10 Recipes to Use Up Leftover Ham + 5 Ways to Use a Ham Bone (2024)

FAQs

What can I use a ham bone for? ›

Instead, freeze the ham bone so you can use it later to add flavor to a soup or make homemade ham broth or stock. A ham bone will keep in the freezer for at least a few months. That buys you some time to make full use of it and you have a few days to properly prepare it for long-term storage.

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.

Heat oven to 325ºF. Remove all packaging materials and place ham on its side, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan; cover loosely with aluminum foil. Heat approximately 15 to 20 minutes per pound until heated through. Remove ham from oven and let stand, covered, 20 minutes before serving.

Ham stock can be refrigerated, covered, for up to one week or stored in the freezer for up to three months. If freezing, it is best to store your stock in smaller portions so that you only thaw what you need. Quart-sized freezer storage bags or glass jars work great.

Simmering animal bones in water releases collagen and other proteins into the broth that may have health benefits, although more research is needed to validate these claims. Now, a new study has shown that ham bones contain peptides that could have cardioprotective effects.

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.

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.

Instead, freeze the ham bone so you can use it later to add flavor to a soup or make homemade ham broth or stock. A ham bone will keep in the freezer for at least a few months. That buys you some time to make full use of it and you have a few days to properly prepare it for long-term storage.

How do you make a precooked ham taste better? ›

A little sweetness balances the smoky savoriness of ham. But think beyond gloppy, sugary-sweet glazes and get a little more adventurous. Peach preserves, hot pepper jelly, and maple syrup work as sweet bases for glazes that add sheen as well as distinct flavor.

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.

Both whole or half, cooked, vacuum-packaged hams packaged in federally inspected plants and canned hams can be eaten cold, right out of the package.

For best results, try to use your frozen ham bone within three months. There may be some loss of flavor if you keep it longer, and any bits of meat and cartilage remaining on it may get freezer burn or dry out.

Can dogs eat ham bones? No, always avoid ham bones. Pups can easily break off pieces of bone, which can cause life-threatening blockages in the digestive system. When cooked, these bones are also very soft and can splinter if your dog chews them, which could cause damage to their mouth and/or digestive system.

Simmering animal bones in water releases collagen and other proteins into the broth that may have health benefits, although more research is needed to validate these claims. Now, a new study has shown that ham bones contain peptides that could have cardioprotective effects.

"Say it with Beans"

No matter the condition of your ham bone, you can make something with it. You could simmer the ham bone in a large pot of water with nothing else and it would still be pretty good- salty, slightly smoky, gentle ham flavor (“a smack of ham”).