Best Tips Guide For How To Freeze Ham

Why freeze ham 🍖

• Freezing ham saves you money by using up leftovers at a later date.
• Busy summer night meals will be easy when you grill ham steaks and pineapple.
• Freeze thinly sliced ham in portions will help you quickly serve ham sandwiches.
• If ham goes on sale, you will be able to freeze it for months before you actually need it.
• Freezing pieces of ham already chopped or cubed will save you time in the kitchen on a busy night.

Best products for freezing meat

Freezer paper is used to wrap up meats for freezing. The meats are wrapped against the waxy side to protect the surface of the meat, as well as to help prevent moisture loss, but the paper on the outside is meant to be a surface that could be written on for labeling purposes.

Make packaging ham easier by using freezer tape. It’s made to endure -40 to 150-degree temps. The tap will help keep your food sealed tightly and avoid getting freezer burnt.

I like to keep 2 gallon-size plastic freezer bags on hand. These are heavy-duty: approximately 2.5 mils thick, these zippers can comfortably hold large pieces of ham.

How to freeze ham

When freezing all types of ham, the most critical key is to prevent freezer burn. Let’s cover the different kinds of ham and how best to freeze each one.

Cooked whole ham, no bone

1. Using paper towels, blot off any excess moisture from the surface of the ham.
2. Carefully wrap the whole hame in freezer paper. Tape the loose edges with freezer tape.
3. Using heavy-duty aluminum foil, wrap the whole ham in the foil, ensuring to overlap the edges.
4. Place the ham in a large size plastic freezer bag. Close the bag, leaving 2 inches open. Gently squeeze the bag with your hands, pushing all the air out. Seal the bag.
5. Write on the outside of your freezer bag the contents, the use-by date. *see chart

🔪 Spiral ham slices

Spiral ham leftovers can be frozen and used for sandwiches on a busy day. It’s a good idea to think portions. Will you be making 2, 4, or more sandwiches? Freezing by the portion will make it easier to thaw and not waste any.

1. Start by cutting the ham close to the bone so the pieces will come off easily. Be sure to use a sharp knife.
2. Using a paper towel, gently pat any excess moisture off the ham slices.
3. Separate the ham into portion sizes
4. Wrap each stack in freezer paper. Use freezer tape secure all edges.
5. Using heavy-duty aluminum foil, wrap the pieces of spiral ham in the foil, being sure to overlap the edges.
6. Place the ham in a plastic freezer bag. Close the bag, leaving 2 inches open. Gently squeeze the bag with your hands, pushing all the air out. Seal the bag.
7. Write on the outside of your freezer bag, spiral ham slices, and the portion size. Write the expiration date. *see chart

Bone-in whole ham

1. Using a paper towel, gently pat any excess moisture off the ham slices.
2. Separate the ham into portion sizes
3. Wrap each stack in freezer paper. Use freezer tape to secure all edges.
4. Using heavy-duty aluminum foil, wrap the pieces of spiral ham in the foil, being sure to overlap the edges.
5. Place the ham in a plastic freezer bag. Close the bag, leaving 2 inches open. Gently squeeze the bag with your hands, pushing all the air out. Seal the bag.
6. Label the bag and write the portion size. Write the date it is best to use by. *see chart

Fresh uncooked ham

If you find a good deal on a fresh ham, however, you do not want to use it until the holidays, you can freeze it.

1. Keep the ham in its original factory-sealed wrapper.
2. Wrap the ham again with foil.
3. Place it in a ziplock freezer bag.Push all the air, then seal the bag.
4. Lable and date when it should be used. *see chart.

Diced ham pieces

Cutting leftover ham into diced pieces before freezing is a great idea. Having delicious ham pieces on hand in your freezer makes preparing recipes on a busy day much easier.

1. Cut leftover ham into small cubes.
2. Blot any excess moisture using paper towels.
3. Divide your ham pieces into even portions. I find two cup portions are a good size.
4. Wrap your ham pieces in freezer paper, and using freezer tape, secure the edges.
5. For easy storage, I like to put my 2 cup portions in an airtight container that is freezer safe. This way, I can stack them in the freezer.
6. Place a piece of freezer tape on the container. Label what is in the container, the amount, and the date to use it by. *see chart

Ham bone

Freezing ham bones is a great idea. They are perfect for making soup or cooking in beans.

