How do you tell if ham is spoiled?

The easiest way to tell if ham is spoiled is if it smells sour, looks slimy, or has a grey tinge to it. It is possible for food-borne illnesses to develop before ham begins to appear spoiled, so be wary of any ham that is a week or more old.

Ham that is dull in color but has not begun to turn grey is still good to eat but should be used as soon as possible. Don't let it fall into the temperature "danger zone," between 40 and 140 degrees F, in which food-borne illness can quickly develop; since ham is salty, it's more prone to bacteria growth.