When to Throw Smoked Ham

The most obvious way to tell if it’s time to throw away your ham is to check expiration dates. Although they are not always an exact science, they can be a clear indicator of whether your ham is going to be good or not.

There are some types of ham that are known to keep longer than this date, but we recommend that you take no chances. There are also some clear indicators that you can look out for to really know if your ham should be thrown away.

These are some indicators that your ham has gone bad

• Viscous appearance or touch of the ham
• Color has started to fade and may appear gray
• The smell seems noticeably strange

If you see or smell any of these indicators, it’s time to throw the ham! Please do not risk your health by cooking or eating this meat. It’s time to throw it away. Even if it’s just a bit off! Don’t bother testing it if you notice any of this.

However, if it looks good, but then you try it and it doesn’t seem right, throw the meat away. We love ham, but why risk it?

Related questions

We hope you found this guide to how long smoked ham lasts a valuable resource. There are several ways to preserve meat and keep it fresh, and some good information on when to throw meat away.

We invite you to review our questions and answers section for additional information.

Should smoked ham be refrigerated?

For the most part, your smoked ham will need to be refrigerated. There are some types of cured ham that may not require fridge storage, but for the most part you will need to plan for fridge storage. It’s better to prevent than to cure!

Is a smoked ham already cooked?

If you bought a cured, baked or smoked ham at the supermarket, it is most likely what is known as a pre-cooked ham. This means that it was already cooked before you bought it.

However, you may need to reheat that ham or cook it to serving temperature.

Still, it’s good to check the packaging before assuming you have pre-cooked smoked ham on your hands.