How Long Can You Keep a Ham Bone for Making Soup?

After enjoying a delicious ham dinner, you’re left with the sizable ham bone. This flavorful bone can impart a wonderful smoky, salty flavor to soups and broths. But how long can you safely keep that ham bone in the fridge before using it? Here’s what you need to know about storing ham bones for making soup.

How Soon to Use a Fresh Ham Bone

• For best quality and food safety, you’ll want to use a fresh ham bone within

• 3-5 days in the refrigerator

According to USDA guidelines, cooked ham will keep refrigerated for 3-5 days. This same timeline can apply to ham bones. For optimal freshness and flavor, try to use ham bones for soup within 3-5 days of cooking the ham.

Can You Freeze a Ham Bone?

• Yes, freeze for longer storage.

Rather than tossing the ham bone after a few days, you can freeze it instead. This allows you to save the ham bone for future use in soups, broths, or beans.

• Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil.

• Exclude air and freeze flat for efficient freezing.

• Label with contents and date.

• Ham bones keep well frozen for at least 2-3 months.

Freezing locks in the flavor and stops the countdown to spoilage. A well-wrapped ham bone will maintain quality in the freezer for months.

Thawing and Using a Frozen Ham Bone

When ready to use a frozen ham bone for soup:

• Move the frozen ham bone to the fridge to thaw 1-2 days before needed.

• Avoid thawing at room temperature, which allows bacteria growth.

• Inspect for any signs of freezer burn or off smells before using.

• Use thawed ham bone within another 3-5 days.

Always thaw in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Then use the thawed ham bone promptly within a few days for best safety and quality.

Signs a Ham Bone Has Spoiled

Being a cooked product, ham bones don’t carry the same raw meat safety concerns. Still, discard a ham bone if it shows these signs of spoilage:

• Slimy or sticky film on the surface

• Yellow or gray discoloration

• Dry, dark edges

• Mold growth

• Off odors – sour, rancid, rotten smell

• Bone feels especially lightweight and dried out

The ham bone should still feel moist and smell like ham. If it seems dry or smelly, it has passed its prime. Don’t risk it.

Can You Boil an Older Ham Bone?

Some people wonder if a ham bone can be revived if it is past its prime. Unfortunately, boiling an old ham bone won’t make it safe again. Here’s why:

• Boiling cannot remove toxic byproducts from spoilage.

• Bacteria themselves may be killed by boiling, but the toxins they produce are heat stable.

• These toxins are what actually cause illness in humans.

So don’t rely on boiling as a safety net for old ham bones. Stick to bones that have been stored properly and used within a safe timeline.

What Factors Affect Ham Bone Storage Time?

Several factors impact how long a ham bone will last in the fridge or freezer:

• Cooking method – Bones from dry-cured or country hams keep longer than wet-cured.

• Salt content – Heavily salted hams preserve better than low-sodium.

• Surface area – Bones with more meat attached decompose faster.

• Freezer temperature – Colder freezers (-10°F vs 0°F) extend shelf life.

• Freezer burn – Avoid damage from air exposure.

• Proper wrapping – Prevent moisture loss and freezer burn.

• Food safety practices – Clean handling and temperature control.

Following food safety best practices allows you to maximize ham bone storage time.

Ideas for Using Ham Bones

Ham bones impart wonderful smoky, porky flavor. Here are some ideas for using up a ham bone in soup:

• Split Pea Soup – Classic, hearty and easy.

• Bean Soup – White beans or red kidney beans.

• Vegetable Soup – With carrots, potatoes, celery.

• Lentil Soup – Earthy, protein-packed legumes.

• Noodle Soup – Egg noodles or rice noodles.

• Ham and Potato Soup – Diced ham and potatoes.

• Ham Bone Broth – Simmer the bone to make broth.

And of course, you can simply freeze the ham bone and save it to flavor a future batch of soup, knowing it will keep for months.

Ham Bone Storage Guidelines

Here’s a quick summary of ham bone storage timelines:

• Fresh ham bone: 3-5 days in fridge

• Frozen ham bone: 2-3 months in freezer at 0°F

• Thaw frozen bone in fridge 1-2 days before use

• Use thawed bone within another 3-5 days

• Discard bones with off smells or appearance

Following proper storage allows you to safely keep ham bones for making delicious soup and broth for months after initially cooking your holiday ham. Just be sure to freeze the bone if not using within 3-5 days.