1. Be sure to blot the ham bone with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Blotting the moisture helps prevent freezer ice crystals.
2. Wrap the ham bone in freezer paper, securing with freezer tape.
3. Next, wrap the bone with aluminum foil, securing the edges tightly.
4. Place the wrapped ham bone in a zip lock freezer bag. Close the bag, leaving 2 inches open. Gently squeeze the bag with your hands, pushing all the air out. Seal the bag.
5. Write on the outside of your freezer bag ham bone, and the expiration date. *see chart

Country ham

1. If your country ham is in an unopened factory package, leave it in there for the best quality. For extra protection from freezer burn, place the package in a freezer ziplock style bag. Push all the air out then seal.
2. Write on the outside of your freezer bag the country ham and the date best used by.

Italian style dry ham

You can freeze Italian-style ham such as Prosciutto, Parma, or Serrano. Doing so is a great way to be ready for impromptu entertaining.

1. If your ham is in an unopened factory package, it’s best to leave it in there for freezing. For extra protection from freezer burn, place the package in a freezer ziplock style bag, seal, and label. Don’t forget to put the best used by date on there also.

1. If your Italian dry ham is not in its original packaging, it is best to wrap it in several layers to prevent freezer burn. Wrap your ham pieces in freezer paper, and using freezer tape, secure the edges. Next, cover the bone with aluminum foil, with the edges tightly sealed.
2. Place the wrapped ham bone in a plastic freezer bag. Close the bag, leaving 2 inches open. Gently squeeze the bag with your hands, pushing all the air out. Seal the bag.
3. Write on the outside of your freezer bag the contents and the date best used by.

Canned ham

Never freeze an unopened whole ham in a can. The shelf life is quite long. However, if you open a canned ham and do not eat it all, you can freeze the meat. Follow the instructions just like you would for spiral cut ham if you have it cut. Follow whole ham freezing instructions if you have a large piece of ham leftover.

How to vacuum seal a ham

A vacuum sealer is the best way to prevent freezer burn. It is an investment to purchase the system; however, it will help save you money in the long run. It keeps food fresh longer in the freezer, eliminating having to toss out freezer burnt food items.
If you have not used a FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine here is a video that explains how easy it is to use.

💭 Safty tips

• If your ham is still warm from serving, do not leave it on the counter to cool. Once it is cool enough to the touch, place it in the refrigerator to chill. Allowing it to sit and cool to room temperature is not safe. Bacterial growth could start and cause food poisoning.
• Do not freeze ham if it has been sitting at room temperature for over two hours.

How long can you freeze ham?

How to defrost ham

When defrosting leftover cooked ham, you want to focus on not losing moister. For this reason, you will want to keep your ham wrapped up while thawing.

Refrigerator: The most straightforward method for defrosting ham is to place it in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw for 24 to 48 hours, depending on how big it is.

Microwave: Remove the ham from the bag and take off the outer layer of foil. Keep the freezer paper on. Doing so will help maintain moisture. Follow your microwave’s manufacturer specifications for defrosting meat. Most microwaves have an automatic setting per pound for defrosting.

Bowl of cold water: Here is a trick if you are in a hurry that works best for pieces or slices of ham. Remove your frozen ham’s out wrapper. Plae it back into the zip lock bag. Remove as much as possible from the bag and seal. Then place the bag in a bowl of cold water. To keep it submerged, place a plate over the bowl with something heavy like canned beans to hold it down. This method should take 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the amount of ham you have.

How to reheat frozen ham

There are a variety of ways to reheat frozen ham. Whichever way you choose, be sure the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.

• Oven: Place the thawed ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325 F for 16-20 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.
• Slow cooker: You can also add some Pepsi, chicken broth, or water; about 1 cup will do it. Cover and cook on low for 5-8 hours, until the ham, is thoroughly heated.
• Grill: Thaw the ham first. Then place on a hot grill. Sear and flip the ham. Heat until the internal temp reaches 145 degrees.
• Mix in: Add thawed cooked ham to soups and chowders.
• Pan fry: Add a little oil or putter to a pan. Cook ham over medium heat until it is 145 degrees.

Ideas for using frozen ham

There are so many easy ways to use leftover cooked ham that has been frozen in recipes. Having the frozen ham in your freezer makes it easier to prepare meals quickly.

Breakfast: Add pieces of ham to omelets, potato hash, quiche, or fried in a bit of butter to go alongside eggs.

Soups: Add diced pieces to soups or chowders. A ham bone is a perfect start when making soups also.

Salads: Mix it in with pasta salads or tossed salads. Add mayo to make a chopped ham salad spread for sandwiches.

Pizza: Ham is great on pizza.

Sandwiches: Make cold ham sandwiches, paninis, or warm ham and cheese sandwiches.

Grill: Freeze large slices so you can quickly grill ham steak for a meal.

❓ FAQ