We’ve all been there before, buying too much deli meat you can’t consume them in the right amount of time. There are people who can eat non-stop deli meat until everything is gone but a diet must consist of more than just deli meat right ;)! How long is deli meat good for?
Deli meat is prepackaged meat and refers to a wide range of meats: chicken, salami, ham, and so on…
That should be the question you’ve asked yourself when buying this much deli meat.
But that’s in the past, now we need to talk about how long they can last after they were opened. Should you consider freezing your deli meat leftovers?
In this blog post, we will cover things like shelf life, how to store them properly and when deli meat can go bad. Remember, these are general rules, we always say to trust your senses.
How Do You Store Deli Meat
Deli meat is not one kind of meat, there are different kinds and variations of this meat. But when it comes to storing them, we can say the same rules apply.
On GoodOrGoneBad, we refer a lot to the rule of storing the foods and drinks in the same way you’ve bought them in the store. If you buy refrigerated deli meat, store them in your fridge. Don’t even think further about the kind or variation of the meat, it doesn’t matter.
The most important rule when it comes to deli meat is to make sure that your deli meat stays refrigerated after you open the package. You can use a container that you can seal completely. There’s also the possibility of using bags for this, make sure you squeeze the air out of them. You can use bags and a container as well.
For best results, you should aim to consume your deli meat within a week of opening the package. If it starts smelling off or has an unusual color, it’s best to discard it immediately.
Can You Freeze Deli Meat
Many people freeze their deli meat leftovers for later use. There’s nothing wrong with that but think about the fact that some deli meats, or other foods in the freezer, can dry out and suffer from freezer burn.
Freezer burn happens when the container or bags aren’t sealed down properly so the air can infiltrate into the container or bag. The air will dry the sealed deli meat. Normally you should be able to see this about the color of the deli meat as it will change.
So if you’re sealing everything, it can’t hurt to put them in double bags. The other possibility is to use a container that you can close properly.
When you’ve bought a lot of prepackaged deli meat (promotion?), you can store some of them unpacked in the freezer, of course in a bag and sealed tight.
You can also try and reorganize the deli meat into more bags. Families do this so they can take out some for preparing lunch bags and so on. With the risk of freezer burn, you can even put those bags into another container, just to reduce the risks.
As we’ve said before, there are different kinds and variations of deli meat. This applies also to freezing them, some deli meats contain more fats and contain additives than others.
When you take the bag out of the freezer, it’s best to put it back in the refrigerator and not in your kitchen at room temperature. The change in temperature is too high and this can have a negative influence on your deli meat and make it more attractive for bacteria and lose its great taste in the process.
How Long Can Deli Meat Last
There is a lot of different deli meat available so it’s not possible to cover them all and their shelf life, as we did for the storage part.
When you buy prepackaged deli meat, there should be a sell-by date on it. The rule is simple, eat as fast as you can, and don’t rely on these dates as with other foods.
Here we will cover them more in-depth, but remember, this is general advice and is not to be used for all the deli meat out there. Trust in your senses! The decaying of foods and drinks depends on a lot of factors.
If you didn’t open the prepacked deli meat, it should last a few days longer than the date on the package.
When you open the sealed package for the first time, it will vary from a few days up to 7 days, so a week in general.
When you’ve bought sliced deli meat at the counter, it generally will last between 2 to 5 days.
How Can You See If Deli Meat Is Good Or Gone Bad
Luckily, there are some clear signs or indications that tell us if deli meat has gone bad. If you’re in doubt about one of these indications, just don’t be brave and get rid of the deli meat. Don’t take the risk for your health and well-being, you can buy fresh deli meat at the store for a fairly low price.
- The color of the meat: meat can discolor or change in color. Don’t take the risk to eat it.
- The smell of the meat: meat can give off a serious odor or smell. Don’t take the risk to eat it.
- The black or dark spots on the meat: this can be a sign of mold. Don’t take the risk to eat it.
- Meat surface: normally this is wet, is it a more solid, slimy substance? This is a potential risk as it can be caused by bacteria or small organisms in the meat. Don’t take the risk to eat it.
- The bad taste of the meat: this is something you surely want to avoid but some people skip all the steps and taste it. If it does taste it bad, spit it out and refresh your mouth with water.
Summary of deli meat storage
We will conclude this post with a specific period in which the deli meat needs to be consumed.
- Unopened prepackaged deli meat: the sell-by date + a few days.
- Opened prepackaged deli meat: opening + 3 to 7 days (max. 1 week).
- Freshly sliced deli meat: about 2 to 5 days in the refrigerator
Enjoy your deli meats!