Does Salami Need to Be Refrigerated? – You Should Need to Know

Last weekend, my boyfriend brought almost a cartload of salami: he is indeed an ultimate salami lover! However, now, a large amount is left, distressing my life, deciding what to do with them.

How to store salami for a long? Does salami need to be refrigerated? However, there’s a lot of debate surrounding the refrigeration of salami. So, what’s your take on that?

Many insist on keeping it cold, while others say it doesn’t need to be refrigerated. It actually depends on how the salami was made and how you use it. However, the safe bet is to keep salami in the refrigerator for freshness. However, you can also store it in a cool, dark place without refrigeration.

This article will answer this in detail and give you some ideas to store different types of salami.

Different types of salami and their shelf life:

What Is the Best Way to Store Salami?

There’s no strict rule for storing salami, but there are some guidelines that have proven the most successful over time.

The most important thing to consider when storing it is the temperature. Salami can be stored at various temperatures if they are not too high or too low. You should also monitor the humidity level because high levels will make the salami spoil faster.

Salami is cured meat, which means that it contains bacteria. Hence, it will dehydrate over time and needs to be stored in a cool place, which will prevent the bacteria from multiplying and making the salami unsafe to eat.

Therefore, it is recommended to keep salami in a brown sandwich bag that allows salami to breathe. Moreover, you can even loosely wrap using a dry tea towel or baking paper.

During the winter or cooler months, you can store it in the pantry or can hang it. However, if the room temperature remains consistently above 25°, the fridge will be the best place to store it.

So, it is all about temperature. The best condition to store salami is 15-18° and 75% humidity.

Does Salami Need To Be Refrigerated?

It depends on whether your salami is dry or cooked.

Dry salami is a type of cured meat that is made from pork and has been air-dried for a period of days. It typically contains little or no water and has a slightly different flavor than wet salami.

It is usually cured with spices, sugar, salt, and nitrates. The curing process plays a significant role in preserving the meat. The process helps to hydrate the salami and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

While the unopened dry salami doesn’t require refrigeration, you should put the opened salami in the fridge.

On the other hand, USDA suggests that cooked salami should be refrigerated. However, you may keep it outside the fridge for a few hours if you eat it. But you should not keep salami outside for a long time as it will increase the risk of potential spoilage.

As salami is made of cured meat, it contains bacteria. Refrigeration helps prevent the bacteria from multiplying, which makes the salami unsafe to eat.

How Long Can Salami Be Unrefrigerated?

Again, it depends on the condition of the salami. According to USDA, unopened dry salami can last up to six weeks, unrefrigerated and indefinitely in the refrigerator.

However, cutting a salami allows bacteria to grow in the sausage. Hence you can store sliced salami for up to three weeks in the fridge. And you can keep it in the freezer for around two months. But if the production company imposes any use-by date, you have to follow that.

At this point, you may want to know what the dry salami example is?

Some of the dry salamis are, Genoa salami, Sopressata, French salami or Saucisson Sec.

On the other hand, unopened cooked salami can be stored for up to two weeks in the fridge and seven days if it is opened.

However, if you want to keep a cooked salami for a long time, you can store it in the freezer. It can stay for two months in the freezer.

For your information, cooked salami or salami Cotto remain in a casing. Roasted coppa and Mortadella are examples of cooked salami.

However, if your cooked salami is labeled as uncured, which doesn’t have nitrate or sodium nitrate in it, you should consume it use-by date.

What Happen If You Don’t Refrigerate Your Salami?

Salami has a specific manufacturing process that involves curing and drying. If an unopened dry salami is unrefrigerated, it will not go bad. But, if you buy cut salami, it should be refrigerated right away.

If you don’t refrigerate your cut salami, you risk it spoiling. The salami left out at room temperature will start to spoil and develop an unpleasant odor.

Sometimes if the room temperature is high, the dry salami may start to shred easily and be difficult to slice.

However, if you decide to leave your salami out at 25° or less room temperature, you can keep it in a sealed container so that it doesn’t come into contact with air.

For the cooked salami, if you don’t refrigerate it, it will spoil and become inedible. The best way to prevent this is to refrigerate your salami immediately after cooking it. But you keep it out for a few hours if you are serving it.

What Salami Does Not Need Refrigeration?

Dry-cured salami such as Felino, Sopressata, Genoa, Finocchion, and Napoli don’t need to be refrigerated. It is because these salamis are dried to the point of preservation. But it is still important to store it in a cool place. Especially in a dry, dark place. you might be interested to know Does Vacuum Sealed Salami Need to Be Refrigerated?

FAQ’s;

• Is It OK To Leave Salami Out?

It depends on when you are going to consume it. As we have mentioned, if salami is opened or sliced, the moisture in the air will cause the salami to spoil, and it will likely taste terrible. Moreover, bacteria can penetrate the meat too.

In general, it is okay to leave salami out for two hours. After that, you should keep it in the fridge.

• How Do I Know If Salami Is Spoiled?

If you’re wondering how to tell if salami is spoiled, the answer is simple: it will smell bad. The salami that has gone bad will typically have an unpleasant odor and a sticky texture. Moreover, it may have gray edges and black fuzz.

You should not eat any salami if the wrapper tears or leaks or if any fluid seeps from the package. If there are no signs of spoilage, including an off odor or mold, say your salami is in the clear.

Final Words

Does salami needs to be refrigerated? If you are still in a dilemma, it depends on what type of salami you have. If it’s dry salami, you can keep it outside, in a dark, cool place. However, if the package is opened, keep it in the fridge. Besides, if you have cooked salami, keep it in the refrigerator. 

Moreover, whether or not salami needs to be refrigerated depends on the particular brand, what type of salami it is, and how it was prepared.

However, most salamis call for it to be stored in the fridge for the most part. It will keep it safe and fresh, ensuring that you enjoy the delicious meaty texture and flavor.