What to Do With Leftover Ham

A baked holiday ham feeds a crowd and still leaves plenty behind. Ham is salty and flavorful, so a little goes a long way in eggs, rice, pasta and soup.

First: store it safely

Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking (1 hour if it's above 90°F outside or in a hot car). Divide big batches into shallow containers so they cool fast.
Keep the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Cooked ham leftovers: eat within 3 to 4 days in the fridge (USDA). Unopened packaged ham follows its label.
Freeze diced or sliced ham for about 1 to 2 months for best quality; it can get watery after that.
Reheat to 165°F if you're serving it hot.

For more detail, see the FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart.

1. Mug omelet

Eggs, milk, diced ham and cheese, cooked in a mug in the microwave in about 2 minutes: Microwave Mug Omelet.

2. Egg muffins

Swap the sausage for diced ham in Breakfast Sausage Egg Muffins for make-ahead breakfasts.

3. Fried rice

Diced ham, rice, egg and peas are a classic fried rice combination: Leftover Rice Fried Rice.

4. Mac and cheese

Stir diced ham and peas into Stovetop Mac & Cheese for a one-pot dinner.

5. Frittata

Add ham to Veggie Frittata with whatever vegetables need using up.

6. Bean or lentil soup

A ham bone or diced ham gives bean and lentil soup a smoky depth. Add it to Lentil Soup and go easy on added salt.

Crave recipes that use it

Let Crave match the rest

Add your leftovers and whatever else is in your kitchen on the Crave home page. It's free and shows which of its 75 recipes you can make now and what, if anything, you're missing.

Questions

How long is leftover ham good for?

Cooked ham leftovers keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge, per USDA guidance.

Can I freeze leftover ham?

Yes. Wrap well and freeze; use within about 1 to 2 months for the best texture.

What can I do with a ham bone?

Simmer it in soup, such as lentil or bean soup, for flavor, then pick off any meat before serving.