Don’t waste any of your holiday ham! This guide will show you How to Freeze Ham, from the meat to the bone. Use frozen ham in soups, casseroles, sandwiches, and more!.
A spiral sliced ham is a gorgeous centerpiece for any festive meal. But not everyone can polish off a whole ham in one sitting. Leftover ham is delicious, but it also runs the risk of going bad quickly. Freezing a spiral ham allows you to enjoy it over a longer period while reducing waste. This guide covers proper techniques for freezing both whole and cooked spiral cut hams.
Overview of Freezing Spiral Sliced Hams
Most hams sold at major grocery stores are already fully cooked and ready to eat. This includes popular spiral cut hams that have been presliced in a continuous spiral pattern for easy serving. The good news is these cooked hams can be safely frozen both before and after the initial use with minimal impact to quality.
Whole cooked spiral hams can be frozen prior to the first use for 2-3 months Leftover cooked ham slices or pieces freeze well for 1-2 months Proper freezer storage is important to prevent freezer burn or ice crystals,
Can You Freeze a Spiral Ham Before Cooking?
If you purchased an uncooked spiral ham freezing it prior to the first use is absolutely fine. An uncooked cured ham will keep well frozen for 1-2 months until you are ready to thaw and bake it.
Be sure to use a freezer bag or wrap the entire ham well in freezer-safe plastic wrap or foil. Try to remove as much air as possible before sealing. This prevents freezer burn on the exposed spiral cut edges.
Allow 48 hours to thaw a whole frozen uncooked ham in the refrigerator before baking as usual. A thawed spiral ham can also be refrozen once if needed.
Tips for Freezing Leftover Cooked Spiral Ham
For cooked hams the leftover sliced meat or pieces freeze nicely for 1-2 months. Here are some tips
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Allow ham to cool completely before freezing to prevent moisture loss.
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Use air-tight freezer bags or containers. Press out excess air.
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Portion ham into usable amounts like slices, diced pieces, or cubes before freezing.
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Avoid overcrowding ham pieces in bags or containers for best results.
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Label bags or containers with contents and date frozen for easy identification.
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Frozen ham may lose some texture over time but will remain safely edible.
Properly stored, frozen spiral ham stays moist and delicious when thawed and reheated later on.
Thawing Frozen Spiral Ham Safely
Always thaw frozen ham gradually in the refrigerator, not at room temperature. This helps prevent bacterial growth. Here are some thawing guidelines:
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Whole hams may take 2-3 days to fully thaw. Plan ahead.
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Individual slices or pieces take about 6-8 hours to thaw.
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For faster thawing, seal ham in a plastic bag and submerge in cold water. Change water every 30 mins.
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Cook ham immediately after thawing. Do not refreeze thawed raw ham.
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Refreeze thawed cooked ham only if ice crystals still present. Use within 1 month.
Microwaving frozen ham to quickly thaw it can lead to uneven cooking so it is best avoided.
Reheating Leftover Frozen Spiral Ham Safely
To safely reheat frozen cooked ham, use these methods:
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Slice or chop ham first before reheating for more even results.
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On stovetop, gently heat ham pieces in broth, water or sauce until 165°F.
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Bake sliced ham lightly coated in glaze or broth until hot, 165°F.
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Microwave individual slices arranged in single layer for best results.
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Simmer ham dices in soups, fried rice, omelets and other dishes.
Avoid slow-cooking thawed ham for long periods to reduce risk of bacteria growth. Reheat fully to 165°F.
Serving Ideas for Leftover Frozen Spiral Ham
Leftover frozen ham can be used in many creative recipes:
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Dice ham for omelets, frittatas, or quiche fillings
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Add to pasta salads, casseroles, soups, and risottos
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Fold into biscuit sandwiches or wraps
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Top pizzas, flatbreads, baked potatoes, and nachos
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Simmer into bean dishes like ham and bean soup
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Use cubes or slices in breakfast hashes or strata
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Toss with roasted Brussels sprouts or asparagus
Get creative with leftovers! Frozen cooked ham brings a tasty pop of protein.
