How to Freeze Ham (Fresh or Cooked)

Don’t let any of your holiday ham go to waste! In this guide, I explain How to Freeze Ham, including both the meat and the ham bone. Use frozen ham in soups, casseroles, sandwiches, and more! 

Can You Freeze Ham? Yes! 

If you buy a ham for the holidays — be it Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas — chances are you’ll wind up with leftovers. Each Christmas I wind up making a big batch of ham and potato soup with some of the ham leftovers, but even then we still have more ham to eat! 

After spending all that time, energy, and money making our favorite glazed holiday ham, the last thing I want to do is throw any of it away. My solution? Freezing the leftover ham! 

Freezing ham is a great way to store it for future recipes and means we can look forward to leftover ham sandwiches, ham soup, and more throughout the winter – plus nothing goes to waste! 

In this guide, I’ll be sharing exact instructions on how to freeze ham — be it a whole spiral ham that you’ll be baking later, slices of leftover ham, or the ham bone. Every last bit of that holiday ham can be frozen and enjoyed later! 

Tools Needed for Freezing Ham 

When freezing leftover ham, there are a few key pieces of kitchen equipment I recommend using to ensure the ham stays moist and to prevent freezer burn from developing.  

• Large knife and cutting board — For removing the ham from the bone and then cutting it into slices or cubes. 
• Vacuum sealer and bags (optional) — Vacuum seal bags are the best way to prevent frozen ham from developing freezer burn, but if you only have regular zip-top freezer bags they’ll work too! 
• Zip-top freezer bags — It’s important that you use freezer bags and not regular zip-top bags so the ham doesn’t develop freezer burn. 
• Aluminum foil or plastic wrap — I wrap smaller portions of ham in foil or plastic wrap before sealing in a larger freezer bag. This makes thawing smaller quantities of ham easier later on and also is an added protection against freezer burn. 
• Measuring cup — I like to divide the ham into 1-cup portions so I can thaw exactly what I need for future recipes. 
• Labeling supplies — Always label frozen ham with the date you made it, as well as how large the portions of ham are (I recommend freezing in 1-cup portions or in quart-sized bags). 

How to Freeze Ham (3 Ways!)

You have three main options when it comes to freezing holiday ham: freezing a whole ham after it’s been cooked, freezing fresh (i.e. raw) ham that you plan on cooking later, or freezing the cooked ham in slices or cubes. 

I also recommend freezing the ham bone since it’s packed with flavor and can be used in a soup later on! 

1. Freezing a Whole Ham (Fresh or Cooked) 

Can you freeze a spiral ham? Yes! 

A whole spiral ham can be frozen fresh (raw) or after it’s been cooked. This freezing method also applies to ready-to-eat / pre-cooked hams that you’ve not yet cooked yourself. 

The only time I freeze a whole ham is if I’ve bought it well in advance of a holiday to take advantage of a sale price at the grocery store. I prefer freezing whole hams prior to cooking them. 

With that being said, I almost never freeze a whole ham after it’s been cooked simply because they take up so much space in the freezer! If I’m going to freeze cooked ham, I prefer freezing it in cubes or slices off the bone (more on that method in the next section!). 

However, freezing a whole ham (boneless or on the bone) is very easy: 

1. If you already cooked the whole ham, let it cool completely before beginning the freezing process. Otherwise you can begin with a fresh or ready-to-eat cooked ham. 
2. Wrap the entire ham with plastic wrap and / or aluminum foil. This will help prevent freezer burn. 
3. Seal the ham in a vacuum freezer bag OR a regular zip-top freezer bag. Try to remove as much excess air as possible. 
4. Label, date, and freeze the ham for up to 3 months. 

2. Freezing Ham in Slices or Cubes (Recommended) 

Can you freeze cooked ham in slices or cubes? Yes! 

If you plan on freezing leftover ham, this is the method I recommend using. I suggest freezing sliced or cubed ham in 1-cup measurements for easier portioning in the future. Or freeze the ham in quart-sized freezer bags — either increment works for freezing smaller portions of ham! 

Freezing ham in 1-cup or quart-sized increments means you can thaw smaller quantities in the future for using in soups, casseroles, sandwiches, and more. 

1. After cooking the ham, let it cool completely before beginning the freezing process. 
2. Depending on how you plan on using the frozen ham, either cut it into slices or 1-inch cubes. I recommend slices if you plan on eating the frozen ham in sandwiches or 1-inch cubes for soups and casseroles. 
3. Divide the prepared ham into 1-cup (8 ounces) portions. This will make it easier to thaw the exact amount of ham you need for future recipes. 
4. Wrap each 1-cup portion of ham in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This makes removing the smaller portions of frozen ham easier and is also extra insurance against freezer burn. Alternatively, you can portion the ham into quart-sized freezer bags if 1-cup increments are too small for your needs. 
5. Seal the foil-wrapped portions of ham in a gallon-sized freezer bag or freezer-safe container. 
6. Label, date, and freeze the ham for up to 3 months. 

3. Freezing a Ham Bone 

Can you freeze a ham bone? Yes! 

Do NOT throw away that ham bone! The ham bone is packed with flavor and can be used to make soup stock, or it can be added directly to a pot of ham soup (any kind) and it simmers with the other ingredients to make the richest soup ever. 

Note that the ham bone can be refrigerated for up to five days in the fridge before it needs to be frozen. 

1. After removing as much of the meat from the ham bone as possible, seal the bone in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. (Or, seal within a vacuum freezer bag to keep the bone for even longer.) 
2. Label, date, and freeze the ham bone for up to 1 year. 
3. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge and proceed with the recipe as written. 

