How Long SPAM Is Good For After It’s Been Opened

If four days doesn’t sound like enough time to finish up your SPAM, feel free to freeze your leftovers. Since metal cans can swell or crack under frigid conditions, you’ll want to transfer the meat to a freezer-safe container or airtight bag. If you only plan to use a portion of your frozen SPAM at a time, consider cutting it into slices in advance and placing wax paper between them before freezing. This will prevent them from sticking to each other, making it easy to take out and defrost the exact amount you’ll need at a time.

Once your SPAM is frozen, the USDA recommends consuming it within two months. While freezing temperatures will halt the reproduction of bacteria and stop spoilage in its tracks, your leftovers are still susceptible to freezer burn and loss of flavor over time.

When you’re ready to use your frozen SPAM, you have the options of transferring it to the fridge to let it thaw, or placing it inside a plastic bag and dunking it into cold water, leaving it there until it’s softened up and ready to use. The former takes a significantly longer time than the latter, but it more effectively prevents pathogens from infiltrating your leftovers as they defrost.