Heh. I first thought the post title was "How long can I keep HIM unrefrigerated?"
Can you tell I'm excited about season 2 of Yellowjackets?

Thank you for sharing your insights!
-- OP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hours. Think about a kid taking lunch to school.

Bruh, it's a lot more than "hours." Think about what ham is, and the historical bases for salt-curing meats.

It was just a comparison for the walk OP wants to take. It’s ham. The whole point of ham was to cure meat so it will last longer.

I would do up to 4 hours, but the ice pack above is a simple solution if you’re concerned.

Anonymous wrote:The FDA specifies the safe range for foods as TWO HOURS at room temperature. Yes, kids taking lunch to school often violate this rule and a bunch of mystery stomach aches could be solved by parents not being morons

That's two hours once the food reaches room temperature. And it's incredibly conservative. And ham is processed so it lasts longer. And people are able to fight off the minor bacteria that are on food all the time regardless of whether it has been out for 119 minutes or 121.

Anonymous wrote:Hours. Think about a kid taking lunch to school.

Bruh, it's a lot more than "hours." Think about what ham is, and the historical bases for salt-curing meats.

You can use an insulated lunch bag/box with a chilled/frozen drink in place of an icepack to keep it cold.

The FDA specifies the safe range for foods as TWO HOURS at room temperature. Yes, kids taking lunch to school often violate this rule and a bunch of mystery stomach aches could be solved by parents not being morons

Hours. Think about a kid taking lunch to school.

I want to go on a long walk and take along a ham sandwich. How long can it be unrefrigerated before I eat it?