Food Storage

The short answer: Yes, ham goes bad, but when depends entirely on which type you have. Deli-sliced ham lasts 3 to 5 days after opening. Cooked whole ham lasts

The short answer: Cooked ham, deli-sliced ham, and refrigerated canned ham must be kept cold at all times. Shelf-stable canned ham and whole uncut country ham do not require refrigeration before opening or

The short answer: Yes, raw bacon and most cooked bacon must be refrigerated at all times. There is one exception: shelf-stable precooked bacon, which has been processed to a specific moisture level that

The short answer: Yes, bacon goes bad, and the timeline is shorter than most people assume. Raw bacon lasts 1 week in the refrigerator after opening per the USDA. Cooked bacon lasts 4 to 5 days refrigerated. Unopened raw bacon lasts

The short answer: A whole, uncut prosciutto crudo leg does not require refrigeration if stored at a consistent cool temperature between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is how it is traditionally stored in Italy and in specialty shops. Once cut, or

The short answer: Yes, prosciutto goes bad, but when depends entirely on which type you have. A whole, uncut prosciutto crudo leg can last 6 to 12 months hung in a cool dry place. Pre-packaged sliced prosciutto lasts up to

You bought a pound of sliced turkey at the deli counter on Monday. It is now Friday and there are a few slices left. The package smells fine, the color looks normal. But the USDA says

You left the deli turkey on the counter while you made lunch, and now it has been sitting out for a couple of hours. Or you bought a package and are wondering how long it is actually good for once you

You bought a whole Genoa salami from the unrefrigerated section of a specialty store and now you are not sure whether it goes in the pantry or the fridge. On the counter, there is leftover sliced salami from a

You pull a whole dry salami out of the back of the pantry. It has been there for a few weeks and the outside is covered in white powder. In the fridge, there is an open pack of sliced Genoa salami from last Tuesday. Both look a little

You grabbed a whole pepperoni stick from the unrefrigerated aisle at the grocery store. Now you are home and wondering: should this go in the fridge, or is the pantry fine? Meanwhile the open bag of sliced pepperoni

You have a pepperoni stick sitting in your pantry that you bought a few months ago, and a half-open bag of sliced pepperoni in the fridge that has been there for a week and a half. Neither one is obviously