Topic: Keeping a cooked Ham.

[tim]

How long, sensibly, in the fridge?

[pg]

Would have thought about 10days if your fridge is at optimum temp, might be less if the fridge is full and working hard and perhaps temp is a little variable.

Could extend life of some of it by potting (covering in clarified butter), covering in aspic or turning into even freezing a few slices (if space!).

[tim]

Great - so it'll feed us over Cghistmas - as hoped.

Yes - I always freeze a lot, but it's nice to have it 'off the piece' with the family home.

I often wonder how long it's kept on display in delis - & certainly not at fridge temps??

Good point about temps - our meat bit is at 2degC.

[PurpleHeather]

I recall seeing a TV programme several years ago where they said that cooked ham will keep in a fridge for up to 6 weeks if it is wrapped up properly.

At the time I had one of those cheap fridges and thought...NO WAY.

Since then I got one of those American style fridge freezers (it cost a bit) and can confirm that food keeps for a very very long time in it.

So, in short. It depends on how good your fridge is.

[jennym]

There isn't one answer Tim - it depends on the type of ham, the way it was cured.
Proper dry cured hams will keep much much longer than supermarket types that have loads of water in them, for example. My neighbour used to do her own and keep them hanging in the cold porch out back from November onwards to about March.
I found an american website that seems pretty informative:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/ham/index.asp

[tim]

I go to the US fact sheets quite a bit, Jenny - had forgotten this one - but I'm surprised at the short time for a cooked half ham.

Our current one is a Wiltshire & I hope it's going to see us through the Holiday.