# Long-term storage of dry cured ham

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-storage-of-dry-cured-ham/431651>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 30, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-storage-of-dry-cured-ham/431651 "2007-12-30T00:08:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-storage-of-dry-cured-ham/431651/1 "2007-12-30T00:08:12Z")

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My sister and her husband received a 16 lb. country (dry cured) ham, and since the definition of eternity is “A ham and two people,” she was hoping that she could store it until May, when they are having a huge party to celebrate their 10th anniversary.

Everything I’ve turned up on teh internets leads me to believe she can indeed store it for several months by hanging it where air can circulate and making sure no critters can get into it. She lives in Vegas, and since she received the ham at the (relatively) cool time of year, I think she can probably manage this.

Have any of you actually done this – stored an uncooked dry cured ham for several months?

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-storage-of-dry-cured-ham/431651/2 "2007-12-30T00:13:58Z")

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Yep. Had the sucker sitting in the pantry for a couple of months. Was wonderful when we finally cooked and served it.

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**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-storage-of-dry-cured-ham/431651/3 "2007-12-30T00:59:33Z")

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My local grocery store stores country hams by hanging them in a display rack, at room temperature. There’s no expiration dates on those babies. Long term storage’s what they are made for!

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**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-storage-of-dry-cured-ham/431651/4 "2007-12-30T05:31:21Z")

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Aside from something eating it pretty much nothing can destroy a country ham. It may grow mold on the outside but just scrub it off and it’s good. I cook one for the family each Christmas and often purchase it a couple of months ahead of time.