14+ Recipes for Leftover Ham (2024)

FAQs

How long does leftover ham last? ›

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.

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.

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.

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.

If your ham starts to take on a green or grey hue, or even gets black or brown in a few areas, throw it away. If it doesn't smell good, throw it away. Ham should have a salty or smokey aroma, almost sweet. If there is a sour smell or something smells off, don't take the chance of a food-borne illness.

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.

Baste with broth or stock: One way to add moisture to a dried out ham is to baste it with a flavorful liquid such as broth or stock. Use a brush or spoon to apply the liquid over the ham periodically during cooking, or place the ham in a roasting pan with a layer of broth or stock at the bottom of the pan.

The trick is to make sure you add some kind of liquid to your pan. So here's the hack: Add half a cup of wine or stock to the bottom of your pan before popping that ham in the oven.

Your ham will come with a thick, rubbery skin which is called the rind. The rind is not edible, even once cooked (it's thick and chewy and just really not nice!).

Savvy cooks will wrap it in plastic and freeze it, for it makes an amazing addition to the next pot of mongo beans. Others might cut it into strips and feed it to the family dog, who is far more equipped to handle the tough, salty blend of skin and fat.

Should you let ham get to room temperature before cooking? ›

While baking a show-stopping ham is simple and easy, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to bring the ham to room temperature for an hour (for even heat distribution) as well as up to 2 1/2 hours to bake it long, low and slow, depending on your ham's size.

A slimy or sticky texture Ham should have a soft and moist texture, but it won't leave any wet or greasy residue behind on your skin. Slimy ham is a sign of bacterial growth, so don't consume it if it's wet or oily. Some bacteria may cause ham to become sticky, too.

Hams labeled “fully cooked” can be served cold or reheated to an internal temperature of 140° F. Both plastic-wrapped and vacuum-packaged hams must be refrigerated. A plastic-wrapped ham will keep about one week. A vacuum-packaged ham should be consumed by the “use by” date or within 1 week after the “sell by” date.

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.

A fully cooked ham can last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator after it has been baked. It's important to store the ham properly to prevent spoilage and food poisoning. Here's how: Wrap the ham in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.

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.

Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months.

Once the ham is cut, exposing the moist interior, it must be stored in the refrigerator. After the ham has been soaked, or soaked and cooked, it should be used within 5 days. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.