How long is a Ham good for??

[Bill4728]

When you buy a ham I thought, if kept in a frig, they were good for a very long time. (years) but there is an expiration date of just 3 months.

Is this just the company covering their ass??

 

[Twinkstarr]

When you buy a ham I thought, if kept in a frig, they were good for a very long time. (years) but there is an expiration date of just 3 months.

Is this just the company covering their ass??

Or helping the supermarket with their inventory control.

 

[DeniseM]

It depends on what type of ham it is. Here is what the USDA says:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/ham/index.asp#10

The longest recommended storage time is for a refrigerated canned ham and it's 6-9 mos. in the Refrig.

 

[DebBrown]

Ours only lasted six days.

Deb

 

[pjrose]

At the farm at Yorktowne, they have hams that are 1, 2, and 3 years old hanging in the recreation of a late 1700's kitchen. The person there said that there's a 100 year old one hanging in the Smithfield smokehouse! Of course I don't know if anyone is actually going to eat it.....

 

[Mel7706]

Different curing methods

largely determine the storage life. A salt cured and then smoked ham can last years if stored in a cool environment
that is not too humid. It may even(most likely) be covered with mold that is scraped or scrubbed off before use. A ham cured for long storage will be hard to the squeeze. If it needs refrigeration it won't last as long. Appearance and smell should let you know if it is fit to eat.

 

[geoand]

It has been my personal experience that once a ham, always a HAM! Thats a long time.