Keeping cooked meat in the fridge

wendym

I always make a terrine for Christmas, usually on 24th, and we finish it on 27th.

In yesterday's Guardian, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall gave a recipe for a ham and pork terrine, which he said would keep happily in the fridge for 10 days.

Does that seem OK to you? I wouldn't necessarily want it to last 10 days, but it would be very helpful to make it a day or two earlier. It just seems a long time to store cooked meat, or am I being neurotic?

Debt_Free_Chick

A terrine - like pate - is semi-preserved as the juice/jelly/fat creates a seal around the meat.

I regularly make a pate that lasts a week. You'll soon know once it "turns" as it takes on a very sour, bitter taste. But a week should be no problem and, in your case, a few days will make no difference.

lil_me

Pate's on a deli counter in a shop usually have about 10 days on them at least when they arrive, can't see it being any different if made fresh at home.

mikey-mike_2

lil_me wrote:

Pate's on a deli counter in a shop usually have about 10 days on them at least when they arrive, can't see it being any different if made fresh at home.

I suspect the big difference is shop items have lots of preservatives in them to make them last.

Shp stuff might not taste as good but will last waaaay longer

CLARABEL

it's the fat / jelly seal that's important, so if you're worried, why not make 2 smaller ones instead of 1 big one?

that way, you still have them made in advance, and one will remian sealed for a few extra days hence making it 'live' longer IYKWIM!!

:T

Clara

wendym

I have found the official American guidelines, which recommend no more than 5 days in a fridge for cooked pork, which I think I'll go with.

I can't afford to even suspect on 27th that it is on the turn.

lil_me

Well the ones I used to serve had a big sticker saying no artifical preservaties, so don't know what they use instead. 5 days does sound safer, I wouldn't want to risk upset tummys over Christmas time, or any other time TBH.

wendym

Thanks everyone....my thanks button isn't working.....again.

I would fail to see the funny side if the Guardian had to publish an apology to anyone who suffered after eating it on day 9!