Here are all of my tips on how to make ham stock, along with many recipe ideas for how to use it. Add the tasty stock to soups or stews to make them taste more like ham.
While I’m not always the most thrifty cook, one thing I love to do is save meat and vegetable scraps and use them to make my own stock. It feels like getting free food when you make stock from scraps that you might have thrown away. Homemade stock tastes so much better than canned stock, and your house smells great while the stock is cooking.
If you already know how to make chicken, turkey, or beef stock, you might not need this ham stock tutorial. But when I’ve told people about ham stock, I’ve been surprised at how many have said they’d never thought of it.
If you’ve ever cooked a juicy, flavorful baked ham, you know just how delicious the pan drippings can be But what exactly should you do with the savory, aromic liquid leftover after cooking your holiday ham or Sunday supper? Rather than letting those valuable juices go to waste, get creative with these 7 tasty ways to put ham drippings to good use
1. Make a Rich Ham Gravy
The most obvious use for ham drippings is gravy. Simmer the pan drippings with flour and milk or stock to make a simple yet satisfying gravy. Stir in any diced bits of leftover ham to make it hearty. Drizzle the gravy over biscuits, mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or the ham slices themselves.
2. Use it to Flavor Soups
Got a pot of bean, pea, or lentil soup in the works? Stir a few spoonfuls of ham drippings into the pot to infuse it with smoky, salty, meaty flavor Beans, greens, and grains all pair deliciously with ham pan juices.
3. Saute Vegetables
For an easy side dish, saute vegetables like brussels sprouts, green beans, or asparagus in a bit of the pan drippings. The rendered ham fat gives them incredible flavor. Caramelizing the drippings in the pan first adds even more depth.
4. Make a Pot of Beans
Baked beans are a classic companion for ham, so why not cook up your beans in the ham drippings? kidney beans, navy beans, pinto beans and others will be rich, smoky, and irresistible.
5. use it to Cook Grains
Stir a spoonful or two of ham drippings into the cooking liquid for rice, farro, barley, and other grains. As the starch absorbs the flavors, it will become infused with the taste of ham.
6. Flavor Eggy Dishes
Add a few teaspoons of ham drippings to scrambled eggs, frittatas, and omelets as they cook for a boost of flavor. You can even bake the drippings right into quiches, stratas, and egg bakes.
7. Make Split Pea Soup
Nothing beats ham bone soup, but the drippings alone can impart tons of flavor too. Use them as the base for hearty split pea soup along with the ham bone and diced ham leftovers. It’s budget-friendly and delicious.
Here are some more creative ways to use up ham drippings:
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Stir them into cornbread, biscuit, scone, and muffin batters.
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Use to saute onions, mushrooms, potatoes, and other veggies.
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Add to pasta sauce, pizza sauce, chili, etc. for a flavor boost.
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Brush on pork, chicken, and other meats before roasting or grilling.
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Mix with mayo or sour cream for an instant sandwich spread or dip.
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Whisk into pan gravies, au jus, or broths.
Storing Ham Drippings
To save ham drippings for later use:
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Let cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container.
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Refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
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Scoop off and discard the layer of white fat that rises to the top when chilled.
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Portion into recipe-ready amounts like 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup before freezing.
With so many possibilities, there’s no reason to waste these flavorful pan drippings. A bit of creativity in the kitchen can give the juices new life in soups, sides, eggs, grains, beans and more. Try these recipes next time you have ham drippings left over.
How to Make Ham Stock
(This is just a summary of the steps; scroll down for complete recipe.)
- Ham bones or scraps should be frozen until you have enough to make stock.
- You can also freeze celery, onion, and carrot scraps if you want to.
- Use the largest soup pot you have for making stock. Place the ham scraps, onion, celery, and carrot pieces in the pot. Then add water to the pot.
- You can add peppercorns or coarsely ground pepper, but DO NOT ADD SALT!
- Let the stock cook for 6 to 8 hours, adding a cup or two of water every hour. Set the heat to the lowest setting possible. (See recipe for slow cooker cooking. ).
- After 6 to 8 hours, use a Slotted Spoon (affiliate link) or a large spoon to take out the ham pieces and vegetables and throw them away.
- Be careful when you taste the hot stock. If you don’t like the flavor, raise the heat to medium and let it boil slowly for at least 30 minutes, until some of the water is gone.
- Adding a ham flavor base to the stock makes it taste more like ham. My favorite ham flavor base is Goya Ham Flavor Concentrate (affiliate link).
- A fine mesh stock skimmer (affiliate link) is a good way to get rid of any scum that forms on top of the stock as it cooks.
- When the stock is thick enough to taste like rich ham, strain it again using the best strainer you have. I strain the stock through a fine mesh yogurt strainer (affiliate link) into a fat separator (affiliate link). This lets the stock pour out from the bottom while the fat is thrown away.
- You can use any plastic container with a lid that fits tightly. I like to freeze the stock in 2 or 4 cup containers so I know how much I have when I need it for a recipe.
- I use Sharpie markers and sticky tape to write the type and date on stock. It’s possible to keep stock frozen for 6 to 12 months, but I never remember to do that!
- This is how I’ve been making ham stock for a very long time!
Why do you need ham stock?
Someone who likes to make soup with ham bones or even ham rind might wonder why they should make stock when they can just add the bones and rind to the soup. Of course, you can do that and still get good results, but letting the ham stock cook for hours brings out all of its flavor and goodness. However, I don’t buy ham as often as I do other types of meat, but I always enjoy the rich ham flavor that ham stock gives to recipes.
How to Make Classic Pineapple and Honey Glazed Ham at Home
FAQ
Can you freeze ham juice?
Should I drain ham juice?
What can I do with the fat off a ham?
How do you make leftover ham juicy again?
How do you use ham juice?
The natural saltiness and umami flavors of the ham juice help to enhance the taste of the dish while also adding moisture to prevent it from drying out. To baste, simply brush or pour the ham juice over your meat or vegetables during the cooking process. Be sure to baste regularly for the best results.
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.
What can I do with leftover ham juice?
One of the best ways to use leftover ham juice is to incorporate it as a base for soups and sauces. The rich flavor of the ham adds depth and complexity to any dish, making it a versatile addition to many recipes. To make a soup, combine the ham juice with vegetables, stock, and other seasonings to taste.
What is Ham juice?
Ham juice, also known as ham broth, is a liquid that is extracted from cooking a ham joint. It is a thick soup or stock that is left over after simmering the preserved thigh of the hind leg of animals such as pork, beef, mutton, or sheep joints.