Meal preppers (and lazy cooks) have no need to fear. Researchers bust the myths on microwaving food – with tips on how to enjoy leftovers safely.
Making meals ahead of time and then reheating them is a great way to save time in the kitchen and keep food from going to waste. One myth is that food can only be reheated once before it’s no longer safe to eat.
Many food myths don’t have clear beginnings, but some become part of our culture and scientists feel compelled to study them. For example, the “five-second rule” or “double-dipping”
The good news is that meals can be safely reheated more than once as long as you follow a few simple steps when you prepare and store them.
Leftover baked ham is a delicious treat, but is it safe to keep reheating it? Get the facts on how many times you can reheat ham while maintaining safety and quality.
Ham, with its savory, smokey, and sweet flavors, is a staple at many holiday meals and gatherings. The downside is you may end up with ample leftovers. To enjoy ham while minimizing waste, understanding proper reheating guidelines is key.
Factors That Impact Safe Ham Reheating
Several factors impact how many times ham can be safely reheated:
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Type of ham – Fresh ham has a shorter shelf life than cured or smoked ham.
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Cook method – Reheating a ham slice is safer than reheating chopped or minced ham
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Reheat method – Microwaving causes less damage than other reheating methods.
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Storage method – Properly stored ham lasts longer.
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Holding time and temperature – The longer ham is held at unsafe temps, the greater the risk.
As long as you account for these factors, reheated ham remains safe to eat Next, let’s look at reheating guidelines for different types of ham.
How Many Times Can You Reheat Fresh Ham?
For fresh ham that has been cooked but not cured or smoked, it’s best to limit reheating to once or twice. The guidelines are
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Refrigerate cooked fresh ham for 3 to 4 days maximum.
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Reheat only the amount you will consume immediately.
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You can safely reheat cooked fresh ham one or two times if done properly.
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When reheating, heat it thoroughly to 165°F.
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Allow no more than 2 hours in the danger zone of 40-140°F.
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Do not re-freeze cooked fresh ham.
The shorter shelf life limits safe reheating of fresh ham. For optimal safety and quality, do not exceed two reheats.
How Many Times Can You Reheat Cured or Smoked Ham?
For cured and smoked hams, the preservatives allow for safer and longer storage and reheating. Here are the guidelines:
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Store unopened cured ham for 6 to 9 months.
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Refrigerate opened cured ham for 3 to 5 weeks.
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Reheat only the portion you will immediately eat.
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You can safely reheat cured ham 3 to 4 times.
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Heat thoroughly to 140°F when reheating.
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Allow no more than 2 hours cumulative time between 40-140°F.
Thanks to curing and smoking, reheating cured ham more times poses less risk than fresh ham. But refrain from reheating any portion more than three or four times.
Tips for Safely Reheating Leftover Ham
To safely reheat leftover ham the optimal number of times, follow these tips:
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Store ham in shallow airtight containers to allow rapid cooling.
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Refrigerate within 2 hours and use within 3 to 5 days.
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Discard ham with an off smell or slimy texture.
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When reheating, use microwave, oven, or stovetop to heat thoroughly to 165°F (140°F for cured ham).
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Choose microwave when possible to cause less damage from repeat reheating.
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Never leave ham in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F for over 2 hours total.
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When reheating multiple times, allow ham to cool back to fridge temperature between each reheating.
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Bring sauces, soups, casseroles containing ham back up to safe temperature.
Following proper storage, handling, and reheating procedures, you can safely enjoy leftover ham for several meals without waste.
Signs It’s Time to Discard Leftover Ham
To avoid foodborne illness when reheating ham, be alert for signs it may no longer be safe:
- Mold spots
- Significant drying or hardening
- Off odors
- Slimy texture or sheen
Discard ham displaying any of these warning signs. Do not taste questionable ham to check if it’s spoiled! When in doubt, throw it out.
Enjoy Leftover Ham Safely
Ham’s unique curing and smoking process makes it safely reheatable several times when stored properly. Limit fresh ham to one or two reheats and cured ham to three or four for optimal safety and quality. Follow sound reheating guidelines and discard ham at the first sign of spoilage.
With proper handling, ham can be safely transformed into multiple delicious meals to be savored again and again. Just be cautious about over-reheating any one portion as youput that leftover ham to delicious use.
Why can food make us sick?
There are many ways bacteria and viruses can end up in foods. They may occur naturally in environments where products are harvested or contaminate foods during processing.
Viruses won’t grow in foods and will be destroyed by cooking (or proper reheating). On the other hand, bacteria can grow in food. Not all bacteria make us sick. Some are beneficial,including probiotics in yoghurt or starter cultures used to make fermented foods.
But some bacteria are not desirable in foods. These include those that reproduce and cause physical changes, making food unpalatable (or spoiled), and pathogens, which cause illness.
Some pathogens grow in our gut and cause symptoms of gastroenteritis, while others produce toxins (poisons) which cause us to become sick. Some bacteria produce special structures, called endospores, which survive for a long time – years, even – until they encounter favourable conditions which allow them to grow and produce toxins.
While cooking and reheating will generally kill pathogenic bacteria in foods, they may not destroy toxins or endospores. When it comes to reheating foods, toxins pose the greatest risk of illness.
The risk is higher for foods that have been handled badly or cooled down too slowly after being cooked or heated up the first time. This is because these conditions may let bacteria that make toxins grow and multiply.
Bacteria that cause food-borne illness typically grow at temperatures between 5C and 60C (the “temperature danger zone”), with fastest growth occurring about 37C.
“Potentially hazardous” foods are those that allow these bacteria to grow the most. These include dishes with meat, dairy, seafood, cooked rice or pasta, eggs, or other protein-rich ingredients.
Staphylococcus aureus, which many people carry in their noses or throats, is often the cause of food poisoning from reheated foods. It produces a heat-stable toxin that causes vomiting and diarrhoea when ingested.
Food handlers can transfer these bacteria from their hands to foods after cooking or reheating. Staphylococcus aureus will grow and make poisons if the tainted food is kept in the temperature danger zone for a long time. Subsequent reheating will destroy the bacteria but not the toxins.
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How to Reheat a Fully Cooked Spiral Ham | Step by Step
FAQ
Can you reheat ham 3 times?
Can you reheat ham twice?
Is it safe to reheat food multiple times?
Can pork be reheated twice?
Can Ham be reheated in the oven?
Ham can be easily reheated in the oven, without sacrificing any of the meat’s moisture or flavor. Just portion out the amount you need, layer it in a baking dish covered tightly with aluminum foil, and pop it into an oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is honey baked ham as good as regular ham?
The addition of honey will affect the calorie content of the food. One tablespoon of honey contributes to approximately 64 calories. In addition, the use of heat when making baked ham will reduce the quality of the honey.
How do you reheat a half Ham?
Cover with foil and place in a 325-degree oven. This way, the slices, according to Dearborn Brand Ham, will heat quickly and not dry out. When reheating the entire ham — technically a half ham — it is best to reheat them gently in a 325-to-350-degree oven until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees.
How do you reheat a ham without drying it out?
Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and check the temperature with a meat thermometer. It should read at least 140°F. Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Another way to reheat ham without drying it out is to use the microwave.