How long does the ham last?

If you like cured meat, you will never be able to resist a slice of sweet-salty ham. Whether you eat it with cheese and melon or just put some on your pizza, this cured pork is a real treat.

But how long is prosciutto good for? Sliced prosciutto can last up to 4 months in a vacuum-sealed bag and 2-3 days if wrapped in waxed paper. Dry-cured prosciutto thighs last 6-12 months hung in a cool, dry room. A boneless leg of prosciutto in a vacuum pack keeps well for 6 months if refrigerated.

In this article, you’ll learn all about prosciutto storage conditions and shelf life, as well as how to spot prosciutto that has gone bad.

How long does serrano ham last?

The duration of the raw ham depends on the variety you buy. But it also has a lot to do with storage conditions. If you’ve stored your prosciutto properly, you’ll get the most out of its shelf life.

slices

If you want your prosciutto to keep well and always fresh, we recommend buying a package or two of sliced prosciutto .

Sliced prosciutto is also easier to find in the supermarket and easier to prepare. You probably won’t waste as much meat this way either.

The conservation time of sliced ham varies depending on its packaging and the curing time. Typically it should last 4 months in an unopened vacuum sealed bag or 1-3 days wrapped in paper or plastic wrap.

dry cured leg

As for whole legs of prosciutto, it’s best to only buy one at a time. So you won’t be in a hurry to eat it.

In addition, you will save a lot of storage space, either in your pantry or in the fridge. A whole leg of dry-cured prosciutto with the bone still in it will maintain its best flavor and texture qualities for 6-12 months.

The shelf life of dry-cured prosciutto can be longer than 12 months if you haven’t cut it yet. But to get the meaty, salty-sweet flavor of this butter-like ham, we recommend consuming it within a year.

Once sliced, it should last another 2 months and should be refrigerated.

vacuum packed leg

Boneless legs also have a long shelf life, as long as the packaging is intact and the refrigerator temperature does not exceed 50°F.

The shelf life of a properly refrigerated vacuum-packed leg of prosciutto is 6 months.

The leg of ham in a vacuum pack can be kept for more than six months. Before discarding it, open the package and check it.

How long does serrano ham last once opened?

Sliced prosciutto should be consumed within 1-3 days of opening, and should be discarded afterwards.

Once you remove a whole boneless leg of prosciutto from its airtight container, consume it within 2 months.

During this time, you may need to cut away some moldy or discolored areas of the leg. This will prevent contamination from spreading and will keep the rest of the meat fresh.

Although prosciutto kept for 2 months in the fridge will still taste delicious, keep in mind that it will taste much better in the first few weeks after opening the package.

Signs that the prosciutto has gone bad

As with any meat product, you must be careful not to consume raw ham that has gone bad.

Look for the following signs that the ham has gone bad:

• Expiration date: Serrano ham is not one of those products that you can consume after the expiration date. If it’s expired, it’s really expired.
• Discoloration - If you see any discoloration in Serrano ham, it is time to discard it. The color of good prosciutto meat ranges from pale red to pink, and the lines of fat are ivory. Any green or blue spots on the meat are a sign of spoilage. It is also common for bad prosciutto to start turning grey.
• Bad smell - Even if your prosciutto looks good but doesn’t smell good, discard it. The prosciutto should have a smell reminiscent of bacon . In a word, it should smell fresh.
• Slimy Texture - Slimy texture is a key indicator that the prosciutto has gone bad. This slippery and sticky coating on the meat appears as a result of the breakdown of lactic acid. Prosciutto that is still good should be dry and not feel slimy when pressed with a finger.

Knowing the signs of a bad prosciutto is essential for those who like to enjoy this cured meat. We’re sure we don’t have to break it to you, but consuming bad prosciutto is not only a horrible experience, but comes with many health risks.

However, if you follow this guide, you’ll probably get the most out of your Italian ham before it starts to go bad.

