Deli Meats

Although they are precooked, deli meats are highly perishable. The chief culprits are time, temperature, and oxygen. There isn't much you can do about time. All foods, deli meats included, eventually degrade and spoil. However, proper oxygen and temperature control can extend the amount of time deli meats keep. Warm temperatures hasten spoilage, so be sure to refrigerate deli meats as soon as you get them home and if you purchase your meats from the deli counter, transfer them to airtight plastic bags.

 When setting out deli-meat trays at parties and other gatherings, keep them out of the sun and away from other heat sources. Don't let remaining slices sit at room temperature once you've moved on to coffee and dessert.