14+ Recipes for Leftover Ham (2024)

FAQs

What are two ways the ham can be used? ›

For instance, you can use leftover ham slices to make ham and cheese sliders for a quick weekday lunch. Or, dice up extra ham to add salty-smoky flavor to a ham and cheese frittata for your holiday weekend brunch.

Ham bones make wonderful bean, lentil or split pea soup additions. It is amazing at how much meat and flavor they add. And you get lots of collagen that'll make your lips sticky. Boil it till the meat is off and the marrow melted.

How long does Christmas ham last? 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.

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.

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.

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.

I baked a ham and saved the pan drippings. I've chilled it and separated the fat from the rest of it, what is now a gelatinous, salty goo. This seems like it should be good for something. I used a little of it in place of salt in a soup recipe that used the broth I made from the ham bone, that seemed to work fine.

Rendered ham fat can be used for cooking and flavoring a wide range of dishes. It adds a rich, smoky flavor to vegetables, beans, and grains, and can be used to sauté or roast meats for added depth of flavor. It can also be used to make savory sauces and dressings.

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.

Why is my ham slimy but not expired? ›

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. In any case, avoid ham that doesn't feel right in your hand.

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.

If you have a whole ham, it can last in the fridge for up to seventy-five days. If you have a half ham, it will last for about sixty days. Ham that has been precooked or spiral cut will last for about one week.

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.

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.

Ham is typically used in its sliced form, often as a filling for sandwiches and similar foods, such as in the ham sandwich and ham and cheese sandwich. Other variations include toasted sandwiches such as the croque-monsieur and the Cubano. It is also a popular topping for pizza in the United States.

In fact, most ham that is sold to consumers is already cured, smoked or baked. As a deli meat, it can be eaten right out of the refrigerator, but other hams are typically reheated for improved flavor and texture.

Most hams you'll find made in the United States are city hams. They are wet-cured and made by soaking the meat in a saltwater solution or injecting them with a brine. You may also see country ham, which is dry rubbed and hung to dry like prosciutto. There are also fresh hams, which are uncured.

Compared with poultry and fish, pork products like ham are higher in iron, thiamine, and other B vitamins. Yet, pork may be lower in some nutrients than other red meats, such as beef (5). Ham also provides all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.