How to Know If Serrano Ham Is Bad?

One of the delicacies that I know how to start the party with is Serrano ham.

It is rich in flavor with a chewy texture and a distinct ham-y aroma, and it is revered for its depth of flavor and the artisanal degree of the curing process.

As with all meat products, if it is bad, then it could. Is it possible to tell the difference between a good slice and one that will make you ill?

You don’t know if serrano ham is bad until you get home and cut into it. The USDA regulates all meat products, including the amount of sodium allowed in them. 

If the label says the ham contains more than 0.75% sodium, then it’s bad. 

However, if the label doesn’t say anything about sodium, then you can safely assume the ham is good and safe for consumption.

How Can I Tell if Serrano Ham is Bad?

Appearance

It is easy to spot a Serrano ham that is in prime condition and has been successfully cured. It has the same dark red color as a tomato or a salami.

The cured muscle can show streaks of the cured fat through the meat, but that is fine.

The fat is clean and white, and the cured muscle can show streaks of the cured fat through the meat.

Serrano will have a slightly different color after he has gone bad.

The color of the muscle, which should be bright red, will instead be a dark purple-red, and the fat that should be white, will be a creamy, pale yellow.

As a result of the air curing and processing, the outside of Serrano ham becomes discolored.

You should only eat the cured ham from underneath the skin if you want to eat this meat.

Smell

A Serrano that is in prime condition will have a fresh ham smell that will make you salivate.

Serrano ham is going to stink, like rotten meat, because it is bad. That will be the thing that happened to it.

When the curing process fails, the meat partially rots, and this is what you will smell.

Texture

It is similar to a piece of cling film.

Serrano ham that is freshly cut from the joint will be kind of dry but also feel a bit clingy to your fingers as it flops onto them, but there should be no stickiness!

Serrano ham that has spoiled, and gone bad, is likely to be slimy and sticky and can linger on your finger.

Taste

It has a deep porky-ham flavor that goes a long way, not so much that it makes you feel ill, but in the sense that a small amount goes a long way.

You don’t need a lot of Serrano to know that you have enjoyed some of the world’s best traditional cured ham.

When Serrano goes bad, it tastes bitter and rancid, and the only mouth it should be going towards is the bin.

Serrano can cause serious illness, including food poisoning, if it is eaten, do not eat it, check the other signs before even thinking about eating ham.

Mold

It is quite likely that mold will grow on the exterior of the ham joint during the air curing process.

This is going to happen and it is perfectly normal.

You shouldn’t see any gray, green, blue, or black color on the ham after it’s been sliced. If you see something on this scale, the ham should be thrown away.

How Long Will Serrano Ham Last?

Serrano ham can last for months, just like the curing time. The depth of flavor will continue to develop even after you cut it into it.

Serrano ham has its life span and storage requirements, and failure to follow these can lead to ham spoiling, unlike almost all other foods.

How Long Will Serrano Ham Last in the Fridge?

You should not keep your Serrano ham in the fridge. Serrano ham should not be kept in the refrigerator.

If you keep a Serrano ham in this state, you can expect it to go bad within a few weeks.

The ham should be kept in the fridge for 3-4 days, or as directed on the stamp, “Use By” or “Best Before”.

Food poisoning may occur as a result of exceeding this recommendation.

How Long Will Serrano Ham Last in the Freezer?

Many people freeze their Serrano ham for 1-2 months, but it is recommended not to do this by Serrano ham producers.

The makers of these hams will be horrified if it is mentioned that the meat is frozen due to the sub-zero temperatures damaging the delicate structure of the meat.

If you choose to do this, it’s perfectly safe, but the flavor might be affected.

How Long Will Serrano Ham Last on the Countertop?

Serrano producers say that if you keep the hams on your countertop out of direct light, they will last for weeks, or even months.

The joint-in, or bone-in, hams should be hung on a hanging stand. These joints need to be cared for with specific attention once cut into.

How Can I Store Serrano Ham?

Serrano ham is a bit different from regular sandwich ham, as you might have gathered from the above section.

As a whole ham, it doesn’t go into the fridge or the freezer. How do you keep up with your Serrano ham?

How Can I Store Serrano Ham in the Fridge?

It should be stored in the fridge in pre-sliced vacuum-sealed packets, and straight from the supermarket.

Don’t store home-sliced Serrano ham in the fridge, as it’s both unnecessary and foolish, as the flavor will be affected and the ham will spoil if you don’t eat it immediately.

How Can I Store Serrano Ham in the Freezer?

Serrano/Iberico ham producers do not recommend freezing as a method of preservation.

It is perfectly safe to do that, but the flavor will be compromised.

The ham should be kept in air-tight containers with thick layers of plastic or other barriers between it and the harsh temperature.

How Can I Store Serrano Ham on the Countertop?

According to producers, this is the ideal location for whole bone-in joints. The use of a hanging stand is strongly encouraged in this case. Don’t keep sliced ham on the countertop!