Yes, you can freeze lunch meat. According to FoodSafety.gov's cold food storage chart, deli meat, sliced ham, hot dogs and other cold cuts keep their best quality for 1 to 2 months in the freezer at 0°F (-18°C), whether the package is opened or unopened.
Freezing is the easiest way to save the rest of a holiday ham or a family pack of turkey slices that will not be finished within a few days. The trade-off is texture: thawed deli meat can turn slightly wet, so it helps to know which types freeze best and how to wrap them.
Why Freeze Lunch Meat at All
Deli meat has one of the shortest fridge lives in the kitchen. FoodSafety.gov gives these refrigerator limits at 40°F (4°C) or below:
- Opened package or deli-sliced meat: 3 to 5 days
- Unopened package: 2 weeks
- Hot dogs: 1 week opened, 2 weeks unopened
Lunch meat is also linked to Listeria, a bacterium that, unlike most, can grow slowly at refrigerator temperatures. That makes the fridge limits worth taking seriously. Freezing does not kill Listeria, but it stops it from growing, which is why freezing early is a safe way to stretch a package.
Lunch Meat Storage Times
| Product | Refrigerator (40°F / 4°C) | Freezer (0°F / -18°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Luncheon meat, opened or deli-sliced | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Luncheon meat, unopened package | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 months |
| Hot dogs, opened | 1 week | 1 to 2 months |
| Hot dogs, unopened | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 months |
| Ham, cooked, store-wrapped slices, half or spiral cut | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Ham, cooked, store-wrapped whole | 1 week | 1 to 2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked, vacuum-sealed at plant, unopened | 2 weeks or "use by" date | 1 to 2 months |
| Prosciutto, Parma or Serrano ham, cut | 2 to 3 months | 1 month |
Source: FoodSafety.gov cold food storage chart. Freezer times are for best quality. Food kept continuously at 0°F (-18°C) remains safe beyond them.
Which Deli Meats Freeze Best
Not every cold cut reacts the same way:
- Freeze well: sliced or chunked ham, roast beef, pastrami, corned beef, and sliced turkey or chicken breast that is not overly moist. Thicker slices and chunks hold up better than shaved meat.
- Freeze reasonably well: hot dogs, bologna, and dry sausages such as salami and pepperoni. Salami freezes fine but is often better left in the fridge, where it keeps longer than most cold cuts.
- Freeze poorly: very thinly shaved meats and anything with a high water content, which can turn slimy when thawed. Deli salads such as ham or chicken salad do not freeze well, according to FoodSafety.gov, because the mayonnaise separates.
How to Freeze Lunch Meat Step by Step
- Freeze it early. Do not wait until day 5. Freeze opened deli meat within a day or two so most of its fridge life is still ahead of it when it thaws.
- Portion it. Divide slices into amounts you would use for one meal or a few sandwiches.
- Separate slices with parchment or wax paper. This lets you pull out a few slices without thawing the whole stack.
- Wrap tightly. Use plastic wrap pressed against the meat, then place the bundles in a freezer bag with the air pressed out. Unopened vacuum-sealed packages can go into the freezer as they are.
- Label and date. Write the type of meat and the freezing date. With a window of only 1 to 2 months, the date matters.
Pro tip: Freeze holiday ham in two forms: a few thick slices for sandwiches and a bag of diced ham for soups, omelets and casseroles. Diced ham is the most forgiving way to use any texture change after thawing.
Can You Freeze Sliced Ham?
Yes. Sliced ham is one of the best deli meats to freeze. Cooked, store-wrapped ham slices, halves and spiral-cut hams keep 1 to 2 months in the freezer, according to FoodSafety.gov. Leftover holiday ham works the same way: take the meat off the bone, slice or dice it, and freeze it in meal-sized portions. The bone can be frozen separately for soup.
Country ham is the exception, with a freezer time of 1 month. Canned hams labeled "Keep Refrigerated" should not be frozen at all.
If you have other leftovers from a holiday meal, our guide on how long Thanksgiving leftovers are good for covers turkey, sides and desserts.
How to Thaw Frozen Deli Meat
Thaw lunch meat in the refrigerator. Thin slices usually need several hours to overnight. Never thaw it on the counter.
After thawing:
- Use it within 3 to 5 days, the same window as opened deli meat. The clock does not restart in the freezer, so if the meat already spent a few days in the fridge before freezing, use it sooner.
- Pat slices dry with a paper towel if they look wet.
- Do not refreeze it for quality reasons. Meat thawed in the refrigerator can technically be refrozen, according to USDA, but deli meat loses more texture with each cycle. Our guide on refreezing meat explains the rules in detail.
Best Ways to Use Thawed Lunch Meat
Thawed deli meat tastes best when it is warmed or mixed into a dish: grilled sandwiches and paninis, quesadillas, omelets and frittatas, pasta, fried rice, pizza, and bean or split pea soup. Cold sandwiches work too, especially with thicker cuts.
A Note for Higher-Risk Groups
The USDA and CDC advise people at higher risk of Listeria infection, including pregnant people, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems, to avoid eating deli meats cold unless they are reheated to 165°F (74°C) or until steaming hot just before serving. This applies whether the meat was frozen or not, since freezing does not destroy the bacteria.
How to Avoid Freezer Burn on Deli Meat
Thin slices have a lot of surface area, which makes them prone to freezer burn: dry, discolored patches caused by air contact. Freezer burn does not make food unsafe, but it hurts taste and texture. To prevent it, squeeze out as much air as possible, use real freezer bags instead of thin sandwich bags, and use the meat within the 1- to 2-month window. Our guide on freezer burn has more packaging tips.
For freezer times of other meats, from steaks to sausages, see our complete guide to how long meat lasts in the freezer.
FAQ
Can you freeze deli meat from the deli counter?
Yes. Deli-sliced meat keeps 1 to 2 months in the freezer, according to FoodSafety.gov. Freeze it within a day or two of buying it, separated into portions with parchment paper.
Can you freeze lunch meat in the original package?
Unopened, vacuum-sealed packages can go straight into the freezer. For opened packages or deli paper, rewrap the meat in plastic wrap and a freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
Can you freeze sliced ham from a spiral ham?
Yes. Spiral-cut ham keeps 1 to 2 months frozen. Wrap slices tightly and freeze them in meal-sized portions.
How long is lunch meat good after thawing?
Use thawed lunch meat within 3 to 5 days, the same as opened deli meat, and keep it at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Can you freeze salami and pepperoni?
Yes, for 1 to 2 months according to FoodSafety.gov's listing for luncheon meats. Dry sausages also keep relatively well in the fridge, so freezing is most useful for opened packages you will not finish soon.
Freeze It Before Day 5
Lunch meat freezes well for 1 to 2 months if you portion it, wrap it tightly and freeze it early. The real problem is the short fridge window, which is easy to lose track of. Freezer Inventory Tracker follows your fridge and freezer in one place and sends an expiry reminder, so you can freeze the turkey slices before they hit day five.