On Christmas Day, it’s common to admire the shiny glaze on the delicious ham and assume there won’t be any leftovers. However, every year, we find ourselves with more ham than we can handle. This raises the important question: What do you do with leftover Christmas ham?
Luckily, our team of experts are Christmas ham pros. They cover everything from choosing the right ham for your holiday meal to glazing, cooking, and even carving your baked Christmas ham. Once the festivities are over and the plates are empty, we’ve got you covered with tips on storing your Christmas ham in the fridge and tasty recipes to make the most of those leftover slices.
To make your Christmas ham experience even easier, we’ve put together a handy Christmas Guide to navigate through the entire process. Whether you need advice on selecting, cooking, carving, storing, or transforming leftovers into delicious meals, our guide has you sorted. Let’s make this holiday season both delightful and stress-free!
How to store your Christmas ham
Preserving leftover Christmas ham in the fridge poses a challenge, mainly preventing it from drying out. It’s advisable to carve only the amount needed for a meal, as meat left on the ham bone retains juiciness longer than carved slices.
For ham on the bone, wrap it in a seasoned cloth like a clean tea towel, pillowcase, calico fabric, or a designated ham bag. Before wrapping, rinse the cloth in two cups of white vinegar and two litres of water, letting it dry. Store the whole ham wrapped in the fabric in the fridge.
If the fridge has limited space, especially during the Christmas season, you can debone the ham in sizable chunks. Wrap these chunks in plastic and then foil before storing them in the fridge or freezer.
How long does Christmas ham last
What is the shelf life of Christmas ham? When stored in the refrigerator, whether kept on the bone or carved and wrapped in plastic and foil, Christmas ham remains fresh for up to two weeks.
For longer storage, ham wrapped in plastic and foil and then frozen can last in the freezer for up to a month. Before consumption, it’s advisable to thaw frozen ham in the fridge for 1-2 days, depending on the size of the frozen portions.
How to use your leftover Christmas ham
Leftover Christmas ham? No worries! Dive into a world of flavours with our top picks for using your leftover D’Orsogna hams. From Grilled Pineapple and Ham Bruschetta to Christmas Ham Croissants, Roast Potato Salad, Ultimate Bacon Stuffing Fried Egg Muffins, Mini Carbonara Quiches, and more. We’ve curated a collection of delicious and easy recipes suitable for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Make the most of your festive feast with these mouthwatering ideas!