... a package of Oscar Meyer smoked turkey/ham, unopened, I just discovered in the fridge -- with an expiration date of 10/25. Stilltasty says it's only good for a week after the date?: [www.stilltasty.com]

What say you all?

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

You don't mess with expired ham.

Ham turns quickly and can make you very ill.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2022 12:54PM by Tiangou.

Since it's unopened I'd bet it's fine. I'd open it, smell it and check for slime.

Then I'd probably throw it away because of the same concerns that Tiangou noted!

I bet that you will answer your own question once you open those packages.

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Hurts like a bastid...

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mrbigstuff
I bet that you will answer your own question once you open those packages.

I'm debating it. I also wonder if it makes any difference that these are smoked meats, and have a whole mess of preservatives in them -- sodium ascorbate, sodium propionate, sodium nitrite, etc.

I'll be curious to see what Paul says when he checks in. I'm leaving it in the fridge for now, I can always toss it tomorrow.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Eat it after you fry it up.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

Hard pass on expired deli meat. Also make sure it isn't on that recall list from earlier this week.

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C(-)ris
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If these are vacuum packed with lots of salt and nitrates, then I'd let my nose be my guide...
Keep in mind that traditionally cured ham (not the stuff you find in deli packages, though) hung by a piece of rope from the rafters for up to two YEARS just to dry to where they thought it was READY to eat.

I'm not saying that deli meats never spoil... or that all foodborne pathogens can be smelled... but, if those meats have preservatives in them, and have been vacuum sealed, then, a month after their "sell by" date is fine, in my opinion.

Hell, I just sliced up a cured and air dried (in my kitchen) pork tenderloin that I vacuum packed and put in the fridge in February of this year... it's just getting good! (too much fennel seed... I'm going to cut that down next time...).

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Paul F.
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A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
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Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
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Eureka, CA

I opened the package, didn't smell bad, maybe a slight briney odor (and a bit of a smokey odor, as expected for smoked meat) ... slightly slimy texture but maybe no different than normal. It certainly didn't smell foul.

Ate one slice each of the ham and turkey, they tasted basically OK and I'm still alive; my digestive system wasn't too happy last night, though it's never particularly happy these days. It's probably fine, but I'll still likely toss it, just out of general safety considerations.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Remember this rhyme: 'If it covered in slime, you've run out of time.'