These 53 Recipes Have Us Getting Creative With The Leftover Ham This Year (2024)

FAQs

How long can you keep a cooked ham in the refrigerator? ›

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.

Ham stocks generally go well with pulses and the stock could be used to make a black bean soup, a lentil soup such as the Yellow Split Peas and Frankfurter Soup (from Feast) or the Chick Pea and Pasta Soup (from How To Eat).

A fully-cooked, unopened, vacuum-sealed ham can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator, according to the USDA, but the clock starts ticking once you open that package. Sliced meat, like fresh cut ham or spiral-cut ham from the store, will last in the refrigerator for only three to five days.

A whole, uncut dry cured or country ham can be stored safely at room temperature for up to one year. After one year, the ham is safe but the quality may suffer. An uncooked, cut country ham can be refrigerated for two to three months or frozen for one month.

To reheat ham slices on the stove, add a few slices at a time to a skillet over medium-high heat. 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.

Cooked canned ham and cooked vacuum-packaged ham, both from federally inspected plants, can be eaten right out of the package. All of these along with spiral-cut cooked ham are safe to eat cold or can be warmed to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), as they are already fully cooked.

Place in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover top of ham with loosely wrapped aluminum foil to keep moisture in. Bake at 275 degrees F at 10 minutes per pound–or until meat thermometer reads 135 – 140 degrees.

Soaking a salt cured country ham before cooking is believed to make the ham less salty. This is debatable as very little water will enter the ham so the capacity to pull salt from any depth within a ham is limited. The older the ham, the denser the muscle so less salt will be removed from a longer aged ham.

Why do people soak ham? ›

If you live in the US then uncooked hams tend to be very salty (quite often they are country style hams which are cured with salt for up to 3 months) and we would soak the ham for 48 hours before cooking, changing the water every 8 hours.

Shank: This portion comes from the lower half of the leg and is the most common cut used for baked ham. Butt: Also known as ham sirloin, this section comes from the upper region of the leg and is the most tender and flavorful cut of ham.

A classic, flavorfully glazed ham like this would pair well with many classic sides, like melt-in-your-mouth roasted potatoes, a simple spinach salad, cheesy creamed spinach or mustardy roasted carrots.

Convenient and easy to prepare, a fully cooked ham can be sliced and eaten cold, making it great for sandwiches and salads, but the flavor and texture are even better once reheated.

In short? Once you open a package of ham, or if it comes open — like if it was sliced at the deli counter— you can safely eat your leftovers for up to five days. In addition to these dates, it's always best to stick to the use-by date printed on the ham's package.

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.

How long can I keep my Honey Baked ham or turkey breast in the refrigerator? Once thawed, your Honey Baked Ham will stay fresh for 7 to 10 days and the Honey Baked Turkey Breast will stay fresh for 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator.

To store your ham properly, it's best to use vacuum-sealed bags or airtight containers to prevent moisture loss and bacteria growth. Also, remember to take a look at your refrigerator's temperature range! Ideally, it should be between 34°F and 40°F or 1°C-4°C.