Expert: Carol Schlitt - 9/27/2007

Question
How long can deli ham be kept in the refrigerator before it becomes dangerous to eat.  I buy deli ham in sandwich slices, have it tied together then bake on the day needed.

Answer
Hi Janet,

The general rule of thumb for deli meat, is that it should be consumed within 3-5 days of purchase (individually sliced). Unopened packages have a refrigerator shelf life of 2 weeks.

Deli meats tend to spoil first (off flavors, colors, slimy texture) before they would become unsafe to eat. Spoilage, while unpleasant, is not unsafe to eat. However, food spoilage organisms may hide food borne illness organisms which do not give off indicators of their presence.  This is why we recommend not consuming deli meats with off flavors, colors or texture.

I would purchase meat and use it within 3-5 days.  If you can not use it in that time frame, I would freeze the meat for future use.

Carol