The “Architecture” Of Prosciutto – How Long Does Prosciutto Last?

A prosciutto is a thinly sliced, pink, sweet-salty, fatty meat with a buttery texture and is considered as one of the most popular salumi in the world. ​Prosciutto is an Italian term that means “ham.” In the US, the term is made use of to describe a kind of ham that is dry-cured and uncooked.

How Long Does Prosciutto Last?

Depending on the product label, prosciutto is a kind of ham that is ready for consumption or ready-to-eat. It is important that you read the product label before eating the meat since there are those that require you to cook the meat thoroughly before eating. As most prosciuttos are ready-to-eat, the question is how long does prosciutto last?

Prosciutto is usually served as a festival or holiday dish. Since it is a type of ham, one concern is its shelf life. Ham has a short shelf life; hence it is imperative that you consume it prior to its expiry date. Similar to other types of food, the shelf life of prosciuttos will depend on numerous factors as well, such as they way you store it, where you keep it, room temperature and many more. So, going back to the question, how long does prosciutto last? When we consider the factors above, we would be able to know how long the prosciutto will last. Let’s have a look:

Uncooked Cured Ham

  • Refrigerated – 5 to 7 days
  • Frozen – 3 to 4 months

Cooked Cured Ham

  • Refrigerated – 2 to 3 days
  • Frozen – 1 month

Cooked Vacuum Sealed Ham

  • Refrigerated – 2 weeks
  • Frozen – 1 to 2 months

Uncooked Country Ham

  • Refrigerated – 2 to 3 months
  • Frozen – 1 months

Cooked Country Ham

  • Refrigerated – 7 days
  • Frozen – 1 month

Unopened Luncheon Meat Ham

  • Refrigerated – 2 weeks
  • Frozen – 1 to 2 months

Opened Luncheon Meat Ham

  • Refrigerated – 3 to 5 days
  • Frozen – 1 to 2 months

Cooked Ham, Whole Store Wrapped

  • Refrigerated – 7 days
  • Frozen – 1 to 2 months

Canned Ham with Label Keep-Refrigerated

  • Refrigerated – 7 days
  • Frozen – 1 to 2 months

Cooked Ham Slices

  • Refrigerated – 3 to 5 days
  • Frozen – 1 to 2 months

Cooked Ham, Vacuum Sealed, Dated, Unopened

  • Refrigerated – Use by date
  • Frozen – 1 to 2 months

There are indications that will show if the prosciutto has expired or gone bad. Below are the signs:

  • Expiry Date – The expiry date on the product label is the maximum period of time wherein the ham is best to consume. It is imperative that you consume the ham before the given date for health and safety purposes.
  • Meat Color – The natural color of the fat of the meat is ivory or white whereas the ham is reddish-pink. If it begins tot turn grey, blue or green, this is an obvious sign that the prosciutto has turned bad.
  • Foul Smell – Fresh meat doesn’t have any smell. If you begin to smell a foul or sour smell coming from the ham, it is best to discard the meat.
  • Slippery Surface – Prosciutto should have a surface that is dry or a bit moist. If you touch it and it feels slippery, this is an indication that the ham isn’t good for consumption anymore.