How to preserve serrano ham

Prosciutto, or ham in Italian, is made from the hind leg of the pig. In general, there are two types of prosciutto.

Prosciutto cotto, or cooked prosciutto, and prosciutto crudo, which is uncooked, dry-cured prosciutto. The latter is more popular in the United States and is what people often refer to as prosciutto.

Especially if your ham is not cooked, you will need to make sure to store it properly. Improper storage conditions will cause this product to spoil prematurely.

If you have bought a whole leg of Serrano ham, below we will explain how to store it depending on whether it is a sliced leg, a boneless leg or a bone-in leg.

Conservation of sliced ham

Sliced prosciutto, the most accessible form in the United States, unfortunately spoils more easily than a whole leg.

Whether the sliced ham is vacuum-sealed or not, you should store it in the fridge, away from warm places.

It should not be in contact with other foods that have aromas that may affect the taste or smell of the ham, such as cheese or other meats.

You will want to eat your slices of prosciutto as soon as possible to experience all the quality that this Italian ham has to offer.

Storage of a leg of raw ham with bone

You can store a whole leg of prosciutto at room temperature. Dry-cured meat can be safely stored in the pantry, cellar, or any cool room in the house where the temperature does not exceed 65°F.

All you have to do is hang it in a cool, dry place . If where you live is hot or humid, or there isn’t a cool room in your house, consider refrigerating the raw ham.

You should always keep the prosciutto away from the sun or any source of heat . You may be tempted to display your artisan prosciutto leg in your kitchen area.

However, you will risk your Italian ham going bad, since you can’t always control the temperature in your kitchen.

Storing a boneless leg of ham

When the bone is removed from the prosciutto leg, it is usually sold vacuum sealed. Removing the air from the container prolongs the useful life of the ham. Open this container only when you are going to use the ham.

As long as the boneless ham’s vacuum pack is not damaged, it will stay fresh. Cutting the vacuum pack or accidentally damaging it will cause the ham to spoil more quickly.

If this happens, remove the prosciutto from the container and store it wrapped in wax paper or transparent paper. Aluminum foil also works great for this reason.

You can also put a kitchen towel over the parchment-wrapped prosciutto leg for an extra layer of protection. Store it in the fridge.

Since prosciutto legs are too large to finish in a week, you should change the leg wrap, whether it’s aluminum foil, plastic, or paper, every week or more often.

Prosciutto is a fine product. If you don’t pay enough attention to it, it will quickly start to taste stale and not be as tender and delicate.

Storing the serrano ham after opening it

Whether it is sliced ham or a whole leg of ham sold in a vacuum pack, it must be refrigerated after opening.

Store the prosciutto covered with wax paper, aluminum foil, or wrap to prevent it from drying out or touching other items in the fridge.

Also, the prosciutto must be covered to prevent it from absorbing odors.

As we have mentioned before, cheese is one of the foods that you should keep Serrano ham away from.

Although prosciutto and cheese are a perfect culinary pairing, when stored together, the pungent aromas of cheese change the flavor profile of prosciutto.

Does prosciutto go bad if not refrigerated?

If it’s not uncut dry-cured prosciutto stored in a cool room, then yes, it will go bad if not stored in the fridge.

When it comes to prosciutto in vacuum-sealed packages, whether whole or sliced, the prosciutto must be refrigerated at all times. Sliced ham is especially perishable.

Since prosciutto does not contain preservatives, it is important to practice food safety and store prosciutto properly by following expiration dates and label instructions.

Can serrano ham be frozen?

We do not recommend freezing prosciutto, especially a whole leg. The texture and flavor of this cured ham suffer greatly after the freezing and thawing process.

However, from a safety standpoint, you can technically freeze prosciutto. You can also freeze cooked ham, which will freeze better than prosciutto.

If you wrap it well with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, you can keep the prosciutto in the freezer for up to 3 months.

But, because it keeps so well on its own, there’s really no reason to freeze it.