# Why my ham in slices becomes greasy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 18, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-ham-in-slices-becomes-greasy/213827 "2003-11-18T01:56:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grousser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Grousser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grousser)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-ham-in-slices-becomes-greasy/213827/1 "2003-11-18T01:56:48Z")
It’s been happening some time ago. We buy ham in slices, save it in a tupperware recipient (in her original plastic wrap) and put it in the refrigerator. Soon the ham becomes very greasy. As if have been slimed by Slimy. It’s very disgusting, althought the most of times it still smells ok. There seems not to be a relationship of the time has been there, sometimes happen within one or two days, sometimes later. I’ve also noticed that the best way to delay the greasy stuff is putting the ham in the freezer. But the other food in the refrigerator remains fine (the refrigerator is working fine too), so it’s not a problem with it. I’ve been washing the slices and squirting them, then I smell them and if they’re ok, I eat them. Do you have any idea of why is this? How can I prevent it? I’m sure this didn’t happen some time ago . ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-ham-in-slices-becomes-greasy/213827/2 "2003-11-18T02:42:21Z")
Custom sliced? Stores here sell single thick slice sealed in plastic and it is greasy when removed from wrapper. It’s the nature of the product. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-ham-in-slices-becomes-greasy/213827/3 "2003-11-18T02:50:00Z")
Custom sliced? Stores here sell single thick slice sealed in plastic and it is greasy when removed from wrapper. It’s the nature of the product. ---
**Author:** ![Grousser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Grousser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grousser)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-ham-in-slices-becomes-greasy/213827/4 "2003-11-18T03:23:23Z")
No, they slice it in front of me, wrapping it in a plastic paper. It’s not its nature, so it’s not that way when we buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-ham-in-slices-becomes-greasy/213827/5 "2003-11-18T03:48:32Z")
I suspect it has something to do with whatever that stuff is that they inject into the ham these days, assuming they employ that same disgusting practice in Mexico as they do in the States. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-ham-in-slices-becomes-greasy/213827/6 "2003-11-18T06:47:53Z")
It’s the plastic wrap. Never store ham or bacon in plastic, even the plastic it came in when vacuum packed. After opening wrap it in greaseproof paper or a teatowel. It will keep much better. Only wrap loosely. ---
**Author:** ![Grousser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Grousser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grousser)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-ham-in-slices-becomes-greasy/213827/7 "2003-11-18T07:38:43Z")
I’ll try that and I’ll resurrect this thread according to the results. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-my-ham-in-slices-becomes-greasy/213827/8 "2003-11-18T11:13:35Z")
I was just about to point out that it happens with bacon, too. Thanks **don’t ask** , I’ll give your tip a go. 🙂 Julie