How to Freeze Ham to Make It Last

Ah, the traditional spiral-cut, holiday ham — a perennial favorite for feeding a crowd at Easter, Christmas, or other special occasions. But if you’ve ever hosted a whole-ham meal, you know that no matter how hungry your guests are, you may still be left with a significant haul of leftover meat. 

While there are plenty of easy leftover ham recipes to make use of the full cut, you may want to freeze your ham in smaller portions so that you can make one dish at a time (and on your own time!). Read on for everything you need to know about extending your ham feast far after the holidays!

According to USDA guidelines, there are three safe and reliable ways to thaw frozen ham: 

Thaw in the Refrigerator: The USDA recommends thawing your ham in the refrigerator as the easiest, slow-and-safe method  — it should take about 4 to 6 hours per pound to fully defrost.

Thaw in Cold Water: If you’re using the cold water method, make sure that your ham is still in a leak-proof, airtight bag before submerging in a bowl of cold tap water. Replace the water with fresh cold water every 30 minutes. The ham should take approximately 30 minutes per pound to defrost. Per the USDA, cook or heat the ham immediately after it is defrosted.

Thaw in the Microwave: If you’re short on time, you can defrost ham in the microwave, though this isn’t the most ideal method. If you’re defrosting ham slices in the microwave, defrost in 30-second intervals until your ham is thawed. If you’re defrosting a small whole frozen ham, place it unwrapped on a plate and warm it on the defrost setting — the time will depend on the weight of the ham. Many microwaves can determine a time for defrosting once you enter the weight of the ham.