Saturday, June 18, 2011

How long can I keep lunch meat?

I bought a package of sliced turkey last week.  The expiration date has not passed, but it smells a little funny. Is it still ok to eat?

Probably not!  Throw it out!  Lunch meat is not that expensive and you risk a trip to the hospital if it's contaminated with bacteria.   An unopened package of lunch meat can have an expiration date that is a few weeks away but once it's open, the CDC says to throw it out after 3-5 days!  Meat you have sliced at the deil is also considered an open package and should be tossed after a few days.  If you don't want to run to the grocery store every 5 days, consider buying smaller bags or splitting up a larger bag, and freezing it.  In the freezer, away from the door, it can last up to 2 months.  Just take out the package a day or two before you need it and let it thaw in the fridge.

1 comment:

  1. sometimes the smell is merely on the outside. I often rinse my sliced meat and put it in a clean ziploc bag. Because truthfully? can't imagine the bags they package them in are sterile.

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