Photography: John Paul Urizar, Styling: Michele Cranston
NEED TO KNOW
- To ensure any uneaten ham is safe to consume as leftovers, don’t leave it out for more than 2 hours before refrigerating.
- The biggest challenge with storing ham is keeping the meat from drying out. For this reason, it’s important to only carve as much ham as you need during your meal. Meat left on the bone will stay juicy for longer than carved slices.
- To store ham on the bone, it needs to be wrapped in a clean tea towel, pillowcase, large piece of calico fabric, or a purpose-made ham bag. Rinse cloth of choice in a solution of 2 cups white vinegar and 2 litres water, wring out tightly. Wrap whole ham in the fabric; store in the fridge. Change to a clean cloth every few days.
- If there’s no room in the fridge for a whole ham leg, remove meat from the bone in large chunks and store, wrapped in plastic and then foil, in the fridge or freeze.
If Christmas Day is done and dusted, or you’ve got leftover ham from another occasion, you might be wondering how long it will last in the fridge. The good news is that ham can be stored in the fridge for anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the size and type of ham. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of it.
What to think about before storing ham
How you serve ham can have an impact on its shelf life, so here are two key tips to help you make the most of it.
1. Carve ham to the crowd size
Unless you have a huge crowd of people at your gathering, in relation to the size of your ham, it is advised to carve only a portion of it at the start, then carve more as required. Your ham will stay fresher that bit longer if it’s kept on the bone or in large pieces.
2. Refrigerate ham as soon as possible
The type of ham you’ve prepared and whether it is sliced, in large chunks or still on the bone will determine how long it can be stored safely in the fridge. If you have space in the fridge, store the ham on the bone, otherwise carve the meat into the largest chunks possible, removing all garnishes.
Ham on the bone
To stop ham on the bone from drying out, rinse a purpose-made ham bag, clean pillowcase or tea towel in a mixture of 2 cups white vinegar and 2 litres water, then allow it to dry before wrapping the whole ham in the fabric and refrigerating. You will need to wash the bag, pillowcase or tea towel every 2-3 days with a splash of vinegar in the water then dry and use again. Stored like this your ham could last for up to 2 weeks.
Large pieces of leftover ham
Large pieces of ham can be wrapped in foil and plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up 2 weeks. Slice and use it in our ultimate ham and cheese toasties, cut up chunks for fried rice or toss through a pasta salad and you’ve got the holiday season sorted.
Leftover ham slices
To store carved ham slices, place a piece of paper towel in the base of an airtight container and arrange the ham slices on top. Place a second folded piece of paper towel on top, then seal the container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. With a little leftover ham recipe inspo you’ll be impressed by how inventive you can be with your leftover ham.
Keep it cold
The temperature of your fridge is important, ideally 4°C to slow bacterial growth. Keep in mind that a full fridge, or one that is frequently opened and closed, can increase the temperature and potentially reduce the shelf life of your ham.
Can you freeze ham?
To freeze ham pieces or slices, place in a freezer-proof container, label and date and store for up to 3 months. Thaw ham in the fridge and use up with in 2-3 days. It’s great in ham sandwiches, if you want some inspiration.
Freezing the ham bone is also your ticket to a flavoursome soup in the cooler months. Use the bone to make a ham stock, which makes a great soup base, or add the bone directly to a soup to impart a smoky ham flavour (just go easy on the salt). Remove the bone and shred off any remaining pieces of meat. Now that really is a gift.
