How long does deli meat last?

Checked 24 Oct 20267 official publishers, 10 sources

Sliced at the deli: 2 days in the fridge and 1-2 months in the freezer for best quality.

Official stance

“Avoid Choose these instead ... Unheated deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs ... Deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs ... reheated to 165°F or until steaming hot” CDC

Storage times for deli meat by state and place
StateCounter / pantryFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Sliced at the deli 2 hours max CDC 2 days Extension Sources disagree: 3-5 days FoodKeeperExtension 1-2 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension
Pre-packaged, unopened 2 hours max CDC 2 weeks safety FDA FoodKeeper Extension Also stated: 4 weeks (vacuum package) Extension 1-2 months best quality FoodKeeper FDA Extension
Pre-packaged, opened 2 hours max CDC 3-5 days safety FDA FoodKeeper Extension 1-2 months best quality FDA
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStateCounter / pantryFridgeFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Sliced at the deli-3-5 days1-2 months
Nebraska ExtensionSliced at the deliNot recommended3-5 days1-2 months
University of Wisconsin-Madison ExtensionSliced at the deli-2 days-
CDC 2025Sliced at the deli2 hours--
Nebraska ExtensionPre-packaged, unopenedNot recommended2 weeks1-2 months
CDC 2025Pre-packaged, unopened2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Pre-packaged, unopened-2 weeks1-2 months
FDA 2018Pre-packaged, unopened-2 weeks1-2 months
Utah State University ExtensionPre-packaged, unopened-4 weeks-
Nebraska ExtensionPre-packaged, opened-3-5 days-
CDC 2025Pre-packaged, opened2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Pre-packaged, opened-3-5 days-
FDA 2018Pre-packaged, opened-3-5 days1-2 months

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • “Refrigerated ready-to-eat foods such as luncheon meats should be used as soon as possible. The longer they're stored ... the more chance Listeria ... can grow” FDA
  • “Luncheon Meats 1 to 2 months. Product may "weep" when defrosted.” Extension

What the sources say

For lunch meat sliced at the store or deli counter, FoodKeeper and the Nebraska Extension chart both give 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.12

A University of Wisconsin-Extension sheet on food product dating is stricter for deli-sliced meat: use it within 2 days or freeze it.3

Pre-packaged lunch meat keeps longer while the package is sealed: FoodKeeper, the FDA storage chart and the Nebraska chart all give 2 weeks unopened, and Nebraska also points to the "Use by" date.562

Once the package is opened, the same three sources give 3 to 5 days.562

Utah State University Extension lists a longer optimum storage time of 4 weeks for processed lunch meats in a vacuum package in the refrigerator.7

In the freezer, every source that gives a time says 1 to 2 months for sliced and pre-packaged lunch meat alike, and the University of Illinois Extension notes that luncheon meats may "weep" when defrosted.156210

The Nebraska chart marks both store-sliced and prepackaged lunch meats as not safe at room temperature.2

The FDA advises using refrigerated ready-to-eat foods such as luncheon meats as soon as possible, because the longer they are stored, the more chance Listeria has to grow.9

For people at higher risk of Listeria infection, including women who are pregnant, newborns, people 65 or older and people with a weakened immune system, CDC lists unheated deli meat and cold cuts as foods to avoid and suggests reheating them to 165 °F or until steaming hot.8

Rules that apply here

The 2-hour ruleFridge and freezer temperatureFreezing and refreezing
HamBaconChicken salad

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 184: Luncheon meat or poultry, store-sliced. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Luncheon meat or poultry, store-sliced. DOP_Refrigerate: 3-5 Days; Freeze: 1-2 Months
  2. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Lunch meats; sliced at store or deli Not safe 3 to 5 days 1 to 2 monthsLunch meats; prepackaged Not safe 2 weeks or "Use by" date (unopened); 3-5 days (opened) 1 to 2 months
  3. Safe and Healthy: Food Product Dating. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Deli sliced Use within 2 days or freeze. Keep refrigerated.
  4. Preventing Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Never leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F).
  5. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 192: Luncheon meat or poultry, pre-packaged. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Luncheon meat or poultry, pre-packaged. DOP_Refrigerate: 2 Weeks; Refrigerate_After_Opening: 3-5 Days; DOP_Freeze: 1-2 Months
  6. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Lunch meats, opened package 3 - 5 days 1 - 2 months unopened package 2 weeks 1 - 2 months
  7. Food Storage in Home | USU. Utah State University Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Processed lunch meats vacuum package 38-40°F refrigerator 4 weeks
  8. Preventing Listeria Infection | Listeria Infection | CDC. CDC. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Avoid Choose these instead ... Unheated deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs ... Deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs ... reheated to 165°F or until steaming hot
  9. Are You Storing Food Safely? | FDA. FDA. Dated 2023-01-18. Checked 2026-10-24. Refrigerated ready-to-eat foods such as luncheon meats should be used as soon as possible. The longer they're stored ... the more chance Listeria ... can grow
  10. Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Luncheon Meats 1 to 2 months. Product may "weep" when defrosted.