How to store deli meat
Best place: the fridge. USDA gives deli meat a fridge time (3 to 5 days, from the package date) and no pantry time, so it belongs in the fridge as soon as you get home. The freezer gives 1 to 2 months.
Where these times come from. USDA FoodKeeper has no entry named "deli meat". The 6 kinds on this page are the USDA entries that cover deli meat, copied without change from Luncheon meat or poultry, Ham, Turkey, Chicken and Salami. Each row in the table is one USDA entry; pick the one that matches what you have.
No guideline
3 to 5 days
from the package date
1 to 2 months
best quality within
USDA notes for deli meat
- ham, pre-packaged: Freezing not recommended.
- turkey, pre-packaged: Freezing not recommended.
- chicken, pre-packaged: Freezing not recommended.
- salami, pre-packaged: Freezing not recommended.
How to tell deli meat has gone bad
General signs for deli & prepared foods, the group USDA lists deli meat under.
- Sour, sulfur-like or generally off smell from ready-to-eat food
- Sliminess on deli meat or a slick film on salad
- Watery separation showing up in mayonnaise-based salads
- Dry, hardened edges on rotisserie chicken left uncovered
- Colour that has dulled or greyed since purchase
More on deli & prepared foods. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Refrigerate deli and prepared foods within two hours of purchase or cooking, in shallow covered containers for faster cooling. Use most within three to four days, and reheat leftovers until steaming hot before eating. Freeze portions you will not finish in time, and label them clearly with the date.
How to store other deli & prepared foods
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.