14+ Recipes for Leftover Ham (2024)

FAQs

How long is leftover ham good for in the fridge? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked. If you need more time to use up those leftovers, ham will last up to two months in the freezer. The USDA also recommends wrapping up leftovers well.

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.

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.

Cooked ham can be stored in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to two months. Make sure to store it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This will help to prevent the ham from drying out.

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.

Oven-Baked Spiral Ham

Since the ham is already cooked, your goal is to thoroughly heat it without drying it out. That means you'll want to opt for low and slow cooking rather than high and fast heat. That said, there isn't one perfect temperature to set your oven at – anywhere in the range of 250ºF to 350ºF will work.

Add 1/2-3/4 of a cup of wine or stock to the pan (you don't want the ham swimming in liquid) and throw some aromatics in there—a few whole cloves, some star anise, and cinnamon sticks are all good options. Cover the ham with foil and place in a 250-degree oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 100℉.

Arrange slices in a single layer on a plate. If the dish is deep enough, add 1 tablespoon of broth or water. Cover slices with a damp paper towel and microwave 30 to 60 seconds or until heated through.

About this product: A fully boned leg which is hand trimmed and tied with the skin left over, then smoked over german beech. A full Grandmother Ham is approximately 3 to 5kg, a half Grandmother Ham approximately 2 to 3kg.

Why is my whole ham slimy but smells fine? ›

Slimy, super-wet, or oily textures on the outside of your ham might indicate bacteria growth. Juice can just be congealed oils, so use your senses to see if anything else is off. Slimy ham that's growing bacteria will usually have a smell that indicates spoilage.

Is Ham Bad for Dogs? Ham is not toxic to dogs, but it's also not a healthy treat for them. So if your pup eats a little piece that fell to the floor, they should be totally fine. But feeding ham to your dog as a regular snack can cause some long-term health issues.

Rather than throw these chunks out, I render the fat to use in cooking later. Rendering fat is an old-fashioned method for preparing solid animal fat to use later by separating the fat from any other tissue in the fat. Lard, for example, is a rendered fat.

Cooking: Use the rendered ham fat as a flavorful cooking oil for frying or sautéing vegetables, potatoes, or other meats. Flavoring Soups and Stews: Add a spoonful of rendered ham fat to soups and stews to impart a rich, savory flavor.

Ham bones leftover from a city or country ham make a rich and comforting broth that works well as the backbone for rich soups or comforting risotto. You can also try cooking winter greens like collards or kale in ham broth for a tender, flavorful side dish.

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.

Things You Should Know

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.

If you choose to refrigerate your products, Honey Baked Ham can be refrigerated for 7 to 10 days and Honey Baked Turkey Breast can be refrigerated for 5 to 7 days.

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.