wet cured ham spoilage
I left a frozen wet cured fully cooked ham still in the shrink wrap in a cool water circulation last night to thaw it. At some point my wife used the faucet and set the temp on the tap up. When I reached in to pull the drain, the water was warm and so was the ham. It had been in this warm state for no more than 3 hours. I shot a temp on the exterior of the ham and it read 100.2F. I immediately put it back in the frig to wait till the morning to cook. Will it be safe to consume after reaching 160?
Best Answer
I am usually loath to say out loud that you can feel safe going outside of government guidelines, even if I wouldn't hesitate to eat the food myself. In this rare case I will throw caution to the wind. Oh for heaven's sake, cured ham? Warm for <3 hours? Yes, you can eat it.
I can't swear that it is actually safe, but you're probably more likely to be struck by lightning than to be made sick by that ham (unless by some weird twist of fate, it was tainted to begin with).
The official USDA line is that 40F - 140F is the "danger zone", and any food that is susceptible to becoming dangerous is dangerous if it has spent more than 2 hours (cumulative, as in ever) in that temperature zone. That is obviously very, very conservative. Curing adds another layer of preservation/safety to the meat.The USDA would say that your ham needs to be thrown out. I say pass the mustard.
If any member of your family is pregnant or immunocompromised, give them actual "safe" food.
Pictures about "wet cured ham spoilage"
How long does wet cured ham last?
How Long Can Ham Last In A Fridge?Type of HamFridge (40\xb0F or below)Fresh, uncured, uncookedFrom 3 to 5 daysFresh, uncured, cookedLess than 4 daysCured, cook-before-you-eat, uncookedFrom 5 to 7 days (or "best before" date)Vacuum-sealed, cooked-at-plant, unopened2 weeks (or "best before" date)6 more rows•Apr 3, 2022Can cured ham spoil?
Uncooked ham lasts 3 to 5 days if fresh and around 5 to 7 days if cured. Once cooked, it keeps for about two weeks if vacuum sealed and 3 to 5 days once opened or not vacuum sealed at all. For more detailed times check out the Ham Storage Chart. If you need to store ham for longer, freeze it.How can you tell if ham is spoiled?
Ham has a pink rosy color, even when the ham is fully cooked, it maintains the same color. Uncured ham is still pink but it's very pale, almost beige. When a ham starts turning green, black, brown, or gray, it's a sure sign that the ham has gone bad.How do you store a wet cured ham?
Fresh ham and cured ham can be stored in a refrigerator for several days, depending on the type of ham. If it is not going to be used within the recommended time, it should be frozen to prevent it from perishing. Leftover ham should be wrapped tightly and refrigerated as soon as possible.How to brine a ham - The School of Artisan Food
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: visionart.av, Towfiqu barbhuiya, Julia Filirovska, Karolina Grabowska