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Ham Storage Chart
Freezer storage is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely.
| Type of Ham | Refrigerate |
Freeze |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh (uncured) Ham, uncooked | 3 - 5 days |
6 months |
| Fresh (uncured) Ham, cooked | 3 - 4 days |
3 - 4 months |
| Cured Ham, cook before eating; uncooked | 5 - 7 days or "use-by" date* |
3 -4 months |
| Cured Ham, cook before eating; after consumer cooks it | 3 - 5 days |
1 - 2 months |
| Cooked Ham, vacuum sealed at plant, undated; unopened | 2 weeks |
1 - 2 months |
| Cooked Ham, vacuum sealed at plant, dated; unopened | "Use-by" date* |
1 - 2 months |
| Cooked Ham, vacuum sealed at plant, undated or dated; opened | 3 -5 days |
1 - 2 months |
| Cooked Ham, whole, store wrapped | 7 days |
1 - 2 months |
| Cooked Ham, slices, store wrapped | 3 - 5 days |
1 - 2 months |
| Spiral-cut Hams and leftovers from cooked hams | 3 - 5 days |
1 - 2 months |
| **Country Ham, uncooked, cut | 2 - 3 months |
1 month |
| Country Ham, cooked | 7 days |
1 month |
| Canned Ham, labeled "Keep Refrigerated," unopened | 6 - 9 months |
Do not freeze |
| Canned Ham, labeled "Keep Refrigerated," opened | 7 days |
1 - 2 months |
| ***Canned Ham, shelf stable, opened | 3 - 4 days |
1 - 2 months |
| Lunch Meat Ham, sealed at plant, unopened | 2 weeks or "use-by" date |
1 - 2 months |
| Lunch Meat Ham, sealed at plant, after opening | 3 - 5 days |
1 - 2 months |
| Lunch Meat Ham, sliced in store | 3 - 5 days |
1 - 2 months |
| Prosciutto, Parma or Serrano Ham, dry Italian or Spanish type, cut | 2 - 3 months |
1 month |
*Company determines its "use-by" date and stands by it.
** A whole, uncut country ham can be stored safely at room temperature for up to 1 year. The ham is safe after 1 year, but the quality may suffer.
*** An unopened shelf-stable, canned ham may be stored at room temperature for 2 years.
Information provided by the USDA