Mold on country hams is typical and indicates proper ripening. Scrub with a brush and warm water can eradicate mold at any time.
*IMPORTANT: Your ham should already be packaged in a plastic bag upon arrival. Once received, remove it from the plastic to dry.
How do I store my whole country ham until I’m ready to cook?
Once there, take out the plastic bag. Country ham should not be stored in the refrigerator until cooked or sliced. It is best to hang the whole ham in a cool, dry place away from animals and insects. We do not advocate letting your ham hang for long periods of time. Ham will continue to age on the counter and may dry out. The longer it hangs, the more likely it is to attract unwanted insects.
Why does smoked country ham have to be cooked?
During the curing process, we did use smoke. The smoke is used only to help dry and season the ham. They are not cooked because they are not smoked in a smoker. Cooking instructions can be found on our recipe page.
Is country ham salty?
Uncured or aged “city hams” have a saltier taste than “country hams” cured with salt. Country ham should not be too salty if cooked properly. Best served in moderate servings or with crackers or other types of bread.
How do I store my sliced country ham?
Sliced country ham can be stored for up to two weeks without refrigeration. Best kept refrigerated when you get it. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a year without vacuum seal failure. We recommend packaging and freezing after the seal is broken. You can also freeze ham if you prefer.
Why is my country ham lighter when sliced?
Country hams can lose up to 2 pounds during the slicing process. When cutting the bone, the marrow must be scraped off or bacteria can grow. This reminds me of sawdust when cutting wood. During the slicing process, we also removed the biting. There’s no meat or fat on the itch bone, so it can’t be used for anything, including seasoning. You will receive all the edible parts of the ham.
Why isn’t my meat cold when it arrives?
Because our meats are cured, they can last up to two weeks without refrigeration. All of our smoked bacon, smoked sausages and sliced country hams are included. Therefore, we ship all of our products by UPS ground without any cooling. When the meat arrives at your home, it is only natural that it will be hot. When it arrives, it needs to be refrigerated.
How long can country ham keep
Whole, uncut dry-cured or country ham will keep for up to a year at room temperature. Ham is safe after a year, but the quality may decline. Chopped country ham can be stored in the refrigerator for two to three months or in the freezer for a month.
What’s the best way to preserve country cured ham
Store in plastic wrap below 55°F. Wrap the ham tightly in wax paper or parchment paper, then unwrap it with foil and store in the refrigerator. If superficial mold appears, use the same instructions as for the ham bone or cut away any mold with a knife.
How can you keep country ham fresh for a long time
Hang in a dry place and keep out insects, usually wrapped in paper and cloth bags for extended storage or further aging. Keep in mind that if you keep ham in a warm environment it will drip fat, but if you keep it in a cool place or in the refrigerator it will not age any more.
What’s the best way to keep an open country ham
Our country ham is popular, and for good reason. Whether you’re new to our country’s ham products or a long-time fan, we’ve reviewed and answered some of the most frequently asked questions about our hams.
Hanging a whole country ham in a cold, dry place can keep for up to a year. Our sliced vacuum-packed items do not require refrigeration and can be stored for up to a year if the seal is not broken. Always refer to the best by date printed on the packaging. After opening, keep the container in the refrigerator for no more than two weeks.
The smoke is only used to flavor the ham and to dry it throughout the smoking process. Our ham was just salted, not cooked, before they got to the store.
For flavor, country ham is salty. Salt-cured ham, so it comes from the curing process. Keep in mind that most people will recommend washing or soaking the ham before cooking. If you follow this procedure, there won’t be much salt.
You can find tons of recipes to try on our website! If you’re looking for something sweet and savory, we recommend our Spicy Apple-Peach Chutney. If you want to spice up your country ham with a dish that only takes a few minutes and a few ingredients, you’ll love our Creamy Mustard Sauce recipe.
What is the shelf life of vacuum sealed country ham
Refrigerate plastic-wrapped and vacuum-packed hams. A ham wrapped in plastic lasts about a week. Vacuum-packed ham should be eaten within 1 week of the “sell by” date or before the “use by” date.
How long can you keep cured ham outside
Most hams should be kept out of temperature zones where bacteria can grow rapidly. Hazardous zones are defined as the temperature range of 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the type of ham, fresh and cured hams can keep for several days in the refrigerator. If not edible within the recommended time frame, it should be refrigerated to avoid spoilage. Carefully wrap leftover ham and refrigerate as soon as possible. Let the ham come to room temperature for no more than two hours. It should be refrigerated if not used within four days of cooking.
Undercooked or cooked ham can be safely stored in the refrigerator for several days at 40F or lower. How long it can be refrigerated depends on the type of ham, how fresh it was when purchased, the temperature it was exposed to when transported from the store to home refrigeration, and the packaging used.
