# I've got a ham I'm cooking..

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-a-ham-im-cooking/440748>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 9, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-a-ham-im-cooking/440748 "2008-03-09T19:23:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-a-ham-im-cooking/440748/1 "2008-03-09T19:23:07Z")

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that said “Freeze or use by March 3, 2008”. It was pre-cooked. Is it going to kill me or make me sick when I eat it? (today is March 9, 2008).

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-a-ham-im-cooking/440748/2 "2008-03-09T19:32:50Z")

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Nah, you’ll be fine. The curing process that ham undergoes is a very effective preservative and being precooked on top of that makes it even less susceptible to spoilage. I see no problem with eating it, particularly as you’re cooking it and not eating it cold.

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-a-ham-im-cooking/440748/3 "2008-03-10T13:32:32Z")

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I agree. For something like a cooked cured ham the date has more to do with optimal taste and quality than spoilage. And in any case, the dates tend to be conservative; a few days don’t matter. The ham doesn’t know what day it is. 😃

Improper storage and handling of meat is a much greater risk than mere aging.

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**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-a-ham-im-cooking/440748/4 "2008-03-10T17:03:07Z")

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Mmm… watery… yet, with a smack of ham.

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**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-a-ham-im-cooking/440748/5 "2008-03-10T17:05:48Z")

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I just jumped over from Great Debates where I was reading a thread on jewish theology. Seeing this thread next was just rather amusing.