Can You Freeze a Bone-In Spiral Ham?
Most whole bone-in hams are not presliced into a spiral pattern. However, bone-in hams can absolutely be frozen before cooking. Remove any plastic wrap, then rewrap ham tightly in foil or freezer wrap with as little air exposure as possible. A whole ham bone-in or boneless generally takes about 24 hours per 5 pounds to thaw in the refrigerator. Cook as desired.
Storing Cooked Ham Safely Without Freezing
While freezing is best for long-term storage, cooked spiral hams can be kept in the refrigerator for shorter term storage.
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Store cooked ham for 3-5 days max in the fridge in shallow airtight containers.
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Slice ham first before refrigerating to allow for faster cooling.
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Keep cooked ham stored at 40°F or colder. Do not store in door.
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Discard ham if it develops an off odor, flavor or slimy texture.
For optimum freshness and food safety, eaten refrigerated cooked ham within 3-5 days and freeze the rest.
Can You Freeze a Precooked Boneless Ham?
Yes, precooked boneless hams, both whole and sliced, can be frozen. In fact, freezing is recommended for storing any leftovers from a large boneless ham. The same freezing guidelines apply as with bone-in hams. Freeze precooked boneless ham up to 2-3 months for best quality and food safety.
The Takeaway
Both uncooked and already-cooked spiral sliced hams can be frozen for 1-3 months with minimal effect on taste or texture. Allow proper thaw time in the fridge. Then simply reheat thawed ham pieces fully to 165°F and enjoy the delicious leftovers! With proper freezer methods, you can savor spiral ham for weeks.
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How to Reheat Ham That’s Been Frozen
It’s easy to reheat frozen ham. First, thaw the ham according to the instructions above. Then, use one of the following methods to reheat it:
- If you want to cook a lot of ham or a whole ham, use a slow cooker. A big 8-pound spiral ham will take 8 hours to heat up on low, but smaller amounts of ham will heat up much faster.
- Cover the ham with foil in a baking dish and put it in the oven. This will keep it from drying out. Bake for 10 minutes per pound of ham at 325ºF.
- It’s only recommended that you heat ham in the microwave for single servings. Heat for 30-second intervals until warm.
Got questions about freezing ham? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
Can you cook a frozen ham?
Yes, you can cook a whole frozen ham without letting it thaw first. Just keep in mind that it will take longer to cook all the way through.
You can also freeze a ham, thaw it, and then cook after having been frozen. I suggest this method so you don’t have to cook the ham for too long and risk drying it out. But if you forgot to thaw your frozen holiday ham, you can still cook it from frozen!
Ham Freezing and Storing
FAQ
Why is sliced ham not suitable for freezing?
Can spiral ham slices be frozen?
Can you freeze a ham in the original packaging?
Can you freeze sliced ham from a supermarket?
Can you freeze sliced ham?
Yes, sliced ham can be frozen. If the ham is unopened, you can freeze it in its original packaging. When freezing leftover ham (sliced), make sure it is cooled and dry (to prevent ice crystals), then wrap it in plastic wrap or a freezer bag and tightly cover with foil.
How long can you keep a spiral ham in the freezer?
Instead, pop it in the freezer as is. The spiral ham will keep for up to two months in freezer temperatures of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below. After two months, the spiral ham is still safe to eat, but the quality may be diminished. Keep your spiral ham leftovers good enough to eat for as long as two months in the freezer.
Can you freeze a spiral cut Ham?
Yes! In fact, experts with Dakin Farm recommend freezing your spiral-cut ham immediately unless you plan to serve it within seven days. A spiral-cut ham comes to you fully cooked, so give it three to four days to thaw in the refrigerator before serving. Thawed ham will likely exude some water in the thawing process.
How to prevent frozen ham from freezer burn?
Vacuum sealer and bags (optional) — Vacuum seal bags are the best way to prevent frozen ham from developing freezer burn, but if you only have regular zip-top freezer bags they’ll work too! Zip-top freezer bags — It’s important that you use freezer bags and not regular zip-top bags so the ham doesn’t develop freezer burn.