A prosciutto is a form of ham that usually goes along with special holidays and other related holidays. For instance, ham is a special delicacy that popular during special holidays like Christmas. Some people love this kind of ham even if there is no special occasion.
However, prosciutto has a limited time frame when you should consume it before it goes bad. Just like other types of delicacies, this kind of ham should be consumed before its expiry date. The lifespan of prosciutto differs depending on a particular type. You need to know the period that your preferred ham lasts.
There are different types of prosciutto hams and some have a sweet taste while others can be salty. The test of the ham usually depends on how the meat was prepared. You may not be able to determine the quality of the meat during the early stages of the ham but you can test its edibility over time.
Different types of hams undergo various stages to ensure quality and strict regulations so that they are safe for consumption. Hams can lead to serious illnesses if safety precautions are not properly followed during their manufacturing process. You should know how long the different types of ham are edible before consuming them.
The chart below shows the period your ham can last before or after opening it.
| Type of Ham | Refrigerated | Frozen |
| Cured ham (uncooked) | 5- 7 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Cured ham (cooked) | 2 to 3 months | One month |
| Country Ham | 2 to 3 months | One month |
| Luncheon meat ham (unopened) | Two weeks | 1 to 2 months |
| Cooked ham, vacuum sealed, updated & unopened | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 months |
| Luncheon meat ham (opened) | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Cooked ham, whole store wrapped | 7 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Canned ham with label keep refrigerated | 7 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Cooked ham slices | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Cooked ham, vacuum sealed, dated, unopened | Use by date | 1 to 2 months |
How to Determine if Prosciutto Is Still Okay?
You can use the following tips to determine whether your ham is still edible or not. The pre-sliced prosciutto usually expires between 90 and 120 days. Each container of ham comes with expiration date which should guide you if it is still right or not. Any ham that has passed its expiration is not safe for consumption.
The color of the prosciutto can also help you to determine if it is right or bad. The fat of the meat should have a white or pale ivory color and you must also see a reddish-pink color. Any color that can be gray, green or blue means the ham is bad. When the color of the meat begins to fade, it means that it is getting bad so you should not eat it.
You can also smell the meat for freshness to determine if it is still right. The meat should odorless if it is still okay for consumption. Sour odors show that the meat is no longer fresh and not safe for consumption. You can also feel the meat with your hands to check if it is right. The meat should be slightly moist or feel dry but never slippery.
How to Choose the Best Prosciutto?
The fundamental thing that you should do is to check the label when shopping for prosciutto. It can take between 90 and 120 days before its expiration date. You can eat prosciutto in its raw state or you can add pasta or risotto. You should add the ham at the last stage of the cooking process so you do not destroy the flavor.
You can either refrigerate or keep the prosciutto frozen but always make sure to eat it before its expiration date. Once opened, make sure you consume the ham in about two days. When you do not want to consume it raw, then you can cook it while at the same time adding it to your preferred recipes as an ingredient.
As a quick tip, you can avoid freezing the prosciutto if you want to eat it at a later period. Freezing can affect its taste in the long run but you can refrigerate it as given on the storage instructions. As long as the ham is unopened, then you can keep it for months in the fridge.
You must make an effort to look for pink meat clean fat streaks that are white and distributed evenly across the slices. Products that feel moist may not be good to purchase.
If you want to improve the taste of the prosciutto, you can try the other method of candying it. You can add sweet and salty ingredients that combine well with the goodness of Italian cured meat.
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