I bought a few smoked ready to cook shank end hams back in February
2006. They were on sale so I bought 4 or 5 of them. Brought them directly
home, straight into the freezer in their original packaging. I still have
two of them in the freezer. So they have been in there for a year and 2
months. Are they still safe to eat or should I go out and buy fresh? I'm
having in laws in for the weekend and want to make a ham, but don't want to
kill anyone.


Thanks in advance.

--




Bunny McElwee
Event Coordinator
Lowcountry Miata Club
1991 Mariner Blue
"BlueFlash"
SC'd and ready to go!
www.lowcountrymiataclub.net
www.miatasdointhecharleston.net

On Apr 16, 12:28�pm, "Bunny McElwee" >
wrote:
> * * I bought a few smoked ready to cook shank end hams back in February
> 2006. They were on sale so I bought 4 or 5 of them. Brought them directly
> home, straight into the freezer in their original packaging. I still have
> two of them in the freezer. So they have been in there for a year and 2
> months. Are they still safe to eat or should I go out and buy fresh? I'm
> having in laws in for the weekend and want to make a ham, but don't want to
> kill anyone.

A lot depends on your freezer temperature, and even if properly set at
below zero F (and most home freezers are not) still two years is kinda
long, especially for salted meat. Those hams probably cost a buck a
pound, not very much, I'd toss em... and should be yet another lesson
on how home freezers cannot save money, they are a convenience only,
they actually increase your food bill.

Sheldon

Sounds good to me. I got them at 69 cents a pound, a good deal at the
time I thought, but I should have only bout 2-3 of them, not 4-5 of them.
next time I'll know! Thanks!


"Sheldon" > wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 16, 12:28?pm, "Bunny McElwee" >
wrote:
> I bought a few smoked ready to cook shank end hams back in February
> 2006. They were on sale so I bought 4 or 5 of them. Brought them directly
> home, straight into the freezer in their original packaging. I still have
> two of them in the freezer. So they have been in there for a year and 2
> months. Are they still safe to eat or should I go out and buy fresh? I'm
> having in laws in for the weekend and want to make a ham, but don't want
> to
> kill anyone.

A lot depends on your freezer temperature, and even if properly set at
below zero F (and most home freezers are not) still two years is kinda
long, especially for salted meat. Those hams probably cost a buck a
pound, not very much, I'd toss em... and should be yet another lesson
on how home freezers cannot save money, they are a convenience only,
they actually increase your food bill.

Sheldon

In article >,
says...
> I bought a few smoked ready to cook shank end hams back in February
> 2006. They were on sale so I bought 4 or 5 of them. Brought them directly
> home, straight into the freezer in their original packaging. I still have
> two of them in the freezer. So they have been in there for a year and 2
> months. Are they still safe to eat or should I go out and buy fresh? I'm
> having in laws in for the weekend and want to make a ham, but don't want to
> kill anyone.
>
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>

They are certainly safe to eat - no worries at all. The quality may have
deteriorated a bit.

--
Peter Aitken

"Bunny McElwee" > wrote in message
...
> I bought a few smoked ready to cook shank end hams back in February
> 2006. They were on sale so I bought 4 or 5 of them. Brought them directly
> home, straight into the freezer in their original packaging. I still have
> two of them in the freezer. So they have been in there for a year and 2
> months. Are they still safe to eat or should I go out and buy fresh? I'm
> having in laws in for the weekend and want to make a ham, but don't want
> to kill anyone.
>

Bet you can tell by looking at them. If they look dried out I wouldn't use
them.

Bunny McElwee wrote:
> I bought a few smoked ready to cook shank end hams back in February
> 2006. They were on sale so I bought 4 or 5 of them. Brought them directly
> home, straight into the freezer in their original packaging. I still have
> two of them in the freezer. So they have been in there for a year and 2
> months. Are they still safe to eat or should I go out and buy fresh? I'm
> having in laws in for the weekend and want to make a ham, but don't want to
> kill anyone.
>
What pathogen do you imagine jumped into the freezer and attacked your
salt laden and preserved frozen hams?
Sure they're safe... they might suffer some freezer burn or pick up an
odd flavor if not wrapped tight...but if they were "good" going in, they
should still be good coming out a year later.
Common sense here, please!

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
> Bunny McElwee wrote:
>> I bought a few smoked ready to cook shank end hams back in February
>> 2006. They were on sale so I bought 4 or 5 of them. Brought them directly
>> home, straight into the freezer in their original packaging. I still have
>> two of them in the freezer. So they have been in there for a year and 2
>> months. Are they still safe to eat or should I go out and buy fresh? I'm
>> having in laws in for the weekend and want to make a ham, but don't want
>> to kill anyone.
>>
> What pathogen do you imagine jumped into the freezer and attacked your
> salt laden and preserved frozen hams?
> Sure they're safe... they might suffer some freezer burn or pick up an odd
> flavor if not wrapped tight...but if they were "good" going in, they
> should still be good coming out a year later.
> Common sense here, please!

What do you get out of being such a bitch? What did Bunny ever do to you?

In article >,
"Bunny McElwee" > wrote:
> months. Are they still safe to eat or should I go out and buy fresh? I'm
> having in laws in for the weekend and want to make a ham, but don't want to
> kill anyone.
>
>
> Thanks in advance.

They're fine. Quality may have suffered but for wholesomeness, you're
gold.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://jamlady.eboard.com - Comfort Food for Bob Pastorio, updated
3-16-2007
http://web.mac.com/barbschaller - blahblahblog - Orange Honey
Garlic Chicken, 3-29-2007
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amytaylor

"Melba's Jammin'" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Bunny McElwee" > wrote:
>> months. Are they still safe to eat or should I go out and buy fresh? I'm
>> having in laws in for the weekend and want to make a ham, but don't want
>> to
>> kill anyone.
>>
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>
> They're fine.

I agree.

e.