To prevent the meat from drying out from exposure to the air, keep it covered. To reduce meat handling, wrap ham in its original box whenever possible. Rewrap tightly with plastic wrap, foil, leak-proof bag, or place in an airtight container if the original package was opened. Meat should be kept in the coldest part of the refrigerator. The storage chart below shows the storage time for several types of hams.
Leftover cooked ham should be refrigerated as soon as possible after serving. Let the ham come to room temperature for no more than two hours. It doesn’t need to be completely frozen before refrigerating leftover ham. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, foil, airtight bag or airtight container and refrigerate at 40°F or lower. See the table below for information on how long leftovers can keep.
Refrigeration advice:
- Wait until shortly before serving to cut the ham. Slices will dry out and lose moisture faster than uncut sections.
- Using an appliance thermometer, check the temperature of your refrigerator frequently to make sure it’s staying at the correct temperature.
- Divide leftovers into shallow plates and cool quickly before refrigerating. This will reduce the time pigs spend in danger zones between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you’re not sure if the ham has been refrigerated for the maximum recommended storage time, and you’re not sure if it’s edible, don’t taste it… throw it away!
Ham should be kept in the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, and if not eaten within the recommended storage time, it should be frozen to avoid spoilage. If possible, avoid freezing ham as it can alter its flavor and texture. The nutritional value of meat is not affected by freezing.
To ensure the best quality, ham should be frozen as soon as possible after purchase. If it is to be frozen before cooking, it should be kept in its original packaging. If the ham has been removed from the original box or has holes in the original package, it should be carefully wrapped in moisture-proof heavyweight plastic wrap or foil, freezer bag, or freezer paper. To help keep the moisture in the ham, wrap it twice and make sure it’s tightly wrapped around the entire surface of the meat.
Note the contents and date on the box so you know how long it’s been in the refrigerator. Ham can be frozen past the specified date and still be safe to eat, but the meat quality will be reduced.
Ham needs to be frozen as soon as possible. Thaw is better if it freezes quickly. Place the package on the floor of the freezer or against a wall to speed up the freezing process, as these are the coldest parts. Frozen foods should always be frozen and stored in the freezer, not the refrigerator freezer. Freezers keep food at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, allowing it to be stored for longer periods of time. Refrigerator freezers typically only hold 10 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit and will open more frequently, causing temperature fluctuations. If you put your ham in the freezer, you should use it sooner than if you put it in the freezer. The storage chart shows the best time to freeze for best quality.
Freezing Tips:
- When freezing ham, use moisture-proof packaging or bags. Waxed paper is not moisture resistant and should not be used to wrap ham as it will allow moisture to escape.
- To ensure the best quality, freeze the ham as soon as possible.
- Canned ham should not be frozen. Remove the meat from the container, wrap tightly, and freeze the canned ham if the shelf isn’t stable.
- If there is a bone in the ham that might stick out of the package, wrap it in foil or plastic wrap before wrapping the whole piece.
Can corned beef be kept at room temperature
Meat is notorious for going bad. If you leave ground beef on the counter for a few hours, it can go bad. In fact, the USDA says that bacteria on meat doubles in 20 minutes at room temperature. It won’t even keep for a week in the fridge. Meat is notorious for going bad.
When meat and fish go bad, the microbes are mostly at fault. Mold and bacteria break down the lipids and proteins in the product until it is unsafe to eat. What do these troublesome microbes need to thrive? water.
Is country ham okay to eat
Your ham is already cooked. Simply cut and serve. The ideal way to serve country ham is at room temperature. Alternatively, reheat the foil over low heat (275F) until warm.
What is the shelf life of bacon
If you cook with it, you probably only use a little of the salted pork you cook at a time. You may want to take another bite later in the week. Maybe you’re planning a camping trip and want to bring some extra (uncooked) salt pork.
You should do this when commercial salted pork is not used and you have the option to refrigerate it. Salted pork can be refrigerated for 4-5 months, or even longer in the freezer than if it were not refrigerated for two weeks.
It is best to wrap and seal the bacon as much as possible before refrigerating. The longer your meat is expected to last, the stronger the seal will be. When your salt pork is continuously exposed to higher temperatures, bacteria can form and make the meat unhealthy to eat, but since it’s soaked in the salt, it’s harder for nasty bacteria to get into the meat, also due to the lack of water activity.
Salt pork, on the other hand, lasts longer in the refrigerator than regular meat because it is prepared through a marinating process (whether commercially made or homemade) before being packaged.
That’s why it lasts long enough to be considered a good protein choice for your camping adventures. All you have to do now is wrap it in foil, put it on the fire when it’s ready to cook, and enjoy the delicious combination of protein and fat.
