Sandwiches are a tasty lunch option that’s easy to serve at parties and other large gatherings and convenient for brown baggers to carry on the go.
Deli meat is versatile, delicious, and easy to use because it is cooked and seasoned, ready-to-eat. Deli meat is sold by weight in the deli section of your grocery store, or pre-sliced and sold packaged in the meat section of the store, next to bacon, hotdogs, and ham.
Once you’ve opened a package of deli meat, or if you’ve purchased it sliced from the deli counter, it’s best to use it within three to five days. Packaged lunch meats come with a best before date. It’s best to consume the meat on or before this date or freeze it in its unopened package. If the package has already been opened, use a Ziplock, plastic wrap and/or tin foil to avoid freezer burn.
Deli turkey is a convenient and tasty sandwich staple. But with its thin slices and lack of preservatives, it also has a relatively short shelf life. Understanding proper deli turkey storage and signs of spoilage is key to enjoying fresh lunch meat and avoiding foodborne illness.
The Shelf Life of Deli Turkey
The shelf life of deli turkey depends on two factors:
Unopened Pre-Packaged Deli Turkey
- Can last 2-3 weeks unopened in the refrigerator from the sell-by date.
Opened or Fresh Sliced Deli Turkey
- Lasts 3-5 days after opening or slicing.
The short shelf life after opening is due to exposure to air and handling by deli employees which introduces new bacteria. Properly storing deli turkey is essential for food safety.
Proper Storage of Deli Turkey
To maximize freshness:
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Refrigerate deli turkey immediately, within 2 hours of purchasing. Never leave deli meat at room temperature over 2 hours.
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Store deli turkey on the coldest shelf at the back of the refrigerator, around 40°F or below.
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Keep deli turkey tightly wrapped in original packaging or an airtight container. Write the date opened.
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Use clean utensils and hands. Only touch what you will eat to avoid cross-contamination.
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Once opened, use deli meat within 3-5 days. Do not store past the use-by date.
Freezing Deli Turkey
For longer storage, freeze deli turkey for 1-2 months maximum. Freeze in original packaging or an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. Defrost in the refrigerator before use.
Once deli turkey is thawed, use proper refrigeration. Do not refreeze, as bacteria may have grown while thawing.
How To Tell If Deli Turkey Is Bad
Signs that deli turkey has spoiled include:
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Slimy texture or sticky film
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Unpleasant sour or ammonia smell
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Change in color – darker, lighter, or pale
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Hard or dry turkey edges
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Mold growth
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Liquid leaking from package
Throw away deli turkey with any signs of spoilage. Do not taste meat to determine if it has spoiled, as harmful bacteria may be present. When in doubt, play it safe and discard.
Dangers of Eating Spoiled Deli Meat
Eating spoiled deli turkey can cause foodborne illness. Bacteria like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli rapidly multiply on perishable meats at unsafe temperatures.
Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. It can become life-threatening for those with weakened immune systems such as the elderly, pregnant women, and children.
Always inspect deli turkey before eating and follow safe handling guidelines. Under ideal refrigeration, freshly sliced deli turkey should keep for 3-5 days. For longer storage, freeze deli turkey for 1-2 months. Discard immediately at any signs of spoilage. By properly storing deli turkey and monitoring for freshness, you can safely enjoy sandwiches without worrying about foodborne pathogens.
How Do You Know When Deli Meat Goes Bad?
You can identify when your deli meat has started to spoil in a few ways. The first way is a “sniff” test. If your cold cuts have a sour or stale odor, it’s time to discard them.
Some longer-lasting meats, like salami or pepperoni, may not produce a smell immediately. So, another tactic you can use is to check if there’s any moisture or slimy texture on the surface. That usually indicates the growth of bacteria or yeast forming on the cold cut.
You can also observe the color. Any discoloration from the original, usually around the edges of sliced meat, means the meat has spoiled. And if you notice mold spots, the deli meat is past its prime and should be tossed out.
What’s in Deli Meat?
Roasts sliced at the deli counter tend to be slightly less processed than packaged meats, but often contain the same preservatives and additives. Don’t be fooled by the word “natural”, which literally means nothing. It’s an unregulated marketing term. If you want to know what’s in your lunch meat, it’s a good idea to ask for a list of ingredients at the deli counter.
To give you a better idea of what you’re putting into your body when you consume conventional processed lunch meats, here’s a list of some of the ingredients you may find on the packaging.
