This is How Long Boar’s Head Deli Meat is Good For!

Last updated on October 26th, 2022 at 05:19 pm

Boar’s Head deli meat is a great option for fast food because it’s super tasty and convenient for lunch. 

For this reason, you might easily fall into the trap of purchasing deli meat in high quantities. 

When this happens, the question that comes to mind is, “how long can boar’s head deli meat last?”

Packaged deli meat is good for up to three days after its sell-by date. Generally, you should eat refrigerated deli meat within five days if you’ve opened the package. On the other hand, properly frozen, unopened deli meat can last for a month or more.

How Long Is Boar’s Head Deli Meat Good For In the Fridge?

Deli meat can stay up to three to seven days in the refrigerator. However, the shelf life of refrigerated deli meat may depend on the meat type and its processing. 

For instance, meats with high-fat content will last less than leaner meats. In the same way, packaged deli meats will last longer than open ones. 

Therefore, it is important to consider the state and kind of deli product before refrigeration.

While the meat is in the fridge, keep the temperature at 40 °F or less. 

Notwithstanding, you can also keep these meats in the freezer for a couple of months. For best quality, keep the meat frozen at 0 °F.

Boar’s Head Provision Company claims products are not highly processed. 

Therefore, Boar’s Head recommends that you do not purchase more products than you can consume within three days.

This scenario is because refrigerating deli meats affect their flavor and texture.

Is Boar’s Head Deli Meat Processed Meat?

Despite keeping it simple, Boar’s Head product is still considered processed meat.

Deli meat is of good quality and has minimal processing with natural ingredients and preservatives.

You might have read somewhere that Boar’s Head deli product isn’t processed meat because of the absence of artificial ingredients.

But that information doesn’t tell the full story! The actions of smoking, slicing, and salting deli meat makes them processed.

However, it’s worth mentioning that certain deli meat labels say “free of nitrates.” 

You can find this statement in uncured and naturally cured deli meat packs. This detail doesn’t mean the meat is prepared completely without nitrites and nitrates. 

Furthermore, these artificial substances can cause cell damage and cancer. Nonetheless, the new sort of deli meats claims to be all-natural.

How Do You Know When a Boar’s Head Deli Meat Has Gone Bad?

Generally, unopened deli meat is unsafe to eat when it has stayed three days after the sell-by date.

Usually, packaged deli meat comes with a best-before date. You can use the date to determine when the food has gone bad. Nevertheless, once it’s opened, eat within three to seven days.

Below are other ways to tell if the deli meat has gone bad.

#1. Sight 

In truth, looks can be deceiving when detecting whether deli meat has spoiled.

But, there are proper steps to determine if your deli meat has gone bad by appearance. 

First, you should examine its color. The meat is bad if it has taken on a pale gray, brown, or yellow stain. Is there any change? 

Discoloration normally begins at the edges and occurs in small patches.

This event happens when the meat becomes oxidized or loses its protein. Also, throw out the meat if it has grown any mold. 

#2. Smell

Now, take a whiff of the deli product. Does the meat smell offensive in any way? It isn’t a good sign if the food has any odd or off smells of ammonia, vinegar, or yeast. 

Additionally, if the deli meat smells stale or like it’s unfresh, trust your instincts and let it go.

Often, before sliminess appears, the deli meat would have gotten a bad small. 

Fortunately, this red flag can tell you when to throw the meat without touching it.

#3. Touch

Next, you should have a feel of the meat. Does the meat surface look slimy, or has the texture changed? The meat has gone bad if there’s a slimy, sticky film on it or if there are soft spots.

Hard deli meat, like salami, soft spots show that moisture or bacteria has penetrated the meat. This sign indicates that the meat is spoiled and time to discard it. 

Notwithstanding, there are instances where the meat becomes slimy because of the extra moisture or juice. If that’s the case, the meat should still be okay to eat.

Therefore, it’s up to you to decide whether to use that slimy deli meat or toss it away.

#4. Taste 

It would help if you didn’t even attempt to eat meat that has gone moldy or has changed color. Those signs are obvious to tell that meat has gone bad. 

However, if you taste the deli meat, the foul taste should indicate that it has spoiled.

Can Eating Expired Boar’s Head Deli Meat Make You Sick?

Consuming expired deli meat can make you sick. The sell-by date on the deli meat package is for a reason. 

When the date is due, it’s a health warning. It’s natural for bacteria to grow on deli meat that has stayed beyond its expiration date. 

When you ingest spoiled deli meat, these bacteria can cause food poisoning leading to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. 

Expired deli meat contains bacteria like Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, Clostridium perfringens, and more which can cause food poisoning.

So, check the sell-by date on the deli meat in your fridge to see if it’s safe to eat. 

I’ve already discussed the best way to check if deli meat is spoiled. That said, tasting the meat isn’t always a reliable option.

Some food poisoning bacteria don’t affect the taste of food. So it’s better to get rid of it rather than taste it.

A mild food poisoning stays for about a day or two, while serious cases stay up to ten days. Diarrhea is a sign that you’ve taken in expired deli meat. 

Also, abdominal pain is a sign of food poisoning after consuming bad deli meat. Vomiting and nausea often accompany abdominal pain.

Nausea and vomiting are a natural defense for your body to get rid of toxins.

Furthermore, consuming expired deli meat can raise your body temperature or cause a fever.

So, drink lots of water if you’ve consumed expired deli meat and you’re suffering from vomiting or diarrhea. The water will protect your body against dehydration.

Is Boar Head Deli Meat Healthy?

Deli cuts purchased at the counter are healthier than the pre-packaged ones. Fresh deli contains natural nitrates and is minimally processed.

However, sodium is still present in fresh deli meat for preservation. So look for low-sodium deli meat to cut down on the salt. 

Reducing sodium in diets helps to lower your blood pressure and maintain a healthy heart.

Boar’s Head Deli offers certified heart-healthy deli meats containing 480 mg or less sodium per serving. 

In contrast, some Boar’s Head meat options like roast beef, corned beef, and beef brisket aren’t heart-healthy.

However, the healthiest Boar’s Head products are the All-Natural Uncured Ham and All-Natural Applewood Smoked Uncured Ham.

Both Boar’s Head items boost the nutritional information in the table.

Contents	Facts
Calories	70 g
Fat	2g
Sodium (per serving)	440mg
Preservatives	Nitrate-free

Conclusion 

How long deli meat can last before going bad depends on its state and how you keep it. 

For instance, sealed and frozen deli meat will last longer than an opened package at room temperature.

Besides, it’s time to discard the meat when the deli product expiration date is due.