When it comes to sandwiches, pastrami reigns supreme. This cured beef is a popular choice for both Jewish and non-Jewish eaters alike, and its flavor is hard to beat. But how long does pastrami last? The answer is a little bit complicated. On the one hand, pastrami can last anywhere from two days to a week in the fridge. However, if you’re looking for something that will stay fresh longer, you’ll want to store it in the freezer. In fact, frozen pastrami will keep for up to three months. So there you have it - pastrami lasts for a while depending on how you plan on using it, but it’s always good to have some on hand! ..
Ideally, pastrami would last anywhere between 3 to 5 days when refrigerated in proper conditions. However, other factors can contribute to shortening or extending that time. In today’s article, we’ll provide you with a quick guide on storing pastrami to enjoy it in the best conditions for the longest time. Let’s dive in!
How to Tell When Pastrami Have Gone Bad?
Pastrami does go bad, and it can be quite detrimental to your health, as it can cause food poisoning when it’s well beyond its expiry date. Luckily, it’s quite easy to tell when pastrami is spoiled, as you only need to smell it or look at it to notice the differences. For starters, pastrami has a strong yet pleasant deli meat odor. If the pastrami starts to smell weird or off-putting, it’s starting to go bad. If it still looks the same, it may still be safe to eat, but it won’t taste as good as it should. After some time, the pastrami will start developing slimy films on its top layer with some slimy oozing here and there. Even worse, some pieces of pastrami may develop large moldy patches somewhere on the cut. At either point, you have to discard the whole package right away! This is not unlike some salami and even cooked pizza sitting out.
How Long Does Pastrami Last Without Refrigeration?
Now that you know how pastrami looks and smells when it has gone bad, you might be wondering when you should expect these cues. Pastrami is cured, smoked, and covered with a layer of spices on the outside to help it last a bit longer without refrigeration. When you leave pastrami at room temperature (60 to 75 degrees F), bacteria will start to multiply quickly, which speeds up the spoilage process. Typically, freshly cut pastrami won’t last more than 2 to 4 hours at room temperature but it will last for up to a day in an airtight container. The warmer the temperature outside, the faster it’ll go bad.
How Long Does Pastrami Last in the Refrigerator?
Temperatures from 40 degrees F and lower slows down bacterial and fungal growth significantly, which helps in keeping most types of food, including pastrami, for longer. As a general rule, you should expect pastrami to last anywhere between 2 to 3 days when kept in the refrigerator. However, you can even keep it in the refrigerator for longer if you limit the deli meat’s contact with air. To do that, all you have to do is wrap them in some aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Any airtight plastic container may also work but not as optimum as the wraps. In that case, you should expect the pastrami to last up to 5 days
How Long Does Pastrami Last in the Freezer?
If you manage to keep the pastrami in the freezer when it’s still good to eat, the pastrami will retain its quality for up to a couple of months, especially when wrapped properly. However, the deli meat can still be edible for several months beyond that, but you have to thaw it in the fridge first and smell it before eating it.