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Sodium Nitrite or Celery Extracts
This compound helps prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum (the cause of botulism in humans) and can maintain the coloring of cured meat and poultry products. Sodium nitrite, and celery extracts, when combined with amines, which are present in meat, can form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic.Carcinogens have been linked to cancer of the oral cavity, bladder, esophagus, stomach, and brain. In fact, most “natural” deli brands use celery extracts, especially with pork products. Celery extracts are biochemically identical to sodium nitrite and they are not healthier. They technically should not be permitted in organic meat, but because the nitrites are derived from celery, not a chemical, they are currently allowed.MCLEAN does not use nitrites or celery extracts in any of our products. All MCLEAN products are truly preservative free. So, if you want to avoid nitrites when purchasing deli meat, choose our products or read labels carefully.
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BHT, BHA, & Tocopherols
These antioxidants help preserve foods by slowing down rancidity and protecting natural nutrients like vitamin A. Overall, they help maintain the nutritional qualities of your food, but they are controversial regarding health, and probably should be avoided.
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Phosphates
Phosphates help protect the flavor and retain moisture in meat and poultry products and help break down muscle fibre to bind meat together. You will notice sodium phosphate listed in the ingredients next to sodium nitrite in most conventional deli meats like ham and bacon.
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Sodium Erythorbate
In sausage, ham, bacon and other cured meat products, sodium erythorbate serves as a cure accelerator enhancing the classic pink colour of processed meats when added together with curing salt (nitrites/nitrates). It and other additives have been used to extend color stability and shelf life.
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Emulsifier
Additives such as lecithin and mono- and diglycerides are types of emulsifiers. They are usually found in meat spreads to help prevent the separation of the ingredients and maintain the texture. The emulsifiers prevent the separation of water and oil/fat.
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Gelatin
Gelatin comes from the skin, tendons, ligaments, or bones of livestock to be used as another thickener in our foods. You can find it in canned hams or jellied meats.
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Corn Syrup
This sugar is derived from the chemical breakdown of corn starch and is used to enhance flavor and add sweetness to meat and poultry products. It also helps prevent the crystallization of sugar and alters the volume and texture of certain foods.
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Citric Acid
This additive helps protect the fresh color of cut meat in storage. And it maintains the flavor and boosts the effectiveness of antioxidants.
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Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
The purpose of MSG is to enhance your food’s flavor. It’s derived from L-glutamic acid, a common amino acid naturally found in some foods.
Don’t Waste it! Deli Meat – How long does it really last
FAQ
Is deli turkey good after 7 days?
If you are talking about commercial packages of deli turkey, then you can keep it for 7 days after opening (if your refrigerator is 41°F or less) with the day of opening being day 1 (FDA Food Code).
Can I eat deli turkey after 10 days?
She recommends eating deli meat within three to five days from opening the package, and unopened packages within two weeks. But if it changes color, takes on an “off” odor, or becomes sticky, slimy, or moldy, you should throw it out.
How long does sliced deli turkey last in the fridge?
Freshly sliced meat from the deli counter has the same shelf life as packaged deli meat once the package is opened. It will last for three to five days in the refrigerator.
Can you eat deli meat after 12 days?
Expiration Date: Always check the sell-by or use-by date on the packaging. If it’s past this date, it’s best to discard it. Storage Time: If deli meat has been opened, it should be consumed within 3 to 5 days. If it has been unopened and stored properly, it can last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
How long does deli turkey last in the fridge?
You can usually expect packaged deli turkey to last less than a week in the fridge. If you keep the package sealed, you’ll get more time out of the turkey versus leaving it open to air exposure. Also, freezing the deli meat will make it last much longer; it just takes more planning because you’ll need to thaw it before eating it.
How long does deli turkey lunch meat last?
Once opened, the clock starts ticking faster on freshness. An opened package of deli turkey lunch meat will last about 5-7 days in the fridge. To maximize the shelf life after opening, be sure to promptly remove any slices you will use and tightly reseal the package. Limiting air exposure prevents drying out.
How long can you eat deli turkey?
Whenever possible, eat your deli turkey within five days of purchasing it. If you wait any longer, you risk having it turn hard or feel slimy in your sandwich. You can get a few more days out of the meat if you keep it in a sealed bag or container.
How long is deli meat good for?
Official recommendations say deli-sliced or store-prepared lunch meat should be consumed within three to five days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, any opened vacuum-packets of sliced lunch meat should be consumed within three to five days.
How long does a vacuum sealed deli turkey last?
The vacuum seal prevents air from getting to the turkey, which helps to slow down the growth of bacteria. Vacuum-sealed deli turkey can last for up to 7 days in the refrigerator. * Resealable plastic packaging: This type of packaging is also effective at keeping deli turkey fresh.
Can you eat deli turkey if it’s expired?
To safely enjoy deli turkey, be sure to: Refrigerate promptly after purchase. Don’t leave sitting out more than 2 hours. Check sell-by dates and don’t purchase or eat expired turkey. Store open packages tightly sealed and toward the back of the fridge. Monitor refrigerated turkey for signs of spoilage. When it doubt, toss it out.