14+ Recipes for Leftover Ham (2024)

FAQs

What to do with leftover ham fat and bone? ›

Place leftover hambone in a large stockpot or Dutch oven and add enough water to cover the bone halfway, about 6-7 cups. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until very fragrant, about 30 minutes to 1 hour; set aside ham stock and discard hambone. Heat olive oil in the large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat.

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.

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.

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.

And one of my favorite childhood meals was Nana's Epic Navy Bean Ham Bone Soup, i.e. navy bean soup simmered with a leftover ham bone. Navy bean soup is rich, filling, comforting, and can feed a large crowd on a small budget. This soup is especially good when you have a leftover ham bone from a holiday meal!

In a skillet, combine the brown sugar, flour, mustard, ginger ale and vinegar. Bring to a boil over low heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and sauce is thickened. Add ham slices and heat through.

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.

Information. 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. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F.

Can dogs eat ham? ›

Although ham isn't toxic for your dog, it's best to avoid it in large quantities. The odd small bite is unlikely to cause an issue (unless your dog has a known or underlying medical condition), but it's not the best meat for your pup to consume a lot of.

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.

Here are some ideas for using this flavorful fat: Cooking: Use the rendered ham fat as a flavorful cooking oil for frying or sautéing vegetables, potatoes, or other meats. Flavoring Soups and Stews: Add a spoonful of rendered ham fat to soups and stews to impart a rich, savory flavor.

Throw it in the trash

The overarching rule of thumb when it comes to grease and oil disposal is don't pour it down a drain. Toilets, sinks, and floor drains are all off-limits as gluey oils and animal fats will destroy your plumbing. Instead, turn to your garbage can.

Rendered pork fat, or the fat that comes out from cooking different cuts of pork, has long been used as a cooking fat, as shortening, or as a spread similar to butter. If you are one of those people who scrape out the hardened bacon fat straight into the garbage can – STOP! You are wasting that fabulous pork flavour!

I would use it in soup, just like parmesan rind. Or a broth like Dan suggests. I use ham broth for braised greens a lot. I dice up the big chunks of fat and the rind and render it for cooking.