How long does ham last?
In the fridge, ham keeps for 6 to 9 months from the package date. All 20 kinds are below.
No guideline
6 to 9 months
from the package date
No guideline
By kind
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| canned (“keep refrigerated” label) | no guideline | 6 to 9 months | no guideline | Not recommended |
| fully cooked, bone-in, whole | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fully cooked, bone-in, half | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fully cooked, slices, half, or spiral cut | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fully cooked, arm picnic shoulder, boneless | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fully cooked, canned, boneless (refrigerated) | no guideline | 6 to 9 months | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
| fully cooked, vacuum packed, boneless | no guideline | 2 weeks | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fresh, cook-before-eating, bone-in, whole | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fresh, cook-before-eating, bone-in, half | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fresh, cook-before-eating, shank or butt portion, bone-in | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fresh, cook-before-eating, arm picnic shoulder, boneless | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fresh, cook-before-eating, shoulder roll (butt), boneless | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fresh, uncooked, whole leg, bone-in | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fresh, uncooked, whole leg, boneless | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| fresh, uncooked, half leg, bone-in | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| country ham (whole or half) | no guideline | 1 week | no guideline | 1 to 2 months |
| shelf-stable cans | 6 to 9 months | no guideline | 5 to 14 days | no guideline |
| pre-packaged, luncheon/deli meat | no guideline | 2 weeks | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
| uncured, fresh, cooked | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | no guideline | 3 to 4 months |
| uncured, fresh, uncooked | no guideline | 3 to 5 days | no guideline | 6 months |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
Does ham go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, ham may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell ham has gone bad
- Cooked ham that has spoiled smells sour or off and feels slimy or sticky. Throw it out, whether it is a whole ham or deli slices.
- Mould on a dry-cured country ham is normal and USDA says not to discard the ham. Wash it with hot water and scrub the mould off with a stiff vegetable brush before cooking.
- Mould on any other ham, including cooked ham and sliced ham, is a reason to throw the whole piece out. USDA lists lunch meats among the foods that cannot be trimmed.
- Spiral cut ham and leftovers from a cooked ham keep 3 to 5 days in the fridge; an opened pack of deli ham 3 to 5 days. Unopened vacuum packed ham keeps to its use-by date.
Sources: Hams and Food Safety (USDA FSIS); Ask FSIS: mold on a country ham; Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous? (USDA FSIS). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other meat: smoked or processed last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.