Tips for Freezing Ham 

• Package the ham in a timely manner — After cooking the ham in the oven or slow cooker, it can safely sit out on your counter for 2 hours before it needs to be refrigerated or frozen. Refrigerated ham is good for about 5 days before it must be frozen. 
• Do NOT freeze ham that’s gone bad — Freezing the rancid ham won’t magically make it safe to eat again, sorry! 
• Freeze ham in smaller portions — I recommend portioning the ham into 1-cup increments or sealing inside quart-sized freezer bags. The smaller quantities of frozen ham will be easier to thaw for future recipes and means you can use exactly what you need without having to waste any of the meat. 
• Remove as much air as possible from the bags — Excess air in the freezer bags is what causes freezer burn over time. Press as much air as possible from the bags, or suck it out using a straw. 
• Label and date the ham — Be sure to include the amount of meat contained in the bag for easy recipe reference.
• Use within 2 to 4 months for best results — Frozen ham technically shouldn’t go bad, but over time it will inevitably dry out or develop freezer burn. Using vacuum seal freezer bags extends ham’s shelf life even further than 4 months, but you’ll still want to enjoy the frozen ham in a timely manner. 

How to Thaw Frozen Ham 

I recommend thawing frozen ham using the same methods you’d employ to defrost any type of frozen meat. You have three options for defrosting frozen ham: 

1. In the fridge overnight — This could take  longer depending on the quantity of ham you’re defrosting. 
2. Sealed in a zip-top bag and submerged in cold tap water — You’ll need to change the cold water every 30 minutes until the ham is thawed. A whole frozen ham will take approximately 30 minutes per pound to defrost when thawing in cold water whereas smaller portions of sliced or cubed ham will thaw much more quickly. 
3. In the microwave at 30-second intervals — This works well for smaller portions of cubes or sliced ham, but this is NOT recommended for  defrosting a whole ham (the ham would dry out on the outside while the inside would remain frozen).  

Whatever you do, do not thaw ham on your countertop! Frozen ham left on the counter for a long period of time can easily enter the “Danger Zone,” which is the temperature at which bacteria starts to grow on the meat and makes it unsafe to consume. 

How to Reheat Ham That’s Been Frozen 

Reheating frozen ham is very easy! After thawing the ham as instructed in the section above reheat it using one of the following methods: 

1. In a slow cooker — Recommended for large quantities or ham or a whole ham. A large, 8-pound spiral ham will take 8 hours to reheat on low while smaller portions or ham will take much less time to reheat.
2. In the oven — Place the ham in a baking dish and cover with foil to prevent it from drying out. Bake for 10 minutes per pound of ham at 325ºF. 
3. In the microwave — Only recommended for individual servings of ham. Heat for 30-second intervals until warm. 

Freezing Ham FAQs 

Got questions about freezing ham? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

How long is ham good for in the freezer? 

Frozen ham will last up to 3 months if stored properly. A ham bone can be frozen for up to 1 year. 

Can you cook a frozen ham? 

Yes! You can cook a whole ham from frozen without thawing it – just note that it will take 50% longer to cook through. 

You can also freeze a ham, thaw it, and then cook after having been frozen. This is the method I recommend so you don’t have to cook the ham for so long and potentially dry it out! However, if you forgot to thaw your frozen holiday ham, just know that you can cook it from frozen in a pinch! 

Can you freeze cooked ham? 

Yes, you can freeze cooked ham whole, in slices, or in cubes. You can also freeze the ham bone

Can you freeze ham on the bone? 

Yes! Freezing ham on the bone is perfectly safe. I prefer freezing the bone separately to use in future soups or to make stock, but do whatever you prefer.  

Can you freeze deli ham? 

Yes, deli ham can be frozen using the same method shared above for leftover ham. It will last up to 2 months. 

However, if you have an unopened, vacuum sealed package of deli ham then you can freeze it as is! No need to remove from the vacuum packaging first.  

How long does it take to thaw a whole frozen ham? 

A whole frozen ham will take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours per pound to defrost. I suggest defrosting a frozen ham in your refrigerator for 2 to 3 days before cooking it. 

How long does it take to thaw slices of ham? 

Frozen ham slices will take much less time to defrost than a whole ham. You can thaw ham slices overnight in the fridge, or submerge them in a sealed plastic bag in COLD tap water for 30 minutes to 1 hour (it depends on the quantity and thickness of the slices).  

Try Freezing Your Holiday Ham!

Next time you have too much leftover ham, try freezing it to use later!

Did you love being able to extend the shelf-life of your ham? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of tutorial.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of what you make with your ham leftovers!

More Holiday Freezer Tutorials: 

Freezing cranberry sauce is a great way to savor this holiday favorite year round! This post will show you how to freeze cranberry sauce, ways to use your leftover cranberry sauce, and answer questions about freezing and thawing cranberry sauce.

On a similar note, you can also freeze fresh cranberries! This post will show you how to freeze cranberries, answer questions about freezing and thawing cranberries, and shares some of my favorite recipes to use frozen cranberries.

Freezing pie dough is a great way to save time when preparing for busy holidays! This post will show you how to freeze pie dough and how to freeze unbaked pie crusts.

Cookie dough freezes extremely well and is the perfect sweet treat to keep stashed in your freezer to instantly satisfy those sweet tooth cravings. Here’s how to freeze cookie dough and bake it later.

While you’re preparing a lasagna for dinner, you might as well make a second to freeze for later! In this post, I’ll explain how to freeze lasagna as well as how to thaw and reheat frozen lasagna.

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