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Food Safety Issues/Ham shelf life
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Question
How long is a cured smoked ham able to be kept after the sell by date on the packaging label? Or is that the date that a ham must be used by?
Hi Lin,
It is recommended to use an uncooked, cured smoked ham within 2 weeks of the sell-by date.
Once you cook the ham, it should be refrigerated and used within 3 to 5 days or frozen up to 2 months. If you freeze it before cooking, you can freeze it up to 4 months for maximum quality. Once defrosted, you can cook it and then refrigerate left overs up to 5 days or freeze up to 2 months.
The sell-by date is provided for the seller to make sure they are rotating their stock for maxiumum freshness.
I hope this answers your question. If you have further questions, please let me know.
Carol
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Answers by Expert:
Carol Schlitt
Expertise
I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience
I am a former Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety, having retired August 1, 2010. I am a certified HACCP manager, a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health and a 3rd party food safety and OSHA auditor of restaurants.
Organizations
International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, St. Louis Culinary Society.
Education/Credentials
BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
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