How Long Does Kentucky Legend Ham Stay Fresh? A Guide to Maximizing Shelf Life

Kentucky Legend ham is a delicious cured meat product with a rich, smoky flavor. But like any perishable food, it’s important to store it properly to maximize its shelf life. Under optimal conditions, Kentucky Legend ham can remain fresh for up to two months in the freezer or one week in the refrigerator

An Overview of Kentucky Legend Ham

Kentucky Legend is a premium ham brand based in Louisville, Kentucky. Their hams are minimally processed and smoked over hardwood chips to achieve a distinctive sweet and smoky taste. The hams are available fully cooked or ready-to-cook, bone-in or boneless, and in a variety of sizes from petite to half or quarter sliced.

One of the great things about ham is its relatively long shelf life compared to other meats. Properly stored, it can last for weeks or months before going bad. But to get the most out of your Kentucky Legend ham, you need to understand how to store it correctly.

Maximizing Refrigerator Storage

For short-term storage, the refrigerator is the best place to keep your Kentucky Legend ham According to the company’s shelf life guide, their hams will stay fresh for up to one week when properly stored in the fridge.

To maximize refrigerator shelf life:

• Keep ham in original packaging or wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, This prevents drying out,

• Store on a shelf rather than in the door, where temperature fluctuations are greater.

• Place ham on a plate or in a container to catch any juices that may leak.

• Refrigerate at 40°F or below. Use a refrigerator thermometer to monitor.

• Eat refrigerated ham within 5-7 days for best quality. Discard if moldy or has an off odor.

Pro tip: For longer fridge life, carve off only what you plan to eat in the next few days. Keep the rest of the ham intact in packaging. Minimize openings to maintain freshness.

Freezing for Long-Term Storage

For storage periods longer than a week, the freezer is the best option. According to Kentucky Legend, their hams stay fresh for up to two months in the freezer when properly stored.

To maximize freezer shelf life:

• Freeze ham in original packaging or wrap airtight with heavy duty aluminum foil, freezer wrap, or freezer bags.

• Wrap again with an outer layer of plastic wrap to protect from freezer burn.

• Portion ham into usable sizes so you can thaw only what you need.

• Remove as much air from packaging as possible.

• Freeze at 0°F or below. Use a freezer thermometer to monitor.

• Label ham with date and use within 2 months for best quality.

Pro tips:

• Let ham thaw overnight in the fridge before using. Don’t thaw at room temperature.

• Use thawed ham within 3-5 days. Don’t refreeze thawed ham.

• Glaze or slice ham before freezing for easier use later.

How to Tell if Kentucky Legend Ham Has Gone Bad

With proper refrigeration and freezing, Kentucky Legend ham can stay fresh for a surprisingly long time. But here are some signs that it may have spoiled and needs to be discarded:

• Slimy texture or sticky surface
• Mold growth (a small amount of dry mold can be cut off, but don’t eat ham if moldy throughout)
• Off odors like sour, ammonia, or rotten
• Dry, shriveled, or hard appearance
• Unnatural or faded colors
• Taste is off, bitter, or unpleasant

When in doubt, remember the old saying “When in doubt, throw it out” applies to potentially spoiled ham too. Don’t risk getting sick from a foodborne illness.

Enjoy Kentucky Legend Ham Safely With “Right-Sizing”

A great thing about Kentucky Legend ham is that it’s available in smaller sizes beyond the traditional large bone-in ham. You can get “right-sized” halves, quarters, and petites that are perfect for smaller households.

Some benefits of right-sized ham include:

• Less waste since you can buy just what you need
• Better food safety as smaller sizes freeze and thaw faster
• More options for quick meals with pre-sliced petites and quarters
• Lower cost to try premium Kentucky Legend ham

So don’t worry about being stuck with a huge leftover ham. With smaller sizes like petites and quarters, you can properly store and enjoy Kentucky Legend ham safely without waste.

Handling Leftover Ham

Even with right-sizing, you’ll likely have some leftover ham after a meal. Here are some tips for safely handling and storing those ham leftovers:

• Allow ham to cool within 2 hours after cooking, then refrigerate promptly.

• Store ham leftovers in shallow airtight containers to allow rapid chilling.

• Refrigerate for 3-4 days or freeze for 2-3 months.

• Use leftover ham in split pea soup, omelets, sandwiches, salads, and casseroles.

• Reheat thoroughly to 165°F. Bring soups and casseroles to a boil.

• When reheating ham slices, use the oven or skillet rather than the microwave for best texture.

With proper storage and reheating, leftover ham stays tasty and safe to eat for several days. Get creative with the ways you enjoy those delicious ham leftovers.

Enjoy Maximum Freshness with Kentucky Legend Ham

With its sweet and savory smoked flavor, Kentucky Legend ham is a tasty treat not to be missed. Thanks to its cured properties, ham has a naturally long shelf life. By following the proper storage guidelines, you can keep Kentucky Legend ham fresh for up to two months in the freezer or one week in the fridge. Additionally, smaller sizes like quarters and petites allow you to purchase just what you need. So go ahead and enjoy delicious Kentucky Legend ham while maximizing freshness with proper storage techniques.