maybe i am of the minority, but i eat deli ham. i ask for it to be cut fresh and only eat it that day, but i still eat it, and i will still be eating my xmas ham, again i will cut it fresh and i of course know the storage procedures, but i plan to eat it, i probably wouldnt personally eat a ham from anyone elses house, but ill eat my own. i think what miss E said is the biggest issue apart from storage, so i guess its personal choice. if your not sure just bake it and store the baked ham appropriately. I might bake mine after a lovely feed of fresh cold ham too but i have to have that initial omg my xmas ham is here, im going to stuff myself silly, plate of ham... i wait all year for that expensive, delicious piece of piggy.