Used by date for uncooked ham...will it still last for a few days if cooked before/on this date?

[user1471530109]

Ok. Confusing title.

Just had Xmas food shop. The ham joint is 'used by date' 24th Dec. I've googled and it's not really helping.
If I cook it on Sunday/Monday. Will it last until at least boxing day? Or does it need to be eaten by Monday.

Thanks. I don't want to make us ill if we eat it boxing day.

Cool it on its use by date and it will be fine for another three days.

I have a Mary Berry recipe that says you can cook the ham 3 days before, chill, and then glaze and pop in oven to heat through again.

Not a great date for an Xmas shop delivery though.

Cook, not cool!

I wouldn’t. A use by date is just that. Not a cook by date!! And as it’s meat I wouldn’t chance it especially over Christmas.
The only way I think it’d be ok is if you cook it, chill then freeze it.

Sorry but that’s not true - it’s not a hard and fast ‘eat by’ date.

I’d probably cook it the day before the date, just to be on the safe side, and then it will be just fine for at least three days after that.

Did they tell you it was a short date? I would phone them up and get money back if they didnt.

It will be fine to cook on the use-by date and eat for a few days afterwards.

The use by date is the by which it needs to be cooked I think. After it's cooked it should be fine for a few days if kept in the fridge. If it's off it'll smell bad.

Once you cook it, you get 3 more days. Worked in lots of kitchens

What you propose is just fine.

If you cook it that extends the life by a few days. So you could cook it on 24th and then eat it over the next few days. Or you could return it and get one with a better date

Thanks! It did say on the receipt but the driver didn't draw my attention to it as we were chatting about the chestnuts that had been substituted (vacuum packed and peeled to unprepared ones).

I will cook tomorrow. It's only a small one. But I love it with bubble and squeak on boxing Day!

It will be absolutely fine as long as you cook it before the use by date. And if you don't think you'll use all the cooked ham within 3 days then just freeze it!