Packaged lunch meat stays fresh for between three and five days in a refrigerator once it is opened, according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Appropriate storage is essential to the taste, shelf life and safety of chilled, cooked meats, and lunch meat must be kept cool at all times, including during the journey home from the grocery store. Buy perishable items last and transport them home in a cooler or with an ice pack to keep your meat at a safe temperature, and transfer it to a refrigerator immediately.
