How to tell if ham is bad?!


Question: I cooked a ham last night and forgot to put it in the refrigerator. It was sitting on my counter for about 22 hrs or so. Is that too long? if so, how do i tell if it has gone bad?


Answers: I cooked a ham last night and forgot to put it in the refrigerator. It was sitting on my counter for about 22 hrs or so. Is that too long? if so, how do i tell if it has gone bad?

ham don't go bad that fast.. in fact a cooked ham needs no real refridgeration for at least two- three days. and there are hams which never need refridgeration from butchering of the animal to the plate.. several weeks.the curing salt keeps it good. trust me..

DON'T EAT IT!!!!!!

maybe cut all the outside stuff off and eat the middle.

smell it

IF IT IS GREEN HAVE SOME EGGS WITH IT GET GREEN EGGS AND HAM!!!HAHAHAHA

taste it

if you have diarrhea then that's a sign :]

what she said!smell it

if it smell like your feet, don't eat it

Smell it. If it smells foul, discard it. Ham has so much salt in it that even cooked it might still be good.

IF IT HAS A SEMI BAD SMELL THEN THROW IT AWAY, YA KNOW LIKE DOESN'T SMELL LIKE HAM.

yeah sweetie, I wouldn't eat that ham. =]

smell it, look at it, taste a small peace.

was it smoked ? If smoked then it should be fine.

smell it ..and 2 hours on the counter is too much

If you get sick and die it is probably very ungood.

No, seriously, if the ham was cooked thoroughly and sitting out at room temperature it is probably ok. If it was sitting out unexposed in the sun, or outside, don't eat it.

well first take a deep sniff it's always nose. if your stomach can pass the smell then it sould be able to handle the taste :)

Well...take it and soak it in bleach for a few hours. Then soak it thoroughly in water. Shred it. Soak it again, and you can probably make ham salad out of it.

Personally I wouldn't eat it. I don't care how much it cost.

go see if it has a weird taste u can taste it u won't die :P if u don't like the taste or your instincts tell u they're bad then throw it away :P

It's bad, if it is left at room temperature for more than 3 hours it gets infested w/ parasites.

Don't eat it, it may make you sick.

Ham storage
Fresh ham can be stored in the refrigerator up to five days before cooking.

Cured ham should be refrigerated in the original packaging for up to a week.

Check labels on country-style hams. Some can be stored in a cool place for one to two months, but keep in mind that over time, evaporation shrinks and toughens country ham.

Some canned hams require refrigeration even before opening. Be sure to check the label. All ham should be refrigerated after cooking or opening of the can, and used within five days.

Whole hams can be frozen for up to three months, but if they are country-style, this rather defeats the purpose. Country-style hams can be stored in a cool, dark place at 72 degrees F. for up to two months. Once cut, the country ham is highly perishable.

Leftovers can be frozen for up to a month. If frozen too long, ham will lose its rosy color and turn greyish-brown, as well as lose texture.

Unopened canned hams can be kept in the refrigerator up to one year. Freezing unopened canned ham is pointless, since it will not extend the storage life.

Once opened, canned ham can be tightly wrapped and frozen for up to one month.

Raw, dry-cured ham such as prosciutto should be tightly wrapped and stored in the refrigerator up to five days.
Selecting ham for cooking
Fresh ham should have a well-marbled lean section, with a firm white layer of fat. Young pork will have a grayish-pink color while older pork will be rosy.

Cured hams should be firm and plump, rosy pink with a fine grain to the meat. You will mostly likely have to depend upon dating codes on the ham and the reputation of the producer to judge the quality of uncut hams.

Read labels carefully on canned hams. Some require refrigeration, even before opening. Those that do generally have a better flavor and texture than canned hams which can be stored at room temperature. Shelf-stable processing requires very high heat affecting not only flavor, but also aroma, texture and nutritional value. Also keep in mind that higher quality meat is reserved for more expensive products. Basically, you get what you pay for.

Hams can range from 6 to 24 pounds depending on the cut and whether boneless or not, giving rise to the old adage, "Eternity is a ham and two people."

WOW!! You must be really busy to forget a ham on your counter First it would taste sour Second I wouldn't even taste it! Third toss it to the sea gulls
Darn it! I love ham! LOL

I would cook it again. Get it back up to 160 degrees.
Good luck!

I suggest...you do not eat it or else you will have stomach flu or other illnesses.

The fat on the outer edges of the ham should be white and blemish-free. If the fat has yellowed, the ham may be spoiled.

Uncooked ham/pork should be stored in the refrigerator at 40 degrees or lower and used within 3 to 5 days of the "sell date" indicated on the package. Ham can be frozen, but freezing will make the meat less tender and juicy.

if it looks kind of greenish, and smells bad

If it looks slimy or smells bad or feels slimy.* Chances are it is still good.*

Well, you can tell bye smelling the ham. If it smells rotten or bad or it smells like it just came from the trash, it should be there. Also yes 22 hours is a long time for a cooked ham to be sitting on your counter, by now it could be infected with eggs of roaches and could be filled with microscopic mold, whatever you do, do NOT eat that ham, glad to help....

Rockstar...Amy R.





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