Nothing better than a home cooked ham dinner! But life doesn’t always allow for the time to select a whole ham and cook it. You may be tempted to pick up a ham that is already cooked and then freeze it in order to have one on hand.
Or maybe you already cooked your ham and now you want to store it for a later meal. Either way, there is a way to safely store your ham without losing all it’s flavor.
The problem with popping your ham in the refrigerator is it only lasts five days. If you have a large ham that just isn’t long enough.
Can You Freeze A Cooked Ham?
Yes, you can! Ham is cured and all cured meat freezes well making it one of the best ways to preserve your delicious ham, even if on the bone.
How To Freeze a Whole Ham
One of the best ways would be to fully wrap it with aluminum foil and then put it in a freezer safe plastic bag and seal tightly.
Always label your frozen ham with the date you put it in the freezer. (Frozen ham lasts up to one year so this will ensure you don’t forget when you froze it)
Then place it in the freezer as quickly as possible so that the meat does not get too warm before freezing.
How To Freeze Sliced Ham
Alternately, you can also freeze ham slices.
To do this, first wrap the meat in aluminum foil, then put it in a freezer paper bag and close tightly.
In each freezer bag, place one serving of sliced ham. This makes it easier to prepare meals without thawing out all of your ha,.
Be sure to add the date you froze it so you know when to use up the food.
How To Freeze A Ham Bone
Consider freezing your ham bone.
Frozen ham bone can be used in soup or stew anytime and is a great way to use up every part of your holiday ham.
To freeze, wrap the bone in aluminum foil or place it in a freezer bag and freeze.
Label and date it and store as you would the rest of your ham. It will keep for six months.
How Do You Thaw Frozen Ham?
Thaw you frozen ham in the refrigerator for about one to two days.
How To Thaw Frozen Ham In The Microwave
Step 1 – Defrost
Thaw ham in the refrigerator overnight or place it in a microwave for about 5 minutes.
Step 2 – Brown
After the 5 minutes are up, remove ham from microwave and place under the broiler until it is browned.
Tip: If you don’t have a broiler, you can cook it in the oven at 350°F or for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest before slicing.
How To Thaw Ham By Soaking In Water
This method for thawing ham is quick but I do not recommend it as it can bring your meat into the danger zone if not attended properly.
If you want to do this method, place the wrapped or bagged ham in a bowl of cold water and let it sit for approximately 30 minutes. Check it regularly to check when thawed.
Can You Cook A Frozen Ham?
Yes! While most people like their ham fresh and warm, freezing has its benefits.
To cook a frozen ham , place it the oven at 350°F for 10 to 20 minutes per pound.
Then, cover with foil and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes.
Once cooked, let rest for 15 minutes then slice to serve. (Ham can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days once cooked.
Can You Refreeze Ham?
Yes you can! You can even refreeze cooked ham.
If you thaw it and then cook it, the texture may be altered slightly. If you are going to refreeze a ham note that it will lose much of it’s original moisture so I prefer to not refreeze my ham.
Conclusion
So those are a few of the ways to store cooked ham that is on the bone or in slices. Got more questions? Leave a comment below.
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