I love leftovers, but sandwiches get a little old. Let's do something special with that leftover ham or turkey—a great casserole, delicious soup, or entree. Just follow the easy step-by-step recipes.
🤔Table of Contents
I will start with ham. I'm talking about store-bought pre-cooked ham. These might be refrigerated and sealed at the store and spiral-cut. If you have a different type of ham, I have provided some links with options for most other types.
❄️Storing leftover ham
Ham can generally be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days, but this can vary by type. If you have something other than store-bought pre-cooked ham, please see the FoodSafety.gov Ham Storage Chart for details.
Yes, ham and ham bones will freeze well. There are those old wives' tales that you can not freeze ham. They are wrong—ham and ham bones can both be frozen.
Most common hams are good for 1-2 months frozen. There is some variability by type of ham, so please see the FoodSafety.gov Ham Storage Chart for details.
If you know that you need to freeze some of the ham for later, freeze part of it as soon as possible. Seal it well; if it is large, divide it into smaller amounts.
To thaw your ham after it's been frozen, allow it to defrost in the refrigerator. Depending on its size, it should thaw in about 24 to 48 hours.
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❄️Storing leftover turkey
Leftover freshly cooked turkey is refrigerated for four days if sealed well and maybe frozen for three months.
🐖Leftover ham recipes
We all enjoy ham and cheese sandwiches and breakfast dishes like ham and eggs. I don't think you need recipes for these, but here are some of our favorite recipes that use ham or where ham can make a great addition.
🍖Leftover ham bone recipes
From a "cooking for two" viewpoint, these soup recipes are too big unless you have freezer space. If you do, these are great options. If you don't have freezer space, give the ham bone to a friend.
🦃Leftover turkey recipes
The turkey tetrazzini is very popular the week after Thanksgiving, but there are also other options.
Two chicken recipes, both with turkey options.
Originally Published April 20, 2019.
Michelle says
Dan I love your recipes. I purchased a smoked bone in ham from a local farmer to serve for Easter. I do not know how to prepare it. Cook time, glaze etc. Any suggestions are very welcome, thank you.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Michelle,
Welcome to the blog.
I don't have much for you. Most answers will depend on the method and temperature during smoking and the size of the ham. There are a number of glaze recipes around to try. To cook the ham, follow the guidelines you will fine at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat-fish/hams-and-food-safety#5
Hope that helps.
Dan
Sandra Murdico says
I cook different beans once a week in my Crock Pot. I just rinse them good and put them in the Crock Pot with seasoning I like and a ham bone or ham. I turn on high for 2 hours and then on low until done. You don't have to worry about gas with a Crock Pot, that I have found anyway. When I cook a ham, I leave a little ham on the bone. I use a meat cleaver or small hatchet (just for this) and chop the ham bone in half. I store each half in a separate Zip Lock Freezer Bag and toss them in the freezer. Any ham left over, I separate by large handfulls in zippered sandwich bags getting all the air our before sealing. I them put them in a gallon Zip Lock Freezer bag all together, seal and put in the freezer. I can them just take a bag of the ham out for cooking dry beans or soup. Hope this helps someone. Have a wonderful holiday!
Carolyn S. says
When I was a young wife & mother, a bone-in ham was my favorite thing. I could get many meals from it. We didn't have slow cookers back then. Now I do, so I slow cook the bone in 8 cups of water to make ham stock, strain it and let it sit in the 'fridge overnight so the fat will rise and I can skim it off. Then I proceed to make Congressional Bean Soup.
Claudia Matusiak says
I don't think your grammar check fixed the problem, should be "Old "Wives Tales."
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Thanks for the proofread. I think this one is on my mother who always said wise not wives.
Stay Safe.
Dan
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Welcome to the blog.
We love leftover ham. The picture at the top was our "for two" 8 pound ham. We do freeze some but mostly it is what you discussed. I have to do one every 2-3 months.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
bill berdan says
I used leftover into turkey burgers
Kevin says
Great post, although "..old wise tail.." got me thinking about my yellow Labrador. 🤣
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Kevin,
Welcome to the blog.
So much for the grammar checker... Fixed and thanks for the proof-read.
Dan