Making the Most of Your Holiday Ham: Fridge and Freezer Storage Times

The holiday ham is a centerpiece of many special meals and gatherings. But with a whole ham ranging from 10 to 20 pounds and a half ham around 5 to 10 pounds it’s common to have quite a bit of leftovers after the main event. Proper storage is key to safely preserving your holiday ham to enjoy it for days or weeks after. In this article, we’ll look at how long you can keep whole hams and half hams refrigerated and frozen.

An Overview of Holiday Hams

Hams served for holidays like Easter and Christmas are usually cured and fully cooked. Curing through wet brining, smoking, or dry rubbing preserves the meat. Fully cooked hams are conveniently ready to heat and eat once purchased. The two main varieties are:

• Whole Bone-In Hams – These usually range from 10 to 20 lbs. before cooking. The bone adds flavor during curing.

• Half Hams – Around 5 to 10 lbs, half hams offer smaller portions. They may have the bone in or be boneless.

Vacuum-sealed packaged hams allow for longer storage. After opening cut hams have shorter fridge life. Freezing preserves hams for longer periods. Now let’s look at specific storage times.

How Long Does an Unopened Whole Ham Last Refrigerated?

An unopened, sealed whole cured ham can be refrigerated for a remarkably long time:

• Up to 75 days refrigerated – Keep the vacuum-sealed ham in the original packaging.
• Up to 7 days refrigerated after opening the original packaging.

The sealing and curing process help the whole ham resist spoilage. As long as you don’t open the packaging, it stays fresh in the fridge for over two months. Once opened, use within a week.

How Long Does a Leftover Half Ham Last in the Fridge?

An unopened half ham also keeps for a long period:

• Up to 60 days refrigerated when vacuum-sealed in original packaging.
• 3 to 5 days refrigerated for open, stored ham after the holiday meal.

A half ham has less meat than a whole one. Once opened and sliced, it has more surface area exposed to bacteria. So leftovers need refrigerating for just several days.

Does Sliced Ham Last Longer or Shorter in the Fridge?

Once your whole or half ham is sliced for serving, it has much shorter fridge life:

• 3 to 5 days refrigerated for fresh sliced ham like a spiral cut ham.
• 5 to 7 days refrigerated for cured, cooked deli-style ham slices.

Slicing exposes the ham to more bacteria. Pieces also dry out faster. So for maximum freshness, slice only what you’ll use in several days and refrigerate the rest of the ham whole.

Can You Freeze a Whole Ham or Half Ham?

Freezing extends the shelf life of holiday hams for months. Here is how long they last frozen:

• 4 to 6 months for a whole cured ham. Wrap in freezer paper or foil before freezing.

• 2 to 3 months for a half ham. Use freezer wrap and seal in airtight packaging.

Make sure to freeze ham within 1 week of the holiday meal for best quality. Thaw in the fridge, never on the counter.

Tips for Refrigerating and Freezing Ham

Follow these tips for safely storing your holiday whole ham or half ham:

• Refrigerate ham within 2 hours of carving to prevent bacteria growth. Set fridge below 40??F.

• Wrap refrigerated ham tightly in plastic wrap or foil. Limit air exposure.

• Use oldest refrigerated ham first within suggested timelines for maximum freshness.

• Slice only the amount of ham you plan to eat in 3 to 5 days to preserve the rest.

• Add frozen ham to freezer within 1 week of purchasing or cooking.

• Portion frozen ham so you can thaw only what is needed at one time.

• Label frozen ham with the cut, date, and weight before freezing.

• Thaw frozen ham for 24 hours in the refrigerator. Never thaw at room temperature.

Following proper storage guidelines will let you safely enjoy your holiday ham for many days or weeks. Just refrigerate fresh ham for up to a week and freeze any you want to keep longer within a week of cooking it.

Signs Your Refrigerated Ham Has Spoiled

Watch for these signs that your refrigerated whole or half ham has gone bad:

• Slimy or sticky texture and smell

• Discoloration – green, grey or brownish tint

• Mold growing visibly on the ham

• Unpleasant sour or off smell

• Very dry, cracked, or hard ham piece

When in doubt, remember the old adage – when it smells funky, it’s no longer good to eat! Be safe and discard questionable ham.

Using Leftover Ham to Make Tasty Meals

A bonus to storing ham in the fridge and freezer is enjoying it in various dishes. Here are creative ways to use up leftovers:

• Dice it into omelets, frittatas, egg bakes, and stratas.

• Toss ham chunks into pasta salads, grain bowls, and veggie sides.

• Fold ham into mashed potato casseroles with cheese, vegetables, and seasonings.

• Stuff it into sandwiches, paninis, rolls, wraps, and more.

• Mix into rice for a protein punch in stir fries, fried rice, and pilafs.

• Add to pizza, flatbreads, tarts, and savory pies.

• Crumble it into biscuit doughs, scones, muffins, and biscuits.

Don’t let leftover ham go to waste! With proper refrigeration and freezing, you can enjoy your holiday ham for many days or weeks after. Get creative with recipes to use it up.

The Takeaway on Storing and Preserving Ham

With attention to storage times, temperatures, and packaging, your whole bone-in ham or half ham can be safely enjoyed long after the main event is over. Keep an unopened, sealed whole ham refrigerated for up to 75 days and a half ham for up to 60 days – that’s over two months of freshness! Once sliced or opened, use refrigerated ham within 3 to 7 days. For even longer shelf life, freeze ham for 4 to 6 months. Follow these tips for maximum freshness and enjoyment of your holiday ham.