How Long Does Deli Roast Beef Last in the Refrigerator?

Roast beef is a popular deli meat appreciated for its tender texture and hearty flavor It makes delicious sandwiches when paired with cheese, lettuce and other fixings But like any food, deli roast beef has a limited fridge life. So how long can you safely keep those packaged or deli-sliced roast beef slices before tossing?

An Overview of Deli Roast Beef

Deli roast beef refers to cooked sliced roast beef you can buy prepackaged or sliced fresh at the supermarket deli counter. It has a sliced appearance and comes in varieties like

• Oven roasted beef
• Smoked beef
• Pastrami

To make deli roast beef, whole beef roasts are seasoned and slowly cooked until fork tender. The cooked roasts are then cooled, sliced thin, and packaged for sale as a lunch meat.

Deli roast beef contains no artificial preservatives. Proper refrigeration is key to maintaining freshness and quality. Being a ready-to-eat food, it has a shorter shelf life than raw roasts.

Refrigerator Shelf Life of Deli Roast Beef

For maximum freshness, here are the recommended time limits for keeping deli roast beef refrigerated:

• Prepackaged lunch meat: 3 to 5 days after opening package.

• Deli counter roast beef slices: 3 to 5 days after purchase.

• Whole cooked roast beef: 5 to 7 days after cooking.

The printed sell by/use by dates on packages are good guidelines. But it’s also important to rely on sight and smell. Discard any deli meat that looks or smells off, even if the date hasn’t expired.

Proper refrigeration at 40°F or below helps maximize deli meat’s shelf life. High temperatures promote faster bacteria growth.

Tips to Store Deli Roast Beef for Freshness

Storing deli meats properly ensures they stay fresher for longer. Here are some storage tips:

• Refrigerate deli roast beef right away, within 1-2 hours of purchase. Don’t leave sitting out.

• Keep deli meats tightly wrapped in their original packaging or an airtight container. This prevents drying.

• Use deli meats within 3 to 5 days for optimum quality. Don’t rely on smell alone, as bacteria can grow without odors.

• Store deli containers on shelves above raw meats to avoid cross-contamination.

• Frozen deli roast beef keeps longer. Freeze if not using within 5 days.

• Add an ice pack to your grocery bag if you have a long trip home from the store. This helps keep cold items colder.

Can You Freeze Deli Roast Beef?

Freezing helps extend the shelf life of deli roast beef. Follow these tips for freezing:

• Freeze deli meat in original packaging when possible. Overwrap with foil or plastic to prevent freezer burn.

• Portion deli meat into amounts needed for one recipe. This avoids re-freezing, which reduces quality.

• For fresh sliced deli meat, tightly wrap in foil, bags or plastic wrap before freezing. Remove as much air as possible.

• Use frozen deli roast beef within 2-3 months for best quality. Discard if frozen longer.

• Thaw frozen deli meat slowly in the refrigerator. Don’t thaw at room temperature.

• Use thawed deli roast beef within 3-4 days. Don’t refreeze thawed deli meats.

How to Tell If Deli Roast Beef Is Bad

Check deli roast beef for these signs of spoilage before eating:

• Slimy texture – Slipperiness and glistening, wet appearance indicates bacterial growth.

• Sour smell – An “off” rancid odor means the meat is past its prime.

• Color changes – Grayish, greenish or brownish hues signal spoilage.

• Mold – Any fuzzy mold spots, no matter how small, make deli meat unsafe to eat.

Never taste meat to determine if it’s gone bad. Discard deli roast beef at the first signs of spoilage.

Food Safety Tips for Deli Roast Beef

Since deli meats are ready-to-eat without cooking, here are some food safety practices to follow:

• Refrigerate deli roast beef at 40°F or below. Don’t leave sitting out more than 2 hours.

• Check sell by/use by dates and don’t eat expired deli meat. When in doubt, throw it out.

• Discard torn packaging that could allow contamination. Avoid packages with stains or residue.

• Heat deli roast beef to 165°F if reheating before eating. Don’t eat cold after reheating.

• Avoid cross-contamination by using clean plates and utensils for deli meat prep and serving.

• Wash hands before handling deli roast beef to prevent transferring bacteria.

Being diligent with storage, handling and hygiene helps keep deli roast beef safe to enjoy. Discard promptly at the first sign of spoilage.

Can You Eat Deli Roast Beef After the Expiration Date?

It’s not recommended to eat deli roast beef past the expiration or use by date printed on the packaging. These dates indicate the last day the manufacturer guarantees peak quality and safety.

Eating expired deli meats comes with an increased risk of foodborne illness. Bacteria like Listeria and E. coli can grow even when properly stored. So expired deli roast beef is best avoided, especially for high-risk groups like pregnant women, children and the elderly.

If the date has just passed, inspect the meat closely and give it a sniff test. At the first signs of an off odor, strange color or slime, play it safe and throw it out. Don’t rely on taste alone, as toxic bacteria may not affect flavors.

The Takeaway on Deli Roast Beef Storage

Like any perishable food,