How to Store Prosciutto After Opening?

We love Prosciutto just as much as any Italian. We know that it’s important to keep it fresh and delicious.

In this post, we’re going to talk about tips and tricks for enjoying the best prosciutto.

How long does prosciutto last after opening? This is one of the most frequently asked questions. 

Once opened, the prosciutto must be stored under refrigeration. Wrapped in plastic wrap, it will keep for several days under refrigeration.

After opening, it should be covered with a moist paper towel and then wrapped tightly in aluminum foil.

Today, in this article we will discuss how to store prosciutto after opening.

Storing Prosciutto

How long does prosciutto last? It takes two to three months from when it’s opened to when it’s chilled.

You should finish the package within a couple of days after opening it. This is the most straightforward answer when it comes to the question.

This time frame is correct for most of the prosciutto, but it is not always correct. It depends on the product and the conditions in which it is stored.

We don’t want the lowest quality prosciutto we can get.

It would be great to walk into a family shop in Parma, Italy, and pick out the freshest cut.

Most of us don’t think that is a reality. You need to know what to look for in a product to get the highest quality.

How to Select the Best Prosciutto?

Good prosciutto will be a pink color with clean white fat streaks. It’s a bad idea to use products that have green and blue in them.

It’s a good idea to stay away from prosciutto with its grey fat streaks.

I’m pretty sure that anyone can easily identify good meat from bad meat by smelling it, and that’s exactly what prosciutto is.

A smell similar to bacon is associated with fresh products.

If you smell a foul odor when you open the package, the product should be thrown out or returned to the store.

It is important to keep an eye out for slimy prosciutto as well. If the meat slice does not feel dry or moist, it is probably spoiled.

The Best Prosciutto

Prosciutto comes from the heart of Italy and is the best in the world. For the longest time, Parma and San Daniele have been curing delicious food.

If you only want to eat prosciutto that has been certified by Italians as the best, you need to look for PDO or DOP stamps on the packaging.

You should be able to find a decent selection at any grocery store in your area.

Several from Italy with certification stamps can be found in the Walmart selection.

At any grocery store, you can easily find the best brands of prosciutto.

• Volpi
• Speck
• Boarshead
• Jamon Iberico
• Donnelly

How Long Will Sliced Prosciutto Last?

This is the type of prosciutto that you are most likely to find. Thinly sliced prosciutto can be found in vacuum-sealed packaging in most grocery stores.

The outside world’s air, bacteria, and moisture are protected by this vacuum. You can keep your sliced prosciutto in your refrigerator for up to 3 months if you keep it open.

If you don’t vacuum wrap it or open it, you should expect it to last for 1-2 days in the refrigerator.

How Long Will Dry-Cured Prosciutto Last?

A general rule of thumb is that your dry-cured leg will last at least six months.

If you haven’t sliced it when it’s a year old, it will be okay to eat for another few weeks.

If you want to enjoy the best quality prosciutto leg, you should finish it within 12 months. The shelf life drops to 2 months when you open the package and start slicing.

During that 2 months, you may need to cut off parts that are discolored or moldy to prevent the whole leg from being colonized by the same disease.

How Can I Store Sliced Prosciutto?

You can find sliced prosciutto in the refrigerated aisle of the supermarket, and it is the same place you should keep it at home.

Wrap your packet of sliced prosciutto in cling film to protect it, and then replace it in the refrigerator.

How Can I Store A Bone-In Leg Of Prosciutto?

You should have a pantry, cellar, or cool room to hold your bone-in leg of prosciutto.

The kitchen isn’t a good shout because it gets hot often due to cooking. Keep heat away from any heat sources, because it is the enemy of prosciutto.

If you live in a humid country or don’t have a cellar, you might need to store your bone-in leg of prosciutto in the refrigerator.

There is only one last thing. If you have any type of cheese, keep it away from your prosciutto.

Prosciutto has a different flavor profile because of cheese.

How Can I Store A Deboned Leg Of Prosciutto

If you buy a deboned leg of prosciutto, you should keep it in the refrigerator as it is vacuum-sealed. When you open it, wrap it in plastic wrap and change the film every 5 days.

Conclusion

How long your prosciuttos last depends on several things, including how well the product was stored before you purchased it, how you stored it, and the type of prosciutto.

Dry-cured leg prosciutto will last the longest out of all of your options, while thinly sliced prosciutto will last the least.

It’s important to remember that opening or slicing your prosciutto will decrease its storage life.

You are allowing the surface of the meat to be colonized with air and bacteria.