# Questions about the viability of 5 day old lunch meat **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323 "2022-07-21T14:27:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/1 "2022-07-21T14:27:14Z")
So last Saturday I bought a commercial deli-style family-sized package of sliced turkey breast, thinking I’d make sandwiches for the next several days. But besides opening and consuming some of the turkey that same day, I sort of forgot about it and there’s still a lot left. Normally my rule of thumb with cooked meat is 4 days in the fridge tops, then if it’s still around after that it gets thrown out. But, is lunch meat different? If it’s ham I’m fine with giving it a few more days, since it’s smoked / cured or whatever. The package expiration date says by Sept. 9, but I assume that’s only if unopened. And what’s up with that Sept. 9 date? Seems like a long way out for meat, even for an unopened package. Wait, I just read the ingredients, and it makes much more sense now- sodium erythorbate, sodium diacetate, sodium nitrate, and of course good ol’ sodium chloride. No wonder it has an exp. date so far out. It would probably not go bad for a year or more in the fridge 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/2 "2022-07-21T14:29:45Z")
I’ve used lunch meat that was in our refrigerator a couple of weeks and it was fine. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/3 "2022-07-21T14:30:15Z")
This is “deli-style” lunchmeat, right? You didn’t actually have it cut for you in a deli? If so, that stuff stays good for weeks. > [@](#): > > It would probably not go bad for a year or more in the fridge I wouldn’t go that far. We threw some out last week that nobody had touched in about a month. We got sick of sandwiches, so it sat there. Had a odd smell, so we tossed it. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/4 "2022-07-21T14:35:51Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > This is “deli-style” lunchmeat, right? You didn’t actually have it cut for you in a deli? > > If so, that stuff stays good for weeks. Agreed, I wouldn’t even think about it for at least a week, as long as it is kept cold and wrapped up (preferably in something airtight). I have had lunchmeat stay good for at least a month after it was opened. Then again, I’ve bought lunchmeat that was bad before I even opened the package (and prior to expiration date), but that’s rare. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/5 "2022-07-21T14:36:25Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > …We got sick of sandwiches, so it sat there. Had a odd smell, so we tossed it. If you’re unsure toss it, even if it doesn’t smell bad. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/6 "2022-07-21T14:45:12Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > It would probably not go bad for a year or more in the fridge > > I wouldn’t go that far. We threw some out last week that nobody had touched in about a month. We got sick of sandwiches, so it sat there. Had a odd smell, so we tossed it. Yeah, I was exaggerating-- I meant more in a ‘science experiment’ sense-- with all those preservatives, bacteria and other nasties probably wouldn’t make inroads for a _ **long** _ time. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/7 "2022-07-21T14:45:49Z")
If it’s deli meat that was sliced and packaged, I’d give 5-7 days. If it was vacuum sealed in plastic tub I’d give it 5-7 days after opening. > [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve used lunch meat that was in our refrigerator a couple of weeks and it was fine. Let me guess you also prepped it with ten year old salad dressing from your fridge? 😋 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/8 "2022-07-21T14:47:48Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Let me guess you also prepped it with ten year old salad dressing from your fridge? Hah! I recently tossed a lime that had gotten pushed back behind everything. It had desiccated, hardly identifiable as a lime anymore. Even I have limits. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/9 "2022-07-21T14:50:46Z")
Hey, gives me an idea for a branching thread-- ‘What’s the absolute grossest thing you found in the back of your fridge?’ I really need to get back to work though. Someone else feel free to run with it though (heh), if you wish. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/10 "2022-07-21T15:32:24Z")
Cured lunch meat, like salami, probably would be safe a year or more later. That’s why curing was invented, to preserve meat (and that was even without refrigeration). Turkey isn’t cured like that, but I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t still good after a week. The most extreme thread like this I ever saw was someone asking about American “cheese” singles that had been left out, in the sealed package, for four hours. Some people are just way too paranoid about food. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/11 "2022-07-21T15:42:13Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Hey, gives me an idea for a branching thread-- ‘What’s the absolute grossest thing you found in the back of your fridge?’ “It might be meat - It might be cake.” - George Carlin ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/12 "2022-07-21T15:43:23Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Hey, gives me an idea for a branching thread-- ‘What’s the absolute grossest thing you found in the back of your fridge?’ I really need to get back to work though. Someone else feel free to run with it though (heh), if you wish. Such threads exist but I don’t recall any recent ones. This one, for example, is almost old enough to vote: > [@Forgotten items that give you an unpleasant surprise later...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgotten-items-that-give-you-an-unpleasant-surprise-later/299144): > > One day last week while at home, I noticed a barely detectable odor of something going bad in the living room. I sniffed all around and finally tracked it down to the area where my backpack and purse was. It had rained the day before, so I figured my backpack had gotten wet on the inside and was a little mildewy. So I resolved to throw it in the wash soon and left it at that. The next day, the odor was worse, so I went digging through my backpack. Nothing. So I searched my purse. I see someting… ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/13 "2022-07-21T16:15:17Z")
Only 5 days? It’s just getting good. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/14 "2022-07-21T16:15:49Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > This one, for example, is almost old enough to vote: Wow, I only recognize maybe 5 people posting in that thread. Only a few still post. You’re one of them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/15 "2022-07-21T16:39:04Z")
I buy lunchmeat for the missus for her lunches, sometimes in the tub, sometimes sliced from the deli. She’ll normally eat on it for a couple of weeks at least before she gets tired of it, and moves on to something else. Whether turkey, chicken, ham, roast beef, or more cured meats like corned beef or pastrami, it stays good that long. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/16 "2022-07-21T17:11:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Cured lunch meat, like salami, probably would be safe a year or more later. That’s why curing was invented, to preserve meat (and that was even without refrigeration). But are today’s lunch meats like salami storable outside the refrigerator? My guess is that it’s not prepared in the same way as the stuff that was produced in the days before refrigeration. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/17 "2022-07-21T17:45:51Z")
Mostly, “curing” just means “lots and lots of salt”. Which they still do. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/18 "2022-07-21T17:48:33Z")
And nitrites/ates. I mean “celery powder” (which is just as bad, and possibly worse). ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/19 "2022-07-27T18:53:26Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Wow, I only recognize maybe 5 people posting in that thread. Only a few still post. You’re one of them. I recognize pretty much all of them, especially the one known for her flameout over _Star Wars_. Also, your lunch meat is fine. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323/20 "2022-07-27T19:30:25Z")
One of my favorite sites for checking [questionable food.](https://www.stilltasty.com/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-viability-of-5-day-old-lunch-meat/968323.md?page=2)