14+ Recipes for Leftover Ham (2024)

FAQs

How long does ham last in the fridge? ›

Large pieces of ham can be wrapped in foil and plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up 2 weeks. Slice and use in our ultimate ham and cheese toasties or cut up chunks for fried rice or toss through a pasta salads and you've got the holiday season sorted.

Other ham sandwiches include toasted sandwiches such as the Cubano, which uses two types of pork, melted Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard to create a tangy, tart meal. Along with stuffing sandwiches, ham is frequently found topping pizzas in the States, such as the Hawaiian-style pizza that features ham and pineapple.

Use leftover ham in soup

Both the ham bone and the hock contain scraps of meat, leftover fat, bone marrow, and collagen, all of which will infuse a rich, smoky flavor into soups like split pea and ham soup, herby ham and bean soup, and cicerchia soup over the course of a few hours of gentle cooking time.

Add up to ½ cup of chicken broth to keep the meat moist or opt for a couple of tablespoons of butter or oil to give the ham a nice sear.

An uncooked, cut country ham can be refrigerated for two to three months or frozen for one month. A cooked Country Ham should be refrigerated for seven days and or frozen for one month. Freezer storage time is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked.

A fully cooked, ready-to-eat ham (also referred to as a "city ham") can be sliced and served cold or at room temperature—there's no need to reheat it. A spiral-cut ham is delicious this way, whether eaten by the slice, tucked into biscuits, or in a grilled cheese sandwich.

Yes and no. Although ham isn't toxic for your dog, it's best to avoid it in large quantities. The odd small bite is unlikely to cause an issue (unless your dog has a known or underlying medical condition), but it's not the best meat for your pup to consume a lot of.

The main reason to eat ham with a little fat is that it is better. A little fat in the ham slice makes it juicier and the taste is more intense. This is especially recommended for Iberian Bellota hams, which fat is especially sweet and tasty.

Some people prefer to trim away the extra layers of fat and skin before cooking the ham, but this is not necessary and roasted fat can add mouth-feel, flavour and appearance and reduce drying of the meat within. So better to leave the normal thin covering of fat.

Can you freeze leftover ham off the bone? ›

Leftover ham is a great thing to freeze. Simply cut the ham off the bone, wrap the meat in plastic wrap, then in foil and place in a snap-lock bag with all the air removed.

Whole cured hams last in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, fresh ham only lasts a few days in the refrigerator, about three or four once you've cooked it.

When Should You Throw Out Ham? If your ham has been stored in the fridge for more than five days after the package has been opened or in the freezer for more than six months, it is best to throw it out. Ham that has been exposed to temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit should also be disposed of.

Ham is bad if it smells off, develops discoloration, or begins to feel sweaty or slimy. Store ham in the fridge by wrapping it in foil, butcher paper, or plastic wrap. Alternatively, you can use an airtight container or freezer bag and set it in the fridge.

Christmas ham stored in the fridge, either on the bone or carved off and wrapped in plastic and foil, will keep perfectly well for up to two weeks. Ham wrapped in plastic and foil and then frozen will last in the freezer for up to a month.