Tasty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes - the Imperfectly Happy home (2024)

FAQs

How long does Xmas ham last in the fridge? ›

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.

We did some investigating and it turns out your ham can last up to two or three weeks! You'll need to look after it though – keeping it moist using a calico 'ham bag'. Other solutions include a damp tea towel or even a moist pillowcase. Pop some vinegar and water over it and repeat every three to four days.

Soak a Ham Bag, pillowcase or tea towel in 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Wring out excess water and place ham in the Ham Bag, pillowcase or wrap in tea towel. Store in coolest part of fridge.

If stored properly, your Christmas ham can last up to a month in the freezer. Just wrap your ham – sliced or whole – in some cling wrap and foil to avoid freezer burn and let the merriment continue all the way into March.

Of course there are many options, but one thing you should not do is let it sit too long 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.

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.

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.

FoodSafety.gov provides several guidelines for safe ham storage depending on which type of product you have on hand: A full, vacuum-sealed ham: Two weeks. Slices, half or spiral cut: Three to five days. Luncheon meat: Three to five days upon being opened.

Extend the life of your Xmas ham by reducing moisture loss and allowing it to breathe while in the fridge. This easy wash cotton will ensure you can reuse it for many Christmases to come! To prepare for Ham: Soak Ham Bag in 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.

Use a purpose made calico ham bag, pillow case or even a large tea towel. Whatever you use, make sure the bag or case completely covers the ham. Mix together 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and wet the bag, make sure it is completely soaked through.

Do you use brown or white vinegar for ham bags? ›

Here is how to keep your ham fresh and moist. Rinse a ham bag or large, clean tea towel with a mixture of 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon DYC White Vinegar. Squeeze any excess liquid from the bag or tea towel.

Put a bit of water and olive oil in the pan, cover the pan, and reheat slowly, just enough to warm the ham. You don't have to cook it again, just warm it.

“A ham bag is basically something you keep wet to stop the ham from drying out when you keep it in the fridge,” Healy says. “If you put a piece of bread or meat in the fridge it will dry out, or leave some cream in the fridge it goes all dry and crumbly, so if you put a wet towel over a ham it stops it from doing that.

Wet-cured hams are brined, which involves the immersion of the meat in a brine, sometimes with other ingredients such as sugar also added for flavour. The meat is typically kept in the brine for around 3 to 14 days. Wet curing also has the effect of increasing volume and weight of the finished product, by about 4%.

